Johannes Gemmrich

Research Scientist

University of Victoria

Physics & Astronomy
University of Victoria
P.O. Box 1700
VictoriaBritish ColumbiaV8W 2Y2
Canada


Phone: 250-472-5573
Email: gemmrich@uvic.ca
Office: Bob Wright Building, A441

Education

Doctorate: University of Victoria, Physics & Astronomy: Physical Oceanography
Masters:  Christian Albrechts Universität, Institut für Meereskunde, Kiel, Germany: Marine Meteorology (Diplom)

Research

Air-sea interaction, gas exchange

Rogue waves, wave trends, wave physics

Breaking waves, turbulence

Remote sensing, waves in the emerging Arctic

Internal waves

Near-shore wave hazards


Students

Becky Brooks (MSc): Prediction and forecast of coastal hazards using a regional scale model.

Co-supervisor: Jody Klymak



Jamie Daniel (MSc): Rip Current Field Study at Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Co-supervisor: Jody Klymak



Carmen Holmes-Smith (MSc): Extreme runup on beaches.

Co-supervisor: Jody Klymak


Former Students

Leah Cicon (MSc): A probabilistic prediction of rogue waves from a spectral WAVEWATCH III model for the Northeast Pacific. Co-supervisor: Jody Klymak

Cicon, L., 2022 MSc thesis [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. and L. Cicon, 2022: 'Generation method and prediction of an observed extreme rogue wave'. Scientific Rep.,12, DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-05671-4

Cicon, L., J. Gemmrich, B. Pouliot, and N. Bernier, 2023: 'A probabilistic prediction of rogue waves from a WAVEWATCH III model for the northeast Pacific'. Weather and Forecasting,38, DOI:10.1073/pnas.2306275120



Ada Loewen (BSc-Honours, Earth and Ocean Sciences): Observations of wave dispersion under sea ice in Antarctica.

Co-supervisor: Jody Klymak

Tom Redhead (BSc-Honours, Physics): Surface wave height exceedance probabilities on two-layer fluids.
Co-supervisor: Adam Monahan

Gemmrich, J., Redhead,T.  and A. Monahan, 2023: 'Surface wave height distributions and rogue wave probabilities on two-layer fluids.' Physical Review Fluids, 8, 054804. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.054804



Teaching


Publications


Häfner, D.,  J. Gemmrich, and M. Jochum, 2023: 'Machine-guided discovery of a real-world rogue wave model'. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,120, DOI:10.1038/s41598-021089359-1

Cicon, L., J. Gemmrich, B. Pouliot, and N. Bernier, 2023: 'A probabilistic prediction of rogue waves from a WAVEWATCH III model for the northeast Pacific'. Weather and Forecasting,38, DOI:10.1073/pnas.2306275120

Gemmrich, J., Redhead,T.  and A. Monahan, 2023: 'Surface wave height distributions and rogue wave probabilities on two-layer fluids.' Physical Review Fluids, 8, 054804. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.054804

Gemmrich, J. and L. Cicon, 2022: 'Generation method and prediction of an observed extreme rogue wave'. Scientific Rep.,12, DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-05671-4

Häfner, D.,  J. Gemmrich, and M. Jochum, 2021: 'FOWD: A Free Ocean Wave Dataset for Data Mining and Machine Learning'. J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. 38,1305-1322. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0185.1

Häfner, D.  J. Gemmrich, and M. Jochum, 2021: 'Real-world rogue wave probabilities'. Scientific Rep.,11, DOI:10.1038/s41598-021089359-1

Gemmrich, J., T. Mudge, and J. Thomson, 2021: 'Long-term observations of the group structure of surface waves in ice'. Ocean Dynamics, 71, DOI:10.1007/s10236-020-01424-x

Gemmrich, J., and A. Monahan, 2021: 'Surface and Interfacial Waves in a Strongly Stratified Upper Ocean'. J. Phys. Oceanog., 51, DOI:10.1175/JPO-D-20-0073.1

Gemmrich, J., and R. Pawlowicz, 2020: 'Wind Waves in the Strait of Georgia'. Atmosphere-Oceans., 123, DOI:10.1080/07055900.2020.1735989 [pdf ]

Thomson, J., J. Gemmrich, W. E. Rogers, C. O. Collins, and F. Ardhuin, 2019: 'Wave groups observed in pancake ice'. J. Geophys. Res.124, DOI 10.1029/2019JC015354 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J., W. E. Rogers, J. Thomson,  and S. Lehner, 2018: 'Wave evolution in off-ice wind conditions'. J. Geophys. Res., 123, DOI 10.1029/2018JC013793 [pdf ]

