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Principal Investigator in Oceans and Climate

Scientific interests

  • Monitoring the circulation of the north-east Atlantic

This work forms part of NERC's national capability within the Oceans 2025  initiative.  It is shared with colleagues at NOCS, and involves us leading a major research cruise between Iceland and Scotland every two years, the Extended Ellett line.  A major justification for the cruise is for the training of young scientists.  If you are a student on a recognised marine science course, then please contact me about sea-going possibilities.

We have acquired an ocean going glider from Seaglider Fabrication, which we deployed for the first time between October 2009 and March 2010 monitoring the upper 1000 m of the north-east Atlantic.  This new technology will eventually revolutionise the way we monitor ocean circulation. In autumn 2011 we acquired a second glider.

  • Investigations in the Faroe-Shetland Channel

A series of investigations (in collaboration with FRS, Aberdeen) have demonstrated the intensity of mesoscale variability in the Faroe-Shetland Channel as the northward flowing shelf edge current of North Atlantic Water meets Modified North Atlantic Water entering from the north and re-circulating in the channel.  In addition we have demonstrated the strength and seasonal variability of surface transport in the channel.

 

  • The dynamics of the Wyville Thomson Ridge overflow

In recent years our group has been monitoring the transport of cold deep southward flowing Faroe-Shetland Channel water across the Wyville Thomson Ridge and into the Rockall Trough.  Our investigations have demonstrated that (in recent years at least) the flow is more steady than originally thought, and that it is about 1/3rd the size of the Mediterranean outflow.  Current speeds of up to 2 m/s have been observed in the overflow, and consequently mixing and lateral overturning are very intense.

 

  • Expertise by keywords

Dense water overflows; Turbulence and mixing; North Atlantic; Non-linear internal waves; Internal tides; Shelf edge processes; Tidal analysis and prediction; European shelf seas; Applied physical oceanography; Numerical modelling; Coastal oceanography; Water quality modelling; Marine outfalls   

 

At the Institute I am a member of the ...

 

Click here for my capability statement

 

Career / education

Publications

Publications and presentations

Recent publications

  • Shravat, A., Sherwin, T. and Tett, S. (2012).  Has the circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean changed in the last 50 years? A critique of ocean reanalysis products. [in preparation]
  • Sherwin T.J.,  Read, J.F., Holliday, N.P. and Johnson, C. (2011).  The impact of changes in North Atlantic Gyre distribution on water mass characteristics in the Rockall Trough, ICES Journal of Marine Science, doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsr185
  • Dale, A.C., P. Boulcott and T.J. Sherwin (2011).  Sedimentation patterns caused by scallop dredging in a physically dynamic environment, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 2433-2441 
  • Stashchuk, N., V. Vlasenko and T. J. Sherwin (2011). Numerical investigation of deep water circulation in the Faroese Channels, Deep_Sea Research I, 58, 787-799, 10.1016/j.dsr.2011.05.005
  • Stashchuk, N., Vlasenko, V., Sherwin, T.J. (2010). Insights into the structure of the Wyville Thomson Ridge overflow current from a fine-scale numerical model. Deep-Sea Research I, 57 (10), 1192-1205, 10.1016/j.dsr.2010.06.006
  • Sherwin, T. J. (2010), Observations of the velocity profile of a fast and deep oceanic density current constrained in a gully, J. Geophys. Res., 115, C03013, doi:10.1029/2009JC005557
  • Johnson, C., Sherwin, T., Smythe-Wright, D., Shimmield, T., Turrell, W. (2010). Wyville Thomson Ridge Overflow Water: Spatial and temporal distribution in the Rockall Trough. Deep-Sea Research I, 57 (10), 1153-1162, 10.1016/j.dsr.2010.07.006
  • Østerhus, S., T. Sherwin, D. Quadfasel, B. Hansen (2008).  The overflow transport east of Iceland, in R.R Dickson, J. Meincke and P. Rhines [eds] Arctic-Subarctic Ocean Fluxes: Defining the role of the Northern Seas in Climate, Chapter 18, Springer, Dordrecht, 427-442
  • Wallace, M.I., M.P. Meredith, M.A. Brandon, T.J. Sherwin, A.C. Dale, A. Clarke (2008).  On the characteristics of internal tides and coastal upwelling behaviour in Marguerite Bay, west Antarctic Peninsula, Deep-Sea Research II, doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.04.033
  • Holliday, N.P., S. Hughes, S. Bacon, A. Beszczynska-Möller, B. Hansen, A. Lavín, H. Loeng, K.A. Mork, S. Østerhus, T. Sherwin, W. Walczowski (2008).  Reversal of the 1960s - 1990s Freshening Trend in the North Atlantic and Nordic Seas, Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L03614, doi:10.1029/2007GL032675
  • Sherwin, T.J., C.R. Griffiths, M.E. Inall and W.R. Turrell (2008). Quantifying the overflow across the Wyville Thomson Ridge into the Rockall Trough, Deep-Sea Research, 55, 4, 396-404
  • Sherwin, T.J., S.L. Hughes, W.R. Turrell, B. Hansen and S. Østerhus (2008).  Wind driven variations in transport and the flow field in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, Polar Research, 27 (1), 7-22.
  • Sherwin, T.J. and W.R. Turrell (2006). The structure of the Wyville Thomson Ridge overflow. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Stratified Flows [ed Ivey, G.N.], Perth, Western Australia, Dec 2006, University of Western Australia, 330-335
  • Sherwin, T.J., M. O. Williams, W. R. Turrell, S. L. Hughes, and P. I. Miller (2006). A description and analysis of mesoscale variability in the Färoe-Shetland Channel, J. Geophys. Res., 111, C03003, doi:10.1029/2005JC002867
  • Sherwin, T.J. and W.R. Turrell (2005). Mixing and advection of a cold water cascade across the Wyville Thomson Ridge. Deep-Sea Research I, 52, 1392-1413
  • Turrell W.R. and T.J. Sherwin (2005), A re-examination of the Wyville-Thomson Ridge overflow, and its relevance to fluxes west of Britain. ICES Annual Science Conference, CM 2003/T:08

