International Pacific Research Center | People

Kelvin Richards

Professor of Oceanography

International Pacific Research Center
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

Phone: (808) 956-5399
Fax: (808) 956-9425
Email:

Education

1978 - Ph.D. (Oceanography), University of Southampton, UK
1975 - M.Sc. (Applied Mathematics), University of Exeter, UK

Research Interests

Observations and modelling of ocean processes
Ocean dynamics
Ocean atmosphere interaction
Ecosystem dynamics

Professional Experience

Professor in Oceanography, IPRC/SOEST, University of Hawaii, 2002–present
Reader, University of Southampton, UK, 1999–2002
Senior Lecturer, University of Southampton, UK, 1995–1999
Lecturer, University of Southampton, UK, 1985–1995
Senior Scientific Officer, IOS, Wormley, UK, 1980–1985
Royal Society Research Fellow, DAMTP, University of Cambridge, UK, 1978–1980

Scientific Committees

Chair, CLIVAR Pacific Implementation Panel, 2001–2005
Vice-president for Oceans, European Geophysical Society, 2000–2002
Member, European Geophysical Society, oceans/atmosphere committee, 1998–2002
SCOR working group 108: double diffusive convection, 1999–2001
Scientific Steering Group of UGAMP, a NERC Community Research Programme, 1992–2002
Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Research Grant and Training Awards Committee, NERC,
1995–1998
Scientific Steering Group of PRIME, a NERC Community Research Programme, 1994–1999