SeaState DRI team (Thomson, J., et al.), 2018: 'Overview of the Arctic Sea State and Boundary Layer Physics program' J. Geophys. Res., 123, DOI  10.1002/2018JC013766 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. and Monahan, A., 2018: 'Covariability of Near-Surface Wind Speed Statistics and Mesoscale Sea Surface Temperature Fluctuations.' J. Phys. Oceanog., 48, 465-478, DOI: 10.1175/JPO-D-17-0177.1 [pdf]

Gemmrich, J., and J. Thomson, 2017: 'Observations of the shape and group dynamics of rogue waves'. Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, doi:10.1002/2016GL072398 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J., J. Thomson, W. E. Rogers, A. Pleskachevsky, and S. Lehner, 2016: 'Spatial characteristics of ocean surface waves'. Ocean Dynamics 66, 1025-1035, DOI 10.1007/s10236-016-0967-6 [pdf ]

Thomson, J., M. S. Schwendeman, S. F. Zippel, S. Moghimi, J. Gemmrich, and W. E. Rogers, 2016: 'Wave breaking turbulence in the ocean surface layer'. J. Phys. Oceanog., 46 : 1857-1870, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-15-0130.1 [pdf ]

SeaState DRI team (Thomson, J., et al.), 2016: 'Emerging trends in the sea state of the Beaufort and Chukchi seas'. Ocean Modelling 105, 1-12, doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2016.02.009 [pdf ]

Gebhardt, C., J.-R. Bidlot, J. Gemmrich, S. Lehner, A. Pleskachevsky, and W. Rosenthal, 2016: 'Wave observation in the marginal ice zone with the TerraSAR-X satellite'. Ocean Dynamics 66, 839-852, DOI 10.1007/s10236-016-0957-8 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J., A. Pleskachevsky, S. Lehner and E. Rogers, 2015: 'Surface waves in arctic seas, observed from TerraSAR-X'. IGARSS 2015, 3615-3617. [IGARSS 2015 Proceedings ] [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. and Klymak, J. M., 2015: 'Dissipation of Internal Wave Energy Generated on a Critical Slope.' J. Phys. Oceanog., 45 : 2221-2238, DOI:dx.doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-14-0236.1 ' [pdf ]

Banner, M. L., Zappa, C. J. and Gemmrich, J. R., 2014: 'A Note on the Phillips Spectral Framework for Ocean Whitecaps'. J. Phys. Oceanog., 44, : 1727-1734. [pdf ]

Schwendeman, M., Thomson, J. and Gemmrich, J. R., 2014: 'Wave Breaking Dissipation in a Young Wind Sea'. J. Phys. Oceanog., 44, : 104?127. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J., B. Bascheck and C. Garrett, 2013: 'Rogue waves: rare but damaging'. Seaways, Sep. 2013, 14-16. [Seaways ] [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R., C. Zappa, M.L. Banner and R.P. Morison, 2013: 'Wave breaking in developing and mature seas'. J. Geophys. Res, 118, 4542 - 4552 [preprint ], [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R. and C. Garrett, 2012: 'The Signature of Inertial and Tidal Currents in Offshore Wave Records'. J. Phys. Oceanog., 42, DOI: 10.1175/JPO-D-12-043.1. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J., 2012: ' Bubble-induced turbulence suppression in Langmuir circulation.' Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L10604, doi:10.1029/2012GL051691. [pdf ]

Dickey, T., et al. 2012: ' Introduction to special section on Recent Advances in the Study of Optical Variability in the Near-Surface and Upper Ocean.' J. Geophys. Res., 117, doi:10.1029/2012JC007964. [pdf ]

Zappa, C., M.L. Banner, H. Schultz, J.R. Gemmrich, R.P. Morison, D.A. LeBel, and T. Dickey, 2012: ' An overview of sea state conditions and air-sea fluxes during RaDyO.' J. Geophys. Res., 117, doi:10.1029/2011JC007336. [pdf ]

Garrett, C., J. Gemmrich, and B. Bascheck, 2012: 'Rogue waves'. McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology, 229-231.

Vagle, S., J. Gemmrich, and H. Czerski, 2012: 'Reduced upper ocean turbulence and changes to bubble size distribution during large downward heat-flux events.' J. Geophys. Res., 117, doi:10.1029/2011JC007308. [preprint ]

Gemmrich, J. R., B. Thomas, and R. Bouchard, 2011: 'Observational changes and trends in northeast Pacific wave records.' Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L22601, doi:10.1029/2011GL049518. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R. and C. Garrett, 2011: 'Dynamical and statistical explanations of observed occurrence rates of rogue waves.' Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., doi:10.5194/nhess-11-1437-2011 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R., 2010: 'Strong turbulence in the wave crest region.' J. Phys. Oceanog., 40, 583 ? 595. [pdf ]

