David Munday

Ocean circulation and ocean carbon storage with an emphasis on the Southern Ocean and long-term climate change from the Eocene to present day.

Research Area

I am interested in the role of small-scale processes in the large-scale circulation of the Southern Ocean and how they impact the storage of carbon in the deep ocean. Much of my recent work has focussed on ocean circulation changes over geological timescales. Over these long periods, the continents are tectonically rearranged, and this can lead to the opening of ocean gateways, e.g. Drake Passage or the Tasman Seaway. This is set against a backdrop of long-term climate change lacking a simple explanation.

My primary research tools are numerical models. These range from complex general circulation models of the ocean, such as MITgcm (http://mitgcm.org) or NEMO (https://www.nemo-ocean.eu), to self-written codes using simplified sets of equations. My preferred approach is to use idealised modelling domains in which unneeded complexity is replaced in favour of isolating the key mechanisms of interest, e.g. using a channel model to represent the Southern Ocean. Recently I have returned to using numerical models that include carbon cycling, which allows for a strong link to be made between circulation changes and global climate.

Project Interests

I am interested in developing projects looking at changes in ocean connectivity during the Eocene (30-35 million years ago) and how this might have impacted ocean circulation and ocean carbon storage. This could include the opening/closing of low latitude ocean gateways, such as during the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, or investigating the role of ocean processes, such as ocean mixing, during gateway opening/closure. Idealised numerical configurations already exist that could be modified for many purposes.