Physical oceanographer interested in finescale ocean dynamics, flow instability, and marine turbulence.
Jen-Ping Pen is Research Associate at the Oceans Graduate School at the University of Western Australia working in the research group of Prof. Nicole Jones.
SWOT AdAC: What is your field of research and how did you choose it?
Jen-Ping Pen: Broadly speaking, my field of research is physical oceanography, with special interests in finescale ocean dynamics, flow instability, and marine turbulence.
The ocean is huge and provides essential environments for humans to live, however, we only know a little about it. I personally enjoy discovering things that exist but are hidden, and the ocean is the best place for my appetite as it is relatively easily accessible.
SWOT AdAC: How is your field of research related to SWOT?
JPP: SWOT aims to reveal finescale structure that are unable to be observed previously. This is exactly where my expertise lies. Our colleagues and I will be able to obtain a better understanding of finescale ocean dynamics, particularly their spatial variability, as users of SWOT satellite data.
SWOT AdAC: What do you find exciting about SWOT and the SWOT-AdAC campaign you will be participating? How will you contribute to it?
JPP: This is indeed very excited. We will conduct a field campaign on the North West Australia Shelf, which will coincide with SWOT satellite flying over. I will be in charge of conducting intensive field observations to characterize finescale structures hydrography, turbulence level, velocity, and atmospheric conditions.
SWOT AdAC: What are your plans after the SWOT-AdAC campaign?
JPP: I will, of course, analyze the in-situ data. I am extremely looking forward to seeing and learning something new from both co-located SWOT and in-situ data.