My work is a research assistant is mostly computational, as
it mostly involves data analysis and modeling. I work with data taken from
satellites such as MAVEN, processing it and visualizing it. Data analysis and
done using the Fortran programming language, a language used for scientific
computing since the 1960's. Modeling and plotting data is done using IDL
(Interactive Data Language).
A typical day in research is spent reading articles on
atmospheric science, and programming. My platform of choice is Ubuntu Linux,
and many programmers will tell you that Linux is the platform of choice for
programming. The process of installing the appropriate libraries to program in
is very important for data analysis and modeling. In particular installing all
the packages to access the data from the HIRDLS satellite device proved to be
challenging, so I had to learn much this week about building software in a Unix
environment.
My actual research involves investigating the wave
characteristics of the atmosphere. Much of the research into this subject is
around investigating the types of waves known as solar tides, planetary
(Rossby) waves, and Kelvin waves. These are caused by larger-scale effects such
as the varying proximity of the Earth to the Sun (solar tides) and the air
seeking equilibrium from the Coriolis force (Rossy, Kelvin waves). What me and
my mentor, Dr. Erdal Yigit, study is the small-scale gravity waves that are
caused by weather fronts in the lower atmosphere and airflow over the topology
of the Earth. In order to study this we use temperature, density, and pressure
profiles (values at different heights) at specific latitudes and longitudes,
and analyze them to produce gravity wave momentum fluxes and information about
the harmonics (wave characteristics).
My long-term goals of becoming a great physicist and
programmer are obviously aided by this experience. The sort of computational
work I do regularly help me become a better data analyst and modeler. The
research itself aids me in further understanding the dynamics of Earth’s
climate as well as other planets (Mars in particular).
