APPLIED MATH SEMINAR

Speaker: Andrew J. Wells, Applied Mathematics, Yale University

Title: Multiscale, moving boundary problems in geophysics and industry

When/where: Tuesday, December 8th, 4:15 PM, AKW 200

Abstract:
Mathematical modelling of the space-time evolution of two-phase two- component
systems poses significant challenges for computation and  theory, which often
need to describe phenomena acting on a variety of  disparate scales.  The
ubiquity of these phenomena, from geophysical  to industrial solidification and
fluid flow, demands a general approach. A compelling example is the changing
Arctic sea ice cover,  which represents one of the most visible and large scale
free  boundary problems on the planet. Sea ice is influenced on scales  ranging
from atmospheric disturbances over hundreds of kilometres, down to ice
microstructure variation over less than a millimetre. I discuss the nature
of some of these challenges, before considering  how homogenised conservation
laws and asymptotic simplifications can  be used to describe the influence of
evolving ice microstructure on  brine drainage from young sea ice. The
resulting dynamics are also of relevance in geological and metallurgical
problems.