Project member Tridib Banerjee receives the Bremen Dissertation Award

This award is a collaborative initiative between the University of Bremen, Constructor University and the Unifreunde Bremen, recognizing outstanding dissertations across all disciplines. Nominations are submitted solely by professors, and candidates must have achieved a distinction in their theses. The award aims to honor innovative and impactful research that advances knowledge in various fields.

Tridib Banerjee completed a cumulative dissertation at Constructor University Bremen, which includes several published papers. The primary reason for his recognition was a particular paper titled "Discrete variance decay analysis of spurious mixing", which was pivotal in earning him the award. His research tackles a major challenge in ocean modeling: false or spurious mixing caused by the numerical schemes used in computer simulations of ocean dynamics. When scientists use computational models to simulate the movement of heat, salt, or other tracers in the ocean, the numerical methods can inadvertently introduce artificial mixing that does not occur in nature. This "spurious mixing" can significantly distort predictions made by the models and impact climate studies. In his awarded paper, Tridib developed a new, precise method to quantify and distinguish between real physical mixing and numerical artifacts at every point in a simulation. His approach involved creating formulas that enable modelers to identify how much mixing originates from the numerical schemes versus natural ocean physics.

This breakthrough allows for better diagnosis and mitigation of artificial mixing, leading to more accurate and reliable ocean modeling. The practical significance of his work was underscored when the Alfred Wegener Institute adopted his techniques to diagnose and improve their global ocean models, demonstrating the wide-reaching impact of his research.

We warmly congratulate Tridib Banerjee on this well-deserved recognition! His achievement highlights the vital role of innovative computational methods in advancing ocean science and climate research.