Agnes S. Robang

Agnes Robang is a graduate student in aeronautics and astronautics investigating cross-scale turbulence interactions in ocean mixing. Turbulent phenomena span vastly different scales, yet computational limitations prevent fully resolving all interactions simultaneously. Large eddy simulations parameterize smaller scales using simplified assumptions, introducing uncertainty that is rarely quantified. She benchmarks the CATKE mixing parameterization against high-resolution nonhydrostatic simulations to identify where the parameterization breaks down. Using the UQLab uncertainty quantification framework with MATLAB, Agnes conducts statistical analysis and surrogate modeling to predict parameterization errors across design spaces. She analyzes nonlinear cross-scale interactions, energy dissipation, and turbulent instabilities to reveal specific physical processes the parameterization fails to capture. As a MathWorks Fellow, Agnes will extend this modular MATLAB framework to evaluate additional parameterizations. Her work has the potential to advance more accurate turbulence models for stratified rotating flows applicable to atmospheric, oceanic, and boundary layer modeling.