Bruce Sutherland, PhD

Professor, Faculty of Science - Physics

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Science - Physics
Email
bsuther@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-0573
Address
3-269 Centennial Ctr For Interdisciplinary SCS II
11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2H5

Overview

About

Biography

  • BMath (1983-1987), Applied and Pure Mathematics, University of Waterloo
  • MSc Physics (1987-1988), Dept Physics, University of Toronto
  • PhD Physics (1988-1994), Dept Physics, University of Toronto
  • Research Associate (1995-1997), Dept Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics, U. Cambridge
  • Asst/Assoc/Full Professor (1997-2007), Dept Mathematical & Statistical Sciences, U. Alberta
  • Professor (2007-), Dept of Physics and of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, U. Alberta

Other Positions

  • Director (2012-2018), Institute for Geophysical Research, U. Alberta
  • Associate Editor (2014-2016), Physics of Fluids
  • Editorial Committee Member (2015-2020), Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics
  • Associate Editor (2016-), Physical Review Fluids

Awards

  • McCalla Research Professorship (2006-2007)
  • Killam Annual Professor (2010-2011)
  • Gledden Visiting Senior Fellowship (2012)
  • Churchill Overseas Fellowship (2012)
  • Fellow of the American Physical Society (elected 2016)

Research

Interests

  • atmospheric, oceanic and environmental fluid dynamics
  • stratified flows, internal waves, plumes and gravity currents
  • particle-bearing and particle-laden flows

Skills

  • laboratory experiments, numerical simulations and mathematical theory

Climatological, Environmental and Industrial Applications

  • particle transport in rivers and the ocean (clays and microplastics)
  • collective particle settling and turbulent resuspension with impact upon off-shore oil and marine biology
  • clay - plastic interactions including flocculation and diffusion-limited aggregation
  • transport and mixing by oceanic internal waves


Lab - Environmental and Industrial Fluids Laboratory

3-257 CCIS

This interdisciplinary experimental laboratory brings together researchers in Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics, Physics, Engineering and Mathematics. Wide-ranging problems are studied from the Earth's circulation, to waves in the atmosphere and ocean, plumes, gravity currents, particle transport, percolation flows, viscous flows, etc.

Collaborator: Morris Flynn


Courses

EAS 475 - Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics

An introduction to fluid dynamics on the rotating Earth with reference to the atmosphere and ocean, equations of motion and their simplification, the atmospheric boundary layer, wind-driven ocean circulation; waves in the atmosphere and ocean, instability and turbulence. Prerequisites: EAS 212, 270 and MATH 215; or consent of instructor. [Faculty of Science]


EAS 587 - Advanced Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics

An introduction to fluid dynamics on the rotating Earth with reference to the atmosphere and ocean, equations of motion and their simplification, the atmospheric boundary layer, wind-driven ocean circulation; waves in the atmosphere and ocean, instability and turbulence. Class concurrent with EAS 475. Not available to students with credit in EAS 475. [Faculty of Science]


Browse more courses taught by Bruce Sutherland

Scholarly Activities

Research - Internal Gravity Waves, Stratified Flows


Research - Microplastic Transport, Dispersion, Sedimentation and Resuspension


Research - Plumes, Gravity Currents and Sediment Transport

Featured Publications

L.E. Baker and B.R. Sutherland

J. Fluid Mech.. 2020 May; 891


B.R. Sutherland and Riley Jefferson

Phys. Rev. Fluids. 2020 March; 5


D. Deepwell, R. Sapede, L. Buchart, G.E. Swaters and B.R. Sutherland,

Phys. Rev. Fluids. 2020 February; 5


B. R. Sutherland and N. J. Balmforth

Physical Review Fluids. 4


B. R. Sutherland, M. K. Gingras, C. Knudson, L. Steverango and C. Surma

Physical Review Fluids. 3


T. S. van den Bremer, H. Yassin and B. R. Sutherland

Journal of Fluid Mechanics.