Refereed Publications

Ascani, F., K.J. Richards, E. Firing, S. Grant, K.S. Johnson, Y. Jia, R. Lukas, and D.M. Karl, in press: Physical and biological controls of nitrate concentrations in the upper subtropical North Pacific Ocean. Deep-Sea Research II, IPRC-944.
Jia, Y., G.C. Nihous, and K.J. Richards, 2012: Effects of ocean thermal energy conversion systems on near and far field seawater properties—A case study for Hawaii. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 4, 63104, doi:10.1063/1.4766820. IPRC-930.
Richards, K.J., Y. Kashino, A. Natarov, and E. Firing, 2012: Mixing in the western equatorial Pacific and its modulation by ENSO. Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L02604, doi:10.1029/2011GL050439. IPRC-851.
Sasai, Y., K.J. Richards, A. Ishida, and H. Sasaki, 2012: Spatial and temporal variabilities of the chlorophyll distribution in the northeastern tropical Pacific: The impact of physical processes on seasonal and interannual time scales. J. Mar. Sys., 96-9, 24-31, doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.01.014. IPRC-864.
Aiki, H., K.J. Richards, and H. Sakuma, 2011: Maintenance of the mean kinetic energy in the global ocean by the barotropic and baroclinic energy routes. Ocean Dynamics, 61, 675-700.
Jia, Y., P.H.R. Calil, E.P. Chassignet, E.J. Metzger, J.T. Potemra, K.J. Richards, and A.J. Wallcraft, 2011: Generation of mesoscale eddies in the lee of the Hawaiian Islands. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 116 (5), C11009, doi:10.1029/2011JC00730.
Thompson, A.F., and K.J. Richards, 2011: Low frequency variability of Southern Ocean jets. Geophys. Res. Lett., 116, C09022, doi:10.1029/2010JC006749.
Calil, P.H.R., and K.J. Richards, 2010: Transient upwelling hot spots in the oligotrophic North Pacific. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 115, C02003, doi:10.1029/2009JC005360.
Sasai Y., K.J. Richards, A. Ishida, and H. Sasaki, 2010: Effects of cyclonic mesoscale eddies on the marine ecosystem in the Kuroshio Extension region using an eddy-resolving coupled physical-biological model. Ocean Dynamics, 60, 693-704.
Thompson, A.F., P.H. Haynes, C. Wilson, and K.J. Richards, 2010: Rapid Southern Ocean front transitions in an eddy-resolving ocean GCM. Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L23602, doi:10.1029/2010GL045386.
Martinez, E., and K.J. Richards: Impact of spatio-temporal heterogeneities and lateral stirring and mixing on midwater biotic interactions. J. Mar. Sys., 82 (3), 122-134.
Kashino Y., N. Espana, F. Syamsudin, K.J. Richards, T. Jensen, P. Dutrieux, and A. Ishida, 2009: Observations of the North Equatorial Current, Mindanao Current, and the Kuroshio Current system during the 2006/7 El Nino and 2007/08 La Nina. J. Oceanogr., 65, 325–333.
Kida, S., and K.J. Richards, 2009: Seasonal sea surface temperature variability in the Indonesian Seas. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 114, C06016, doi:10.1029/2008JC005150.
Natarov, A., and K.J. Richards, 2009: Three-dimensional instabilities of oscillatory equatorial zonal shear flows on the equatorial beta-plane. J. Fluid Mech., 623, 59–74.
Richards, K.J., S.-P. Xie, and T. Miyama, 2009: Vertical mixing in the ocean and its impact on the coupled ocean-atmosphere system in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. J. Climate, 22 (13), 3703–3719.
Small, R.J., K.J. Richards, S.-P. Xie, P. Dutrieux, and T. Miyama, 2009: Damping of Tropical Instability Waves caused by the action of surface currents on stress. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 114, C04009, doi:10.1029/2008JC005147.
Aiki, H., and K.J. Richards, 2008: Energetics of the global ocean: The role of layer-thickness form drag. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 38, 1845–1869.
Calil, P.H.R., K.J. Richards, Y.Jia, and R.R. Bidigare, 2008: Eddy activity in the lee of the Hawaiian Islands. Deep-Sea Research II, 55, 1179–1194.
Natarov, A., K. Richards, and J.P. McCreary, 2008: Two-dimensional instabilities of time-dependent zonal flows: Linear shear. J. Fluid Mech., 599, 29–50.
Richards, K.J., H. Sasaki, and F.O. Bryan, 2008: Jets and waves in the Pacific Ocean. In W. Ohfuchi and K. Hamilton (Eds.), High Resolution Numerical Modelling of the Atmosphere and Ocean, Springer Verlag, New York, New York, pp. 182-196.
de Szoeke, S.P., S.-P. Xie, T. Miyama, K.J. Richards, and R.J.O. Small, 2007: What maintains the SST front north of the eastern Pacific equatorial cold tongue? J. Climate, 20, 2500–2514.
Xie, S.-P., T. Miyama, Y. Wang, H. Xu, S.P. de Szoeke, R.J. Small, K.J. Richards, T. Mochizuki, and T. Awaji, 2007: A regional ocean-atmosphere model for eastern Pacific climate: Towards reducing tropical biases. J. Climate, 20, 1504–1522.
Bellucci, A., and K.J. Richards, 2006: Effects of NAO variability on the North Atlantic Ocean circulation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L02612, doi:10.1029/2005GL024890.
Endoh, T., Y. Jia, and K.J. Richards, 2006: Sensitivity of the Ventilation Process in the North Pacific to the Eddy-Induced Tracer Transport. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 36 (10), 1895–1911, doi: 10.1175/JPO2941.1.
Richards, K.J., and S.J. Brentnall, 2006: The impact of diffusion and stirring on the dynamics of interacting populations. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 238, 340–347.
Richards, K.J., N.A. Maximenko, F.O. Bryan, and H. Sasaki, 2006: Zonal Jets in the Pacific Ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L03605, doi:10.1029/2005GL024645.
Edwards, N.R., and K.J. Richards, 2004: Nonlinear double-diffusive intrusions at the equator. J. Mar. Res., 62, 233–259.
Heath, M.R., P.R. Boyle, A. Gislason, W. Gurney, S.J. Hay, E. Head, S. Holmes, A. Ingvarsdottir, S.H. Jonasdottir, P. Lindeque, R.T. Pollard, J. Rasmussen, K. Richards, K. Richardson, G. Smerdon, and D. Speirs, 2004: Comparative ecology of over-wintering Calanus finmarchicus in the northern North Atlantic, and implications for life-cycle patterns. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 61(4), 698–708.
