Research interests
I am broadly interested in geophysical fluid dynamics, especially within the context of coastal ocean processes. Currently, my research focuses on buoyancy-driven circulation on continental shelves such as plumes and coastal currents, and estuarine flows. The approach mostly involves conceptually simple numerical experiments, from which mathematical models or scaling could be developed. The goal is to gain understanding of dynamical behavior that is similar in the diverse coastal systems.
Education
1999 B.A. (Physics) National Taiwan University (NTU)
2002 M.S. (Physics) National Taiwan University
2008 Ph.D (Physical Oceanography) University of Maryland, College Park
Employment
2015–present Associate Professor, Institute of Oceanography, NTU
2011–2015 Assistant Professor, Institute of Oceanography, NTU
2011–present Adjunct Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
2008–2011 Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Honors and Awards
2016 Ta-You Wu Memorial Award (吳大猷先生紀念奬)
2014 NTU Outstanding Teaching Award
2013 Donald W. Pritchard Award (Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation, USA)
2013,2014 NTU Outstanding Academic Performance Award
2008 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Postdoctoral Scholarship
2008 Outstanding Student Presentation Award, American Geophysical Union, Ocean Sciences
Selected Recent Publications
Chen, S.Y., and S. N. Chen*, 2017: Generation of upwelling circulation under downwelling-favorable wind in bottom-attached, buoyant coastal currents, Journal of Physical Oceanography, under revision.
Chen, S. N., 2017: Bathymetric Influences on the Estuarine Equilibrium Length and Adjustment Time, Journal of Physical Oceanography, in press.
Chen, S. N., 2015: Asymmetric estuarine responses to changes in river forcing: a consequence of nonlinear salt flux, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 45(11), 2836–2847.
Chen, S. N., 2014: Enhancement of along-shore freshwater transport in surface-advected river plumes by tides, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 44, 2951-2971.
Chen, S. N., W. R. Geyer, and T. J. Hsu, 2013: A numerical investigation of the dynamics of hyperpycnal river plumes on sloping shelves, Journal of Geophysical Research, 118, 2702-2718, doi:10.1002/jgrc.20209.
Hsu, T. J., S. N. Chen, and A. S. Ogston, 2013: The landward and seaward mechanisms of fine-sediment transport across intertidal flats in the shallow-water region — A numerical investigation, Continental Shelf Research, 60, S85-S98.
Chen, S. N., W. R. Geyer, D. K. Ralston, and J. A. Lerczak, 2012: Estuarine exchange flow quantified with isohaline coordinates: contrasting long and short estuaries, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 42, 748-763.
Ganju, N. K., M. Hayn, S. N. Chen, R. W. Howarth, P. J. Dickhudt, C. R. Sherwood, A. L. Aretxabaleta, and R. Marino, 2012: Tidal and groundwater fluxes to a shallow, microtidal estuary: constraining inputs through field observations and hydrodynamic modeling, Estuaries and Coasts, 35(5), 1285-1298.
Chen, S. N., W. R. Geyer, C. R. Sherwood, and D. K. Ralston, 2010: Sediment transport and deposition on a river-dominated tidal flat: an idealized model study. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, C10040, doi:10.1029/2010JC006248.
Chen, S. N., L. P. Sanford, and D. K. Ralston, 2009: Lateral circulation and sediment transport driven by axial winds in an idealized partially-mixed estuaries. Journal of Geophysical Research, 114, C12006, doi:10.1029/2008JC005014.
Chen, S. N. and L. P. Sanford, 2009: Axial wind effects on stratification and longitudinal salt transport in an idealized, partially Mixed Estuary. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 39, 1905-1920.
Chen, S. N. and L. P. Sanford, 2008: Lateral circulation driven by boundary mixing and the associated transport of sediments in idealized partially-mixed estuaries. Continental Shelf Research, doi:10.1016/j.csr.2008.01.001.
Selected Presentations
2014-2015 University of Washington, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Oregon State University: “Estuarine Adjustment to River Forcing : some consequences of nonlinearity and bathymetric variations”
2013-2014 Department of Civil Engineering (NTU), Institute of Hydrological and Oceanic Sciences, National Central University: “Enhancement of coastal current transport by tides in surface-advected river plumes”
2012-2013 Taida Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Institute of Applied Mechanics, Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering (NTU), Research Center for Environmental Changes (Academia Sinica), National Sun Yat-sen University: “The dynamics of sediment-laden river outflows on sloping continental shelves”
2011-2012 National Taiwan Normal University, National Central University, National Taiwan Ocean University: “Baroclinic and tidal exchange between estuaries and coastal oceans”
2011-2012 University of Delaware, University of Massachusetts, and University of Maryland: “Structures and parameter dependence of estuarine exchange flow: contrasting long and short estuaries”
2010-2011 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Research Center for Environmental Changes (Academia Sinica): “Sediment and flow dynamics on an intertidal flat: Idealized model and implications for the Skagit Bay”
2008-2010 Stanford University (Environmental Fluid Mechanics Seminar), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Rutgers University: “Axial wind effects on stratification and salt transport in an idealized partially mixed estuary”
Professional Affiliations and Service
Member of American Geophysical Union (AGU), Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF)
Reviewer for Journal of Physical Oceanography, Journal of Geophysical Research-Ocean, Continental Shelf Research, Ocean Dynamics, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science, Journal of Marine System.
Selected Conference Proceeding and Abstracts
Chen, S. N., 2014: Enhancement of coastal current transport by tides in surface-advected river plumes. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI, USA, 23-28 Feb..
Lu, K. F. and S. N. Chen, 2014: Effect of oscillatory ambient currents on the spreading of hyperpycnal river outflows. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI, USA, 23-28 Feb..
Chen, S. N., 2013: Stream-normal momentum budgets and freshwater transport in buoyant river outflows. Gordon Research Conference on Coastal Ocean Circulation, University of New England, ME, USA, 9-14 June.
Chen, S. N. and W. R. Geyer, 2012: Cross-stream momentum balance of surface plumes. 16th Biennial international conference on Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas (PECS), New York City, NY, USA, 12-16 Aug..
Chen, S. N. and W. R. Geyer, 2012: Across-stream momentum budget of positively and negatively buoyant river outflows. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 20-24 Feb..
Geyer, W. R., P. MacCready, S. N. Chen, and D. A. Sutherland, 2012: Exchange flow at a fjord sill: parameterizing the transition from 2-layer hydraulics to three-dimensional tidal dispersion. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 20-24 Feb..
Chen, S. N., W. R. Geyer, D. K. Ralston, and J. A. Lerczak, 2011: Estuarine exchange flow quantified with isohaline coordinates. 21th Biennial Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, Daytona Beach, FL, USA, 6-10, Nov..
Geyer, W.R. and S. N. Chen, 2011: Overmixed or Overpumped? Tidal influence on estuarine exchange flow. 21th Biennial Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, Daytona Beach, FL, USA, 6-10, Nov..
Selected Field Experience
2014 Fishing boat, Tamsui River Estuary, Salinity (CTD), suspended sediment, and velocity
(ADCP) surveys
2010 R/V Lucky Lady, Merrimack River mouth, Drifters release/retrieval and ADCP/CTD
surveys
2009 R/V Centennial, Skagit Bay, Mooring deployment (with acoustic and optical sensors for
measuring turbulence and suspended particles)
2008 R/V Tioga, Connecticut River mouth, MAST (Mobile Array for Sensing Turbulence) and
free-falling coastal microstructure turbulence profiler
2008 R/V Hugh R. Sharp, Chesapeake Bay, CTD/ADCP surveys, Digital Imaging Particle Settling
Tube operation
