GRADUATE PROGRAM IN
FIRE DYNAMICS
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING AND THE GEOPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS INSTITUTE (GFDI)
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The program is about the study of fire in nature as a fluid dynamical phenomenon, with complex physical, chemical, and turbulent in-teractions with the environment. Our program emphasizes basic mathematical and physical concepts, the application of atmospheric dynamical principles, and supports both laboratory and field experimental inquiry. The program in fire dynamics may be of interest to: physical science and mathematically prepared students who are interested in the environment and natural systems; meteorology stu-dents interested in the role of aerosols, particulates, and gases emitted by forest fires and prescribed burning; physics or engineering students desiring to apply their knowledge to combustion in a natural environment; wildland fire experts who desire to further their aca-demic career; computationally oriented students who desire to solve a problem of direct importance to society; and management and agency personnel who deal with the impact of wild land fires.
FACILITIES
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute facilities include a large modern laboratory for hydrodynamics experiments, a colloquium room and reading room (furnished with books and periodicals in fluid dynamics, classical physics, applied mathematics, geophysical sciences, and astrophysical sciences), a photographic and illustrations laboratory, a large modern machine shop, a precision instrument-makers laboratory, and faculty and student offices. Institute facilities also include several precision rotating turntables, a six-meter water chan-nel, convection tanks, temperature controlling systems, general and digital photographic systems, multi-channel data acquisition sys-tems, laser facilities, various machine tools, and other electronic equipment. The institute houses a facility for measuring ocean turbu-lence as well.