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Staff Profile

Professor Andrew Willmott

Professor of Physical Oceanography

  • Email: andrew.willmott@ncl.ac.uk
  • Address: School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
    Herschel Building,
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle Upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
    United Kingdon
Background
I am Professor of Physical Oceanography based in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics. From 1 August 2020, I work 2 days per week. 
Research

My research interests are:

  1. Dynamics of polar oceans
  2. Vorticity wave dynamics in the ocean
  3. Large-scale ocean circulation theories
  4. Modelling plastic trajectories in the ocean

Publications
  • Gavilan Pascual-Ahuir E, Willmott AJ, Morales Maqueda M, Luneva M. Topographical Control of the Source-Sink and Wind Stress-Driven Planetary Geostrophic Circulation in a Polar Basin. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 2020, 125(3), e2019JC015571.
  • Bassom AP, Willmott AJ. Accurate approximations for planetary and gravity waves in a polar basin. Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology & Oceanography 2019, 71(1), 1-7.
  • de Boer AM, Gavilan Pascual-Ahuir E, Stevens DP, Chafik L, Hutchinson DK, Zhang Q, Sime LC, Willmott AJ. Interconnectivity between volume transports through Arctic straits. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 2018, 123(12), 8714-8729.
  • Willmott AJ, Pascual-Ahuir EG. Planetary and gravity waves in a polar basin. Journal of Physical Oceanography 2017, 47(6), 1433-1440.
  • Willmott AJ. Introduction [Special issue: The Dynamics of Shelf Seas. Guest editor: Andrew Willmott]. Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2015, 109(3), 205-206.
  • Willmott AJ, Luneva MV. Steady, barotropic wind and boundary-driven circulation on a polar plane. Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2015, 109(3), 216-233.
  • Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ, Walkington IA. The opening of wind-driven polynyas. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 2014, 746, 236-272.
  • Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ. Shelf sea circulation at high latitudes. In: C.N.K. Mooers, P. Craig and N. Huang, ed. Coupled coastal wind, wave and current dynamics. Cambridge University Press, 2013. In Press.
  • Luneva M, Willmott AJ, Morales Maqueda MA. Geostrophic adjustment problems in a polar basin. Atmosphere-Ocean 2012, 50(2), 134-155.
  • Postlethwaite CF, Morales Maqueda MA, le Fouest V, Tattersall GR, Holt J, Willmott AJ. The effect of tides on dense water formation in Arctic shelf seas. Ocean Science 2011, 7, 203-217.
  • Willmott AJ, Cushman-Roisin B. Barotropic instability of coastal flows as a boundary-value problem: linear and non-linear theory. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2009, 103(4), 279-292.
  • Davies AM, Xing J, Willmott AJ. Influence of open boundary conditions and sill height upon seiche motion in a gulf. Ocean Dynamics 2009, 59(6), 863-879.
  • Walkington IA, Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ. A robust and computationally efficient model of a two-dimensional coastal polynya. Ocean Modelling 2007, 17(2), 140-152.
  • Holland D, Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ. Polynya Modelling. In: W. O. Smith and D. G. Barber, ed. Polynyas: Windows to the World. Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd, 2007, pp.87-122.
  • Walkington IA, Willmott AJ. A coupled coastal polynya-atmospheric boundary layer model. Journal of Physical Oceanography 2006, 36(5), 897-913.
  • Owen G, Willmott AJ, Abrahams ID. Scattering of barotropic Rossby waves by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 2006, 111(C12), C12024.
  • Cushman-Roisin B, Willmott AJ, Biggs NRT. Influence of stratification on decaying surface seiche modes. Continental Shelf Research 2005, 25(2), 227-242.
  • Owen GW, Willmott AJ, Abrahams ID, Mansley H. The scattering of Rossby waves from finite abrupt topography. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2005, 99(3), 219-239.
  • Willmott AJ. Waves in the Ocean and the Atmosphere by J. Pedlosky [Book review]. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2005, 99(4), 349-351.
  • Biggs NRT, Austin LMC, Willmott AJ. A model for the closure of a two-dimensional coastal latent heat polynya. Ocean Modelling 2004, 7(1-2), 211-226.
  • Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ, Biggs NRT. Polynya dynamics: A review of observations and modeling. Reviews of Geophysics 2004, 42(1), RG1004.
  • Willmott AJ. The Climate of the Arctic by R. Pryzybylak [Book review]. The Holocene 2004, 14(5), 798-799.
  • Walkington IA, Willmott AJ. The effect of topography on the steady-state wind and buoyancy-driven Subtropical Gyre. Journal of Marine Research 2004, 62(3), 373-418.
  • Biggs NRT, Willmott AJ. Unsteady polynya flux model solutions incorporating a parameterization for the collection thickness of consolidated new ice. Ocean Modelling 2004, 7(3-4), 343-361.
