CHRIS KINCAID'S HOMEPAGE
Photo of a laboratory apparatus for modeling the dynamics of mid-ocean ridge
spreading centers.
The apparatus is located in Kincaid's Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at the
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island.
Kincaid's research interests involve studying the fluid dynamics of
a variety of Earth systems; from the coastal ocean to the Earth's
viscous interior.
Crust/Mantle Dynamics:
This area of research focusses on the
dynamics of the Earth's interior and how deep Earth convection influences energy and mass transport between Earth's interior and surficial systems (ocean & atmosphere). Kincaid uses laboratory and computational methods to model viscous flow
dynamics and related thermal-chemical transport processes associated with:
(1) mid-ocean ridge spreading centers
(2) the interaction between mantle plumes and ridges
(3) subduction dynamics and the recycling of chemical constituants through
arcs
(4) lithosphere dynamics during orogenies
(5) the growth and evolution of mantle plumes in large scale mantle convection
Kincaid currently has 4 funded projects (NSF and DOE) in crust-mantle dynamics. The fluid dynamics laboratory at GSO for
studies in crust/mantle dynamics has capabilities for modeling
both mid-ocean ridge and subduction zone processes.
Coastal Physical Oceanography:
Another area of active research involves dynamics of a much less viscous fluid, seawater. Kincaid uses observational methods and computational
fluid dynamics models to investigate processes operating in estuaries
and shelf waters. Specific projects are to define factors modulating the
residence time of water in estuaries and how dynamic coupling between
an estuary and a shelf may influence residence time of estuarine waters
and pollution transport.
Kincaid's coastal dynamics lab operates a broadband, 1200 khz RDI Acoustic
Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) for measuring circulation patterns / fluxes within coastal waters and a SeaBird CTD. The ADCP is co-owned with
Professor Peter Patton, Wesleyan University, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences.
Ongoing projects include field surveys in:
(1) the Narrow River Estuary
(2) Coddington Cove, Narragansett Bay
(3) Narragansett Bay - Rhode Island Sound
and both field surveys and numerical modeling of
(1) the Housatonic River Estuary, CT
(2) the Connecticut River Estuary, CT
Kincaid has 4 funded projects (Sea Grant, Navy, EPA) in coastal oceanography.
For more background information on Kincaid see
Kincaid Biographical Sketch