Larry Armi

Professor/Researcher

Room: Munk Lab 332

Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics,
Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, CA 92093-0225, USA.

Telephone: (858) 534-6843

Email: larmi@ucsd.edu

Research Interests:

• Oceanic mixing and circulation
• Stratified flows in the ocean, atmosphere, laboratory, and engineering applications
• Coherent vortices (meddies)

Courses Taught:

• AMES214B (Intro/Turbulence&Turbulnt Mixg)
• MAE214B (Ocean Turbulence and Mixing)
• MAE216 (Turbulence and Mixing)
• MAE224 (Environmental Fluid Dynamics)
• SIO213 (Ocean Turbulence and Mixing)
• SIO213 (Turbulence and Mixing)
• SIO214B (Environmental Fluid Dynamics)
• SIO299 (Research)

Recent publications: ^†

• Zenk, W. and Armi, L., 1990. The complex spreading pattern of Mediterranean Water off the Portuguese continental slope. Deep-Sea Res., 17, 1805-1823.
• Williams, R. and Armi, L., 1991. Two-layer hydraulics with comparable internal wave speeds. J. Fluid Mech., 230, 667-691.
• Williams, R. and Armi, L., 1991. The planetary boundary layer of the Deep Western Boundary Undercurrent. Deep-Sea Res., 38, 393-399.
• Washburn, L. and Armi, L., 1988. Observations of frontal instabilities on an upwelling filament. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 18, 1075-1092.
• Stommel, H. and Armi, L., 1984. Un modèle inertio-hydraulique de convection thermique. A hydraulic-inertial model of thermal convection. Comptes Rendus, 299, Série II, 937-942.
• Siedler, G., Armi, L. and Mueller, T. J., 2005. Meddies and decadal changes at the Azores Front from 1980 to 2000. Deep-Sea Res. II, 55, 583-604.
• Richardson, P.L., Walsh, D., Armi, L., Schröder, M. and Price, J.F., 1989. Tracking three Meddies with SOFAR floats. J. Phys. Oceanography, 19, 371-383.
• Ralph, F. M., Armi, L., Bane, J. M., Dorman, C., Neff, W. D., Neiman, P. J., Nuss, W. and Persson, P. O. G., 1998. Observations and analysis of the 10-11 June 1994 coastally trapped disturbance. Monthly Weather Review, 126, 2435-2465.
• Pratt, L. and Armi, L., 1990. Two-layer rotating hydraulics: Stangulation, remote and virtual controls. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 133, 587-617.
• Pawlak, G. and Armi, L., 2000. Mixing and entrainment in developing stratified currents. J. Fluid Mech., 424, 45-73.
• Pawlak, G. and Armi, L., 1998. Vortex dynamics in a spatially accelerating shear layer. J. of Fluid Mech., 376, 1-35.
• Pawlak, G. and Armi, L., 1997. Hydraulics of two-layer arrested wedge flows. J. of Hydraulic Res., 35, 603-618.
• Pawlak, G. and Armi, L., 1996. Stability and mixing of a two-layer exchange flow. Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans, 24, 139-151. Bower, A., Armi, L. and Ambar, I., 1997. Lagrangian observations of Meddy formation during A Mediterranean Undercurrent Seeding Experiment (AMUSE). J. of Phys. Oceanography, 27, 2545-2575.
• Munk, W., Armi, L., Fischer, K. and Zachariasen, F., 2000. Spirals on the sea. Proc. Roy. Soc.Lond. A, 456, 1217-1280.
• Moum, J.N., Farmer, D.M., Smyth, W.D., Armi, L., and Vagle, S. 2003. Structure and generation of turbulence at interfaces strained by internal solitary waves propagating shoreward over the continental shelf. J. Phys. Oceanography, 33, 2093-2112.
• Moum, J. N., Farmer, D. N., Shroyer, E. L., Smyth, W. D. and Armi, L. 2007. Dissipative losses in nonlinear internal waves propagating across the Continental shelf. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 37, 1989-1995.
• Mayr, G.J. and Armi, L. 2008. Foehn as a response to changing upstream and downstream air masses. Q. J. R. Met. Soc., 134, 1357-1369.
