A real-time view of the NE Pacific Ocean responses to an extreme storm event using Neptune Canada high frequency data

Dr. Dilumie Abeysirigunawardena, Scientific Data Specialist, Neptune Canada, presents "A real-time view of the NE Pacific Ocean responses to an extreme storm event using Neptune Canada high frequency data" as part of the joint PICS/PCIC Pacific Climate Seminar Series.

This seminar will also be available via live webcast.

Abstract: A much-discussed advantage of cabled ocean observatory systems over traditional shipboard or moored instruments is the ability to make continuous observations with multiple instruments during high-energy storm events. This presentation examines data recorded by NEPTUNE Canada instruments in the NE Pacific Ocean during an extreme storm event that occurred from 21-23 January 2012. We present a multidisciplinary, high resolution view of  physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water column as storm energy rose and then subsided over a ten-day period.  This presentation highlights the value of long-term real-time, high resolution, multidisciplinary ocean observations to better understand naturally driven oceanographic phenomena as well as the relationship of ocean processes to weather events and climate change at various temporal and spatial scales.

Background on Speaker  
Dr. Dilumie Abeysirigunawardena.

Dilumie initiated her career in 1996 as a coastal engineer specialized in mathematical modeling of coastal dynamics. She obtained her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (Hon.) from the Faculty of Engineering University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka and subsequently earned a MSc. in Hydraulic Engineering (with Distinction) from the International Institute for Infrastructure and Hydraulic Engineering (IHE), Delft, the Netherlands. Her expertise expands to Physical Oceanography, Physical and Mathematical modeling of hydrodynamics, waves and sediment transport modeling, statistical modeling of extremes and, assessment of climate variability and change impacts on coastal environmental drivers. Her professional career includes work for 7-years as a professional coastal engineer cum coastal and ocean modeling expert in Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. She also served for over 2-years as a coastal climate impacts analyst for the BC Ministry of Environment.
 
Dilumie further broadened her expertise by obtaining her PhD from the University of Victoria with expertise on Climate Variability and Change Impact assessments on Coasts and Oceans. Soon after, she joined Neptune Canada as a scientific data specialist. In her role as a scientific data specialist, she is responsible for maintaining data quality standards in the Neptune multidisciplinary real-time data streams. She strongly believes that accurate continuous, fine temporal scale, real-time data is crucial to better understand the dynamics of the world’s coasts and oceans and, their response to changing climate. She considers her role in NEPTUNE Canada as the best way to contribute her skills and knowledge for this cause.