Thomson, J., J.R. Gemmrich, and A.T. Jessup, 2009. 'Energy dissipation and the spectral distribution of whitecaps'. Geophys. Res. Let. 36(L11601): doi: 10.1029/2009GL038201 [pdf ]

Garrett, C. and J. R. Gemmrich, 2009: 'Rogue waves'. Physics Today, 62(6), doi:10.1063/1.3156339 [ pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R. and C. Garrett, 2009: 'Unexpected waves: Shallow water simulations and comparison with observations'. Ocean Eng., 37, 262 ? 267.. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R. and C. Garrett, 2008: 'Unexpected waves'. J. Phys. Oceanog. 38, 2330-2336. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R., M.L. Banner and C. Garrett, 2008: 'Spectrally resolved energy dissipation rate and momentum flux of breaking waves'. J. Phys. Oceanog. 38, 1296-1312. [pdf ]

Burchard, H., P.D. Craig, J.R. Gemmrich, H. van Haren, P.-P. Mathieu, H.E.M. Meier, W. A.M. Nimmo Smith, H. Prandke, T.P. Rippeth, E.D. Skyllingstad, W.D. Smyth, D.J.S. Welsh, and H.W. Wijesekera, 2008: 'Observational and numerical modeling methods for quantifying coastal ocean turbulence and mixing', Progr. Oceanogr., 76, 399-442. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J: 2007: 'Momentum flux and energy dissipation associated with breaking waves', in Transport at the air-sea interface, eds. Garbe, C., R. Handler and B. Jähne. Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, 131 - 142.

Gemmrich, J, 2006: 'The spectral scale of wave breaking', Proceedings 9th International Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting. [pdf ] [workshop ]

Gemmrich, J, 2006: 'Breaking waves and near surface turbulence', Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, eds. Steele, J.H., S.A. Thorpe and K.K Turekian, Elsevier. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J., 2005: 'On the occurrence of wave breaking'. In: 14th 'Aha Huliko'a Hawaiian Winter Workshop on Rogue Waves, January 2005, 123-130. [pdf ] [workshop ]

Gemmrich, J. R. and D. M. Farmer, 2004: 'Near-surface turbulence in the presence of breaking waves'. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 34, 1067-1086. [pdf ]

Banner, M. L., Gemmrich, J. R. and D. M. Farmer, 2002: 'Multi-scale measurements of ocean wave breaking probability'. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 32, 3364-3375. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. and H. van Haren, 2002: 'Internal wave band kinetic energy production: flat vs sloping bottom'. Journal of Sea Research, 47, 209-222 [ pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. and H. van Haren, 2002: 'Internal wave band eddy fluxes above a continental slope'. Journal of Marine Research, 60, 227-253. [ pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. and H. van Haren, 2001: 'Thermal fronts generated by internal waves propagating obliquely along the continental slope'. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 31, 649-655. [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R, 2000: 'Temperature anomalies beneath breaking waves and the decay of wave-induced turbulence'. Journal of Geophysical Research, 105, 8727-8736 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R, and D. M. Farmer, 1999: 'Temperature anomalies beneath breaking waves and the decay of wave-induced turbulence - Extended abstract'. In: The wind-driven air-sea interface. Electromagnetic and acoustic sensing, wave dynamics and turbulent fluxes. Ed. M. L. Banner, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 193-194.

Gemmrich, J. R. and D. M. Farmer, 1999: 'Observations of the scale and occurrence of breaking surface waves'. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 29, 2595-2606 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R. and D. M. Farmer, 1999: 'Near-surface turbulence and thermal structure in a wind driven sea'. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 29, 480-499 [pdf ]

Farmer, D., J. Gemmrich and V. Polonichko, 1998: 'Velocity, temperature and spatial structure of Langmuir circulation'. Physical Processes in Lakes and Oceans, J. Imberger, Ed., Coastal and Estuary Studies, 54, AGU

Farmer, D. M. and J. R. Gemmrich, 1996: 'Measurements of temperature fluctuations in breaking surface waves'. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 5, 816-825 [pdf ]

Gemmrich, J. R., T. D. Mudge and V. D. Polonichko, 1994: 'On the energy input from wind to surface waves'. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 24, 2413-2417 [pdf ] [corrigendum ]

Gemmrich, J. and Hasse, L.,1993: 'Observations of small-scale surface streaming as an indication of surface renewal'. Journal of Marine Systems, 4, 231-233

Gemmrich, J. and Hasse, L.,1992: 'Small-scale surface streaming under natural conditions as effective in air-sea gas exchange'. Tellus 44B, 150-159 [pdf ]


Awards

François J. Saucier Prize in Applied Oceanography (Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society)



 Links

WISE2017 : UVic hosted the 24th meeting on Waves In the Shallow water Environment, 14-18 May 2017.

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Last Modified: 20 November 2023