• Mayr, G., Armi, L., Gohm, A., Zaengl, G., Durran, D. R., Flament, C., Gabersek, S., Mobbs, S., Ross, A., and Weissmann, M. 2007. Gap flows: Results from the Mesoscale Alpine Programme. Q. J. R. Met. Soc., 133, 881-896.
• Mayr, G. J., Armi, L., Arnold, S., Banta, R. M., Darby, L. S., Durran, D. R., Gabersek, S., Gohm, A., Mayr, R., Mobbs, S., Nance, L. B., Vergeiner, I. Vergeiner, J. and Whiteman, C. D. 2004. GAP flow measurements during the Mesoscale Alpine Programme. Met. and Atm. Phys., 86, 99-119.
• Lumpkin, R., Flament, P., Kloosterziel, R. and Armi, L., 2000. Vortex merging in a 1½-layer fluid on an ƒ-plane. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 30, 233-242.
• Jenkins, S.A., Armi, L. and Wasyl, J., 1992. Glide optimization for cross country wave flights. Technical Soaring, 16, 3-16.
• Hedstrom, K. and Armi, L., 1988. An experimental study of homogeneous lenses in a stratified rotating fluid. J. Fluid Mech., 191, 535-556.
• Flament, P., Lumpkin, R., Tournadre, J. and Armi, L., 2001. Vortex pairing in an unstable anticyclonic shear flow:discrete subharmonics of one pendulum day. J. Fluid Mech, 440, 401-409.
• Flament, P., Armi, L. and Washburn, L., 1985. The evolving structure of an upwelling filament, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 11,765-11,778.
• Flament, P. and Armi, L., 2000. The shear, convergence and thermohaline structure of a front. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 30, 51-66.
• Flament, P. and Armi, L., 1985. A series of satellite images showing the development of shear instabilities, EOS, 66(27), 523 and cover.
• Farmer, D. and Armi, L., 1999. The generation and trapping of solitary waves over topography. Science, 283, 188-190.
• Farmer, D. and Armi, L., 1999. Stratified flow over topography: The role of small scale entrainment and mixing in flow establishment. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A, 455, 3221-3258.
• Farmer, D. and Armi, L., 1986. Maximal two-layer exchange over a sill and through the combination of a sill and contraction with barotropic flow, J. Fluid Mech., 164, 53-76. Pratt, L. J. and Armi, L., 1987. Hydraulic control of flows with nonuniform potential vorticity. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 17, 2016-2029.
• Farmer, D. and Armi, L. 2001. Stratified flow over topography: models versus observations. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A, 457, 2827-2830.
• Eastwood, C. D., Armi, L. and Lasheras, J. C. 2004. The break-up of immiscible fluids in turbulent flows. J. Fluid Mech.,502, 309-333.
• Dorman, C. E., Armi, L., Bane, J. M. and Rogers, D. P., 1998. Sea surface mixed layer during the June 10-11, 1994 coastally trapped event. Monthly Weather Review, 126, 600-619.
• Cummins, P.F., Vagle, S., Armi, L. and Farmer, D. 2003. Stratified flow over topography: Upstream influence and generation of nonlinear internal waves. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A, 459, 1467-1487.
• Cummins, P.F., Armi, L. and Vagle, S. 2006. Upstream internal hydraulic jumps. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 36, 753-769.
• Bower, A., Armi, L. and Ambar, I., 1995. Direct evidence of Meddy formation off the southwestern coast of Portugal. Deep-Sea Res., 42, 1621-1630.
• Armi, L., Hebert, D., Oakey, N., Price J., Richardson, P., Rossby, T. and Ruddick, B., 1989. Two years in the life of a Mediterranean salt lens. J. Phys. Oceanography, 19, 354-370.
• Armi, L., 1989. Hydraulic control of zonal currents on a -plane. J. Fluid Mech., 201, 357-377.
• Armi, L., 1986. The hydraulics of two flowing layers with different densities, J. Fluid Mech., 163, 27-58. Armi, L. and Farmer, D., 1986. Maximal two-layer exchange through a contraction with barotropic net flow, J. Fluid Mech., 164, 27-51.
• Armi, L., 1980. Anomalous water in the deep ocean suggest lateral advection/stirring. Science, 208, 1061-1062.
