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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to [email protected] as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
School:
Dr Stephen Nash
Civil Engineering
National University of Ireland, Galway
Galway
Ireland
College of Engineering and Informatics
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration school?
YES
Research Centre / group affiliation:
Ryan Institute for Environmental Marine & Energy Research
- Modelling and Informatics
http://www.ryaninstitute.ie/research/modellinginformatics/
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/Staff/stephennash.html
Research group / centre website:
PI website / link to CV:
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
Stephen’s specialism is the area of physical and computer modelling of oceanic, estuarine and
freshwater systems. He is an active PI within both the Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and
Energy Research and the Energy Research Centre.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Title: Numerical Modelling of Wind-driven Surface Currents in Coastal Waterbodies
Description: Hydrodynamic circulation in estuaries is primarily driven by tides, river inflows and
surface winds. While tidal and river data can be quite easily obtained for input to hydrodynamic
models, sourcing accurate surface wind data is problematic. The use of non-spatially-varying, landbased measurements is quite common; however, this can result in the inaccurate prediction of tidal
currents by estuarine models. A three-dimensional numerical model, namely EFDC, will be
developed to investigate the generation of wind-driven surface currents in Galway Bay, a semienclosed estuary on the west coast of Ireland. Measured surface currents obtained from the
research group's coastal radar system will also be analysed , in conjunction with wind forecast data,
to help understand the dynamics of surface current development. The model will be used to
investigate the effects of surface wind forcing on model accuracy. Different model formulations of
wind stress and different spatial, and temporal, resolution wind fields will be specified to the model
and the computed surface currents compared with surface current measurements from Acoustic
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and from the radar system.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
The Modelling & Informatics Group at Ryan Institute has a number of unique selling points in
relation to marine modelling:
 we develop our own computational fluid dynamic modelling codes
 we have a unique tidal basin and associated equipment for scale modelling
 we operate a coastal radar system which allows us to undertake extensive model validation and
develop data assimilation techniques
 we have developed a very good relationship with IBM Research Ireland and are being funded by
them
 we have very good experience in operational modelling and running model codes on high
performance computers in collaboration with the Irish Centre for High-end Computing (ICHEC)
 we are currently a partner in 2 EU marine related projects and have extensive collaborations
with groups across Europe
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
As above.
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Civil Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Applied Maths
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
x
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _Y ____
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _N____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____