  • Tear S, Willmott AJ, Biggs NRT, Morales Maqueda MA. One-dimensional models for the closure of a coastal latent heat polynya. Journal of Physical Oceanography 2003, 33(2), 329-342.
  • Owen GW, Abrahams ID, Willmott AJ, Hughes CA. On the scattering of baroclinic Rossby waves by a ridge in a continuously stratified ocean. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 2002, 465, 131-155.
  • Scott RB, Willmott AJ. Steady-state frictional geostrophic circulation in a one-layer ocean model with thermodynamics. Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans 2002, 35(4), 389-419.
  • Abrahams ID, Owen GW, Willmott AJ. The scattering of Rossby waves by ocean ridges. In: Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on Diffraction and Scattering in Fluid Mechanics and Elasticity. 2002, Manchester, UK: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  • Biggs NRT, Willmott AJ. A steady-state coupled ocean-polynya flux model of the North Water, Baffin Bay. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2001, 95(1-2), 1-29.
  • Bjornsson H, Willmott AJ, Mysak LA, Morales Maqueda MA. Polynyas in a high-resolution dynamicthermodynamic sea ice model and their parameterization using flux models. Tellus Series A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography 2001, 53A(2), 245-265.
  • Hines A, Willmott AJ. Solution of the linear thermocline equations driven by wind stress and thermohaline forcing. Atmosphere-Ocean 2001, 39(1), 23-34.
  • Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ. A two-dimensional time-dependent model of a wind-driven coastal polynya: application to the St. Lawrence Island Polynya. Journal of Physical Oceanography 2000, 30, 1281-1304.
  • Biggs NRT, Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ. Polynya flux model solutions incorporating a parameterization for the collection thickness of consolidated new ice. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 2000, 408, 179-204.
  • Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ, DarbY MS. A numerical model for interdecadal variability of sea ice cover in the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian Sea. Climate Dynamics 1999, 15(2), 89-113.
  • Morales Maqueda MA, Willmott AJ, Bamber JL, Darby MS. An investigation of the small ice cap instabilty in the Southern Hemisphere with a coupled atmosphere-sea ice-ocean-terrestrial ice model. Climate Dynamics 1998, 14(5), 329-352.
  • Grimshaw RHJ, Willmott AJ, Killworth PD. Energetics of linear geostrophic adjustment in stratified rotating fluids. Journal of Marine Research 1998, 56(6), 1203-1224.
  • Edwards NR, Willmott AJ, Killworth PD. On the role of topography and wind stress on the stability of the thermohaline circulation. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1998, 28(5), 756-778.
  • Willmott AJ, Morales Maqueda MA, Darby MS. A model for the influence of wind and oceanic currents on the size of a steady-state latent heat coastal polynya. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1997, 27(10), 2256-2275.
  • Willmott AJ, Collings IL. A steady state two-dimensional model for the maintenance of shelf break fronts. Continental Shelf Research 1997, 17(9), 1119-1139.
  • Hines A, Willmott AJ. Unsteady abyssal circulation driven by a discrete buoyancy source in a continuously stratified ocean. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1997, 27(7), 1349-1370.
  • Willmott AJ, Edwards NR, Killworth PD. Abyssal circulation in a circumpolar basin driven by discrete sources of buoyancy. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1996, 26(1), 49-64.
  • Willmott AJ, Grimshaw RHJ. A simple model for unsteady buoyancy-driven abyssal circulation. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1995, 81(3-4), 131-158.
  • Willmott AJ, Johnson ER. On geostrophic adjustment of a two-layer, uniformly rotating fluid in the presence of a step escarpment. Journal of Marine Research 1995, 53(1), 49-77.
  • Darby MS, Willmott AJ. Vacillating ocean gyres: an instability mechanism in a thermodynamic reduced gravity ocean model. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1995, 80(1-2), 25-56.
  • Darby MS, Willmott AJ, Mysak LA. A nonlinear steady-state model of the North Water Polynya, Baffin Bay. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1994, 24(5), 1011-1020.
  • Willmott AJ, Thomson RE. Forced shelf wave dynamics for a discontinuous shelf width: application to Vancouver Island. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1994, 24(6), 1347-1367.
  • Darby MS, Willmott AJ, Somerville TA. On the influence of coastline orientation on the steady state width of a latent heat polynya. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 1994, 100(C7), 13625-13633.
  • Willmott AJ, Collings IL. Steady, frictionally modified wind and current forced shelf circulation: application to Vancouver Island. Continental Shelf Research 1994, 14(13-14), 1601-1620.
