Our group works on different projects modeling and analyzing Lagrangian data sets using nonlinear dynamic techniques. Lagrangian Coherent Structures are used to extract the structure referred to as a Lagrangian skeleton of Eulerian velocity fields. Those structures are crucial to study dispersion as they correspond to transport barriers of the flow field. On the other hand, when only trajectories are available, Probabilistic Methods can be used to combine the information of Lagrangian data sets into a transition matrix (such as surface drifters or subsurface floats). The transition matrix, and techniques from Transfer Operator Theory, allow for the assessment of connectivity, the dispersion of a probability distribution from an initial location and the extraction of pathways between a source and a target. The latest projects focus on the analysis of floating matters, such as sargassum or plastic debris. The dynamics of Finite-size objects differ from those of the fluid or Lagrangian (infinitesimally small, neutrally buoyant) particles. Our group has been seeking a systematic approach by combining all acting forces on the object using the classical Newton's second law to analyze the dispersion and the transport of Sargassum mats, airplane wreckage, tsunami debris, sea-ice pieces, larvae, etc.
To learn more about those specific projects, click the links to the left.
