Wind and Waves 
Ocean surface waves are an important phenomenon in many aspects of oceanography, while also crossing many disciplines, from meteorology to sediment transport, renewable energy, coastal morphology and coastal engineering. Waves have direct impact on safe navigation and coastal erosion, while also mediating ocean-atmosphere interactions with transfers of momentum, heat, water, carbon dioxide and other quantities. While often regarded as a topic separate from oceanography, ocean waves are included in global meteorological centre forecasts, and studies of other processes may neglect them at their peril, as they are often implicitly accounted for, while their variability may not be properly understood. The study of waves takes in many widely-varied skills, from in situ observations to satellite remote sensing, from statistics of extremes to long-term climatic trends, and from modelling of ocean waves on global scales down to details of wave-current interactions or the bottom boundary layer in shallow water.
Aims of the SIG:
1) To promote research in ocean surface waves and collaborations with other disciplines
2) Develop connections in the UK waves research community, and introduce scientists and engineers to each other for networking
3) To encourage early-career researchers in this field by providing a platform for presentations and interactions.
4) Discuss the future priorities for waves research in UK
How can you get involved in the SIG?
Please contact Lucy Bricheno: luic@noc.ac.uk to find out more about the special interest group, and join our future meetings.
The next meeting of the waves SIG will be hosted at Oxford University in Spring 2024. To find out more or join the emailing list, please contact Lucy Bricheno luic@noc.ac.uk
You can read more about the special interest group, and sign-up to our mailing list by visiting our website here:
https://projects.noc.ac.uk/windwavesSIG/
Recent Activities:
• 5th September 2022, Natural History Museum, London
• 7th September 2020 held online over Zoom
• 14th September 2018, University of Newcastle: (combined with Ocean Modelling SIG)
• 19th – 20th October 2016, HR Wallingford, Oxfordshire
• 22nd March 2012, Foresight Centre, Liverpool
Updated 24/03/2022
Latest News
Potential Availability of NERC Ship Time During the 25/26 Programme Year
The NERC Marine Facilities Programme for 2025/2026 for the RRS Discovery and the RRS James Cook has been published on the Marine Facilities Planning website.
The RRS Discovery programme currently contains a 79 day alongside slot between the 2nd of November 2025 and the 19th of January 2026, which is available for science delivery if funded science projects can make use of this time. Due to the location of the vessel, the ship is most likely to be able to deliver fieldwork in the North and East Atlantic regions. Some support for science capability within the National Marine Equipment Pool is potentially available, although there is no capacity for use of autonomous vehicles or remotely operated vehicles. Any fieldwork within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) will need the appropriate diplomatic clearance submitted to coastal states at least 6 months in advance, and to NMF with sufficient lead time for processing via the FCDO.
If interested in making use of this ship time, please contact NERC Marine Planning (marineplanning@nerc.ukri.org) ASAP to start discussions.
THE MARINE FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD – CAN YOU HELP?
The Marine Facilities Advisory Board advises the National Oceanography Centre on marine facilities and services, including the Natural Environment Research Council’s National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the British Oceanographic Data Centre and the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility.
NOC Association AGM 2025
NOC Association (NOCA) AGM 2025
The 14th AGM of the NOC Association will be held on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May 2025. This free, on-line event will take place on Zoom, across two consecutive mornings, each starting at 10:00 and ending at 12:30. Although discussion topics are being finalised, we will focus on national capability (NC) science, ships, and autonomous vehicles, and how the community can engage. There will be an update on AtlantiS and on the new marine science scoping group. All are warmly welcome to join. To participate, please complete your registration here. For enquiries: Jackie Pearson, Secretary to NOCA: jfpea@noc.ac.uk