• Armi, L., 1979. Effects of variations in eddy diffusivity on property distributions in the oceans. J. Mar. Res., 37, 515-530.
• Armi, L., 1979. Reply to comments by C. Garrett on "Some evidence for boundary mixing in the deep ocean." J. Geophys. Res., 84, 5097-5098.
• Armi, L., 1978. Some evidence for boundary mixing in the deep ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 83, 1971-1979.
• Armi, L., 1978. Mixing in the deep ocean - the importance of boundaries, Oceanus, 21, 14-19.
• Armi, L., 1977. The dynamics of the bottom boundary layer of the deep ocean. In: Bottom Turbulence , J.C.J. Nihoul, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, pp. 153-164.
• Armi, L. and Zenk, W., 1984. Large lenses of highly saline Mediterranean Water. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 14, 1560-1576.
• Armi, L. and Williams, R., 1993. The hydraulics of a stratified fluid flowing through a contraction. J. Fluid Mech., 251, 355-375.
• Armi, L. and Williams, R., 1991. The Deep Western Boundary Undercurrent off the Newfoundland Ridge. Deep-Sea Res., 38, 371-391.
• Armi, L. and Stommel, H., 1983. Four views of a portion of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 13, 828-857.
• Armi, L. and Riemenschneider, U. 2008. Two-Layer hydraulics for co-located crest and narrows. J. Fluid Mech., 615, 169-184.
• Armi, L. and Millard, Jr., R.C., 1976. The bottom boundary layer of the deep ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 81, 4983-4990.
• Armi, L. and Mayr, G. J. 2007. Continuously stratified flows across an alpine crest with a pass: Shallow and deep foehn. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 133, 459-477.
• Armi, L. and Flament, P., 1985. Cautionary remarks on the spectral interpretation of turbulent flows, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 11,779-11,782.
• Armi, L. and Farmer, D., 1988. The flow of Mediterranean Water through the Strait of Gibraltar. Progress in Oceanography, 21, 1-105. Farmer, D. and Armi, L., 1988. The flow of Atlantic Water through the Strait of Gibraltar. Progress in Oceanography, 21, 1-105.
• Armi, L. and Farmer, D., 1987. On a generalization of the concept of maximal exchange in a strait. J. Geophys. Res., 92, 14,679-14,680.
• Armi, L. and Farmer, D., 1985. The internal hydraulics of the Strait of Gibraltar and associated sills and narrows, Oceanologica Acta, 8, 37-46.
• Armi, L. and Farmer, D. 2002. Stratified flow over topography: Bifurcation fronts and transition to the uncontrolled state. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A, 458, 513-538.
• Armi, L. and D'Asaro, E., 1980. Flow structures of the benthic ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 85, 469-484.
• Armi, L. and Bray, N.A., 1982. A standard analytic curve of potential temperature vs. salinity for the Western North Atlantic. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 12, 384-387.
• Armi, L., Hebert, D., Oakey, N., Price, J., Richardson, P., Rossby, T. and Ruddick, B., 1988. The history and decay of a Mediterranean salt lens. Nature, 133, 649-651.
• Ambar, I., Armi, L., Bower, A. and Ferreira, T., 1999. Some aspects of time variability of the Mediterranean Water off south Portugal. Deep-Sea Res. I, 46, 1109-1136.
• Adachi, Y., Kawamura, K., Armi, L. and Keeling, R.F. 2006 Diffusive separation of the lower atmosphere. Science, 311, 1429.
• Ad Hoc CO2/Climate Review Panel, 1982, Carbon Dioxide and Climate: A Second Assessment, National Academy Press, Washington D.C. Armi, L. and Haidvogel, D.B., 1982. Effects of variable and anisotropic diffusivities in a steady state diffusion model. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 12, 785-794.