  • Darby MS, Willmott AJ. A simple time-dependent coupled ice-ocean model with application to the Greenland-Norwegian Sea. Tellus Series A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography 1993, 45A(3), 221-246.
  • Willmott AJ. Nonlinear Topics in Ocean Physics, A.R. Osborne (ed.) [Book review]. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1993, 69(1-4), 257-263.
  • Darby MS, Willmott AJ. Rossby wave propagation in an ocean with variable mixed layer depth. In: S.D. Mobbs, J.C. King, ed. Waves and Turbulence in Stably Stratified Flows. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993, pp.275-300.
  • Wright DG, Willmott AJ. Buoyancy-driven abyssal circulation in a circumpolar basin. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1992, 22(2), 139-154.
  • Willmott AJ, Murphy DG. On steady, frictional, wind-driven ocean circulation with topography in a circumpolar basin. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1992, 66(1-4), 87-100.
  • Willmott AJ, Grimshaw RHJ. Reply to comments on "The evolution of a coastal current over the wedge shaped escarpment". Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1992, 65(1), 251-253.
  • Wallace HM, Willmott AJ. A three-layer model of ocean fronts. Tellus Series A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography 1991, 43A(3), 235-245.
  • The FRAM Group. An eddy-resolving model of the Southern Ocean. EOS Transactions 1991, 72(15), 169-184.
  • Wallace HM, Willmott AJ. Coastal-trapped waves in elliptical lakes and around elliptical islands. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1991, 56(1-4), 81-114.
  • Murphy DG, Willmott AJ. Rossby wave scattering by a meridional line barrier in an infinitely long zonal channel. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1991, 21(5), 621-634.
  • Willmott AJ, Grimshaw RHJ. The evolution of coastal currents over a wedge-shaped escarpment. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1991, 57, 19-48.
  • Willmott AJ, Darby MS. Nonlinear Rossby waves in a thermodynamic reduced gravity ocean. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1990, 54(3-4), 189-227.
  • Darby MS, Willmott AJ. On Rossby wave propagation in a meridionally stratified channel. Pure and Applied Geophysics 1990, 133(4), 691-712.
  • Darby MS, Willmott AJ. On the generation and propagation of Rossby waves in an ocean with a zonally shoaling mixed layer. Journal of Marine Research 1990, 48(2), 287-317.
  • Willmott AJ, Mysak LA. A simple steady-state coupled ice-ocean model, with application to the Greenland-Norwegian Sea. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1989, 19(4), 501-518.
  • Willmott AJ, Johnson ER. Topographic waves in a rotating stratified basin. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1989, 45(1-2), 71-87.
  • Willmott AJ. Comments on "Wind-forced continental shelf waves from a geographical origin". Continental Shelf Research 1988, 8(1), 107-110.
  • Wood RG, Willmott AJ. The generation of baroclinic Rossby waves by stationary and translating currents part 1. Stationary current forcing. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1988, 41, 287-311.
  • Wood RG, Willmott AJ. The generation of baroclinic Rossby waves by stationary and translating currents. Part 2. Translating current forcing. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1988, 42(3-4), 247-268.
  • Willmott AJ, Edwards PD. A numerical model for the generation of tidally forced nonlinear internal waves over topography. Continental Shelf Research 1987, 7(5), 457-484.
  • Willmott AJ. A note on the steepening of long Rossby waves. Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers 1985, 32(5), 613-617.
  • Willmott AJ. The generation of baroclinic Rossby waves by meridional oscillations of a zonal wind stress. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1985, 34(1-4), 39-63.
  • Willmott AJ. Forced double Kelvin waves in a stratified ocean. Journal of Marine Research 1984, 42(2), 319-358.
  • Willmott AJ, Bird AA. Freely propagating trench waves on a beta-plane. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1983, 13(9), 1659-1668.
  • Willmott AJ. The influence of a coastal headland on oceanic boundary currents. Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 1983, 23(4), 273-299.
  • Johnson JA, Willmott AJ. An unsteady wind-driven ocean circulation model. Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans 1981, 6(1), 1-27.
  • Mysak LA, Willmott AJ. Forced trench waves. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1981, 11(11), 1481-1502.
  • Willmott AJ. The spin down of a stratified ocean. Deep Sea Research Part A: Oceanographic Research Papers 1981, 28(3), 239-250.
  • Willmott AJ, Mysak LA. Atmospherically forced eddies in the Northeast Pacific. Journal of Physical Oceanography 1980, 10(11), 1769-1791.
  • Willmott AJ, Johnson JA. The effects of horizontal momentum exchange on the spin-up of a stratified ocean. Deep Sea Research Part A: Oceanographic Research Papers 1979, 26(11), 1247-1265.