To see a list of papers published before 2005, click here

 

Recent posters

  • Berx B., S. Hughes, B. Hansen, S. Østerhus, T. Sherwin and S. M. Olsen (2011).  Variability of physical and biological properties in the Faroe Shetland Channel between 2000-2009: results from a long-term monitoring programme and model data. ICES/NAFO Decadal Symposium, Santander, May 2011
  • Porter, M. T. Sherwin, B. Rea and D. Mair (2010).  Linking glacier mass balance in southern Norway to fluctuations in temperature in the Norwegian Sea. IGS Symposium - Earth's Disappearing Ice: Drivers, Reponses and Impacts Columbus, Ohio, August 2010.
  • Davies P.A., A.J.S Cuthbertson, V.I. Vlasenko, N.M. Stashchuk, T.J. Sherwin and B Hansen (2009).  Modelling the vaiability of the Wyville Thomson Ridge Overflow.  Oceans2025 meeting, Liverpool, June, 2009.
  • Sherwin, T.J. and C.R. Griffiths (2008).  Ekman driven velocity profiles in the Wyville Thomson Rdige Overflow.  Challenger Society Marine Science Conference, Bangor, September 2008.
  • Hansen B., H. Hátún, S. Østerhus, D. Quadfasel, S. Jónsson, H. Valdimarsson, W. Turrell, S. Hughes, T. Sherwin (2007) Monitoring the exchanges between the Atlantic and the Arctic across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge.  Poster presented at the SAON workshop, Stockholm, December 2007
  • Sherwin, T.J., S.L. Hughes, W.R. Turrell, B. Hansen and S. Østerhus (2007).  Wind driven monthly variations in the transport and dynamics of the Faroe-Shetland Channel.  Poster presented at the CLIVAR North Atlantic Sub-Polar Gyre Workshop, Keil, 19-21 March 2007
  • Sherwin, T.J., C.R. Griffiths, M.E. Inall and W.R. Turrell (2007). A revised transport rate for the WyvilleThomson Ridge overflow.  Poster presented at the CLIVAR North Atlantic Sub-Polar Gyre Workshop, Keil, 19-21 March 2007
  • Bjerknes CModelling the Variability of the Wyville Thomson Ridge Overflowentenary Conference, Climate Changes in High Latitudes, 1-3 Sept 2004, Bergen, Norway. Sherwin, T.J., J.A. Howe, M.S. Stoker and W.R. Turrell.  Short and long term variability of the Wyville Thomson Ridge overflow, and its geological signature in the Rockall Trough.
  • Challenger Conference for Marine Science, 13-17 September 2004, University of Liverpool.  Gleizon, P., T. Sherwin and P. McDonald.  Re-evaluation of the flux estimate through the North Channel
  • Challenger Conference for Marine Science, 13-17 September 2004, University of Liverpool.  Sherwin T.J. and W.R. Turrell.  A large cascade of overflow water across the Wyville Thomson Ridge.
  • Challenger Society for Marine Science, 13-17 September 2004, University of Liverpool.  Johnson, C., T. Sherwin, T. Shimmield, D. Smythe-Wright, W. Turrell.  Tracing overflow waters in the northern Rockall Trough
  • IAPSO Symposium on Ocean Mixing, Victoria, Canada 11-15 October 2004.  Sherwin T.J. and W.R. Turrell.  Mixing of a cold water cascade over the Wyville Thomson Ridge
  • EGU General Assembly, Vienna, 25-29 April 2005.  Sherwin, T.J., M.O. Williams, W.R. Turrell and S.L. Hughes.  The Impact of Mesoscale Variability on Circulation in the Faroe-Shetland Channel.
  • EGU General Assembly, Vienna, 25-29 April 2005.  Sherwin, T.J. and W.R Turrell.  Mixing in the Overflow across the Wyville Thomson Ridge.