Lee., H., and K.J. Richards, 2004: The three-dimensional structure of the interleaving layers in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L07301, doi:10.1029/2004GL019441.
Pezzi, L.P., J. Vialard, K.J. Richards, C.E. Menkes and D. Anderson, 2004: Influence of ocean-atmosphere coupling on the properties of Tropical Instability Waves. Geophys. Res. Lett., L16306, doi:10.1029/2004GL019995.
Brentnall S.J., K.J. Richards, J. Brindley, and E. Murphy, 2003: Plankton patchiness and its effect on larger-scale productivity. J. Plankton Res., 25, 121-140.
Pezzi, L., and K.J. Richards, 2003: The effects of lateral mixing on the mean state and eddy activity of an equatorial ocean. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 108, 3371, doi:10.1019/2003JC0011834.
Richards, K.J., and N.R. Edwards, 2003: Lateral mixing in the equatorial Pacific: The importance of inertial instability. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30 (17), 1888, doi:10.1029/2003GL017768.
Ruddick, B., and K.J. Richards, 2003: Oceanic thermocline intrusions: Observations. Progress in Ocean, 56, 499-527.
McLeod, P., A.P. Martin, and K.J. Richards, 2002: Minimum length scale for growth limited oceanic plankton distributions. Ecological Modelling, 158, 111–120.
Martin A.P., K.J. Richards, A. Bracco, and A. Provenzale, 2002: Patchy productivity in the open ocean. Global Geochemical Cycles, 16 (2), doi:10.1029/2001GB001449.
Richards, K.J., and H.T. Banks, 2002: Characteristics of interleaving in the western equatorial Pacific. J. Geophys. Res., 107 (C12), 3231, doi:10.1029/2001JC000971.
Thurnherr, A.M., K.J. Richards, C.R. German, G.F. Lane-Serff, and K.G. Speer, 2002: Flow and mixing in the rift valley of the mid-Atlantic ridge. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 32, 1763–1778.
Law, C.S., A.P. Martin, M.I. Liddicoat, A.J. Watson, K.J. Richards, and E.M.S. Woodward, 2001: A Lagrangian SF6 tracer study of an anticyclonic eddy in the North Atlantic: patch evolution, vertical mixing and nutrient supply to the mixed layer. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 48, 705–724.
Martin, A.P., and K.J. Richards, 2001: Mechanisms for vertical transport within a North Atlantic mesoscale eddy. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 48, 757–773.
Martin, A.P., K.J. Richards, and M.J.R. Fasham, 2001: Phytoplankton production and community structure in an unstable frontal region. J. Marine Systems, 28, 65–89.
Martin, A.P., K.J. Richards, C.S. Law, and M. Liddicoat, 2001: Horizontal dispersion within an anticyclonic mesoscale eddy. Deep Sea Research Part I: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 48, 739–755.
Richards, K.J., S.J. Brentnall, P. McLeod, and A.P. Martin, 2001: Stirring and mixing of biologically reactive tracers. Proceedings 'Aha Huliko'a Hawaiian Winter Workshop, Univ Hawaii, Jan 2001.
Thurnherr, A.M., and K.J. Richards, 2001: Hydrographic setting of the Rainbow hydrothermal plume (36^o14'N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge). J. Geophys. Res., 106, 9411–9426.
Richards, K.J., and M.E. Inall, 2000: The upper ocean heat content of the western equatorial Pacific: processes controlling its change during TOGA--COARE. J. Geophys. Res., 105, 19,575–19,590.
Spall, S.A., and K.J. Richards, 2000: A numerical model of mesoscale frontal instabilities and plankton dynamics - I. Model formulation and initial experiments. Deep Sea Research I, 47, 1261–1301.
Best, S., V.O. Ivchenko, K.J. Richards, R.D. Malone, and R.C. Smith, 1999: Eddies in numerical models of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and their influence on the mean flow. J. Phys. Ocean, 29, 328–350.
Edwards, N.R., and K.J. Richards, 1999: Linear double-diffusive-inertial instability at the equator. J. Fluid Mechanics, 395, 295–319.
Sinha, B., and K.J. Richards, 1999: The jet structure of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. J Phys. Ocean, 29, 1143–1155.
German, C.R., K.J. Richards, M.D. Rudnicki, M.M. Lam, and J.L. Charlou, 1998: Topographic control of a dispersing hydrothermal plume. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 156, 267-273.
Inall, M.E., K.J. Richards, and G. Eldin, 1998: The changing structure of the upper ocean in the western equatorial Pacific during TOGA COARE. J. Geophys. Res., 103, 21,385–21,400.
Martin, A.P., I.P. Wade, K.J. Richards, and K.J. Heywood, 1998: The PRIME eddy. J Marine Research, 56, 439–462.
Richards, K.J., 1998: Interleaving at the equator. In Ocean modelling and parameterization, Ed E. Chassignet and J. Verron. NATO Science Series, Series C: Mathematical and Physical Sciences - vol 516, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 235–252.
Ivchenko, V.O., K.J. Richards, B. Sinha, and J.-O. Wolff, 1997: Parameterization of mesoscale eddy fluxes in zonal ocean flows. J. Marine Research, 55, 1127–1162.
Ivchenko, V., K.J. Richards, and D. Stevens, 1996: The dynamics of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. J. Phys. Ocean, 26, 753–774.
Jia, Y., and K.J. Richards, 1996: Ventilation of tritium in an isopycnic model of the North Atlantic. J. Geophys. Res., 101, 11,883–11,901.
Smith, C., K.J. Richards, and M.J. Fasham, 1996: The impact of mesoscale eddies on plankton dynamics in the upper ocean. Deep Sea Research, 43, 1807–1832.
Haine, T., and K.J. Richards, 1995: The influence of the seasonal mixed layer on oceanic uptake of CFCs. J. Geophys. Res., 100, 10,727–10,744.
Richards, K.J., M.E. Inall, and N.C. Wells, 1995: The diurnal mixed layer and upper ocean heat budget in the western equatorial Pacific. J. Geophys. Res., 100, 6865–6879.
Richards, K.J., Y. Jia, and C.F. Rogers, 1995: Dispersion of tracers by ocean gyres. J. Phys. Ocean, 25, 873–887.