 

Recent conference abstracts

  • Sherwin, T., P. Holiday, J. Read and C. Johnson (2011). Monitoring the Rockall Trough. ICES/NAFO Decadal Symposium, Santander, May 2011
  • Hansen, B., H. Hátún, S. Østerhus, D. Quadfasel, B. Turrell, S. Hughes, B. Berx, T. Sherwin, S.M. Olsen, A.B. Sandø (2009).  The North-eastern AMOC: Stability of the Deep and Shallow Exchanges through the Iceland-Scotland Gap.  MOCA-09 Joint Assembly, Montreal, July 2009.
  • Venables E.J., M.E. Inall, T.J. Sherwin (Sherwin). Observations of Turbulent Kinetic Energy Dissipation Rate in the Wyville Thomson Basin.  MOCA-09 Joint Assembly, Montreal, July 2009.
  • Sherwin, T.J. (2009).  The Relationship between Downstream and Transverse Velocity Structure, and Vertical Eddy Viscosity, in a Deep Oceanic Density Current in a Narrow Channel. MOCA-09 Joint Assembly, Montreal, July 2009.
  • Sherwin, T.J. and C.R. Griffiths (2007). Ekman driven velocity profiles and mixing in a fast flowing deep water cascade in the North Atlantic.  Ocean Sciences 2008, Orlando

 

Recent reports

  • Sherwin, T., C. Griffiths and J. Beaton (2011).  Cruise S2, Basamuk Bay 10 to 17 October 2011, SRSL P7967/02/2012 Cruise Report, Scottish Marine Institute, pp 23 + appendices.
  • Sherwin, T. and E. Venables (2011).  An analysis of current meter data in the north-eastern part of the Faroe-Shetland Channel, SAMS Report xxx, September 2011, pp 39 + appendices
  • Sherwin, T. and P. Hosegood (2010).  A review of the spatial and seasonal distribution of velocity in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, SAMS Internal Report 268, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, pp 80.
  • Sherwin, T., Baker, A., Brand, T., Fromlett, J., Gibson, R., Gieschen, L., Harden-Davies, H., Holland, R., Hinz, D., Inall, M., Kirkham, A., McKendrick, K., Nielsdottir, M., Painter, S., Porter, M., Reynolds, A., Sauer, S., Thomalla, S., Venables, E., Veszelovski, A. (2008)  Cruise D321b: Reykjavik to Clyde, August and September 2007, SAMS Internal Report 255, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, pp 160.
  • Sherwin, T., J Allen, J Bicknell, G Corbel, C Embling, J Evans, I Ezzi, G Fones, P Lamont, S Mendes, D Mountifield, M Nielsdottir, P Provost, P Singhruck, M Stinchcombe (2006). Cruise CD176: Birkenhead to Falmouth via Rockall, Iceland and Oban, 6 October to 28 October 2005, SAMS Internal Report No 248 Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban.
  • Inall, M.E. and T.J. Sherwin (2006), SEA7 Technical Report - Hydrography, DTI SEA7 Environmental Report

 

Teaching

Students/teaching

Current PhD students

  • Clare Johnson: Tracing overflow water in the Rockall Trough
  • Marie Porter: Linking recent variability in Atlantic Ocean circulation and glacier mass balance in Greenland and Norway
  • Chris Bell: The small scales that control the large scales - Retaining the important physics of narrow tidal straits in large scale ocean models of western Scotland. (2010-present)

 

Alumni

 

BSc (Hons) Marine Science teaching

  • Module leader: Ocean Circulation and Climate (year 3)
  • Lecturer: Polar Seas (year 4)

 

At the University of Wales, Bangor I taught MSc students a module on 'Water Quality Modelling.' I have supervised numerous MSc projects and seen 1 MPhil and 2 PhD students to successful completion.  During my time at Bangor I organised and lectured on a short course entitled 'Methods of Determining Pollutant Dispersion in Marine Waters'.

 
My contact details

Professor Toby Sherwin SAMS

Professor Toby Sherwin

E: toby.sherwin@sams.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)1631 559 336

F: +44 (0)1631 559 001

Scottish Marine Institute

Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK

Publication List