Henry Potter
  • Associate Professor

Biography

Courses

Data Analysis Methods in Geosciences (OCNG 470)
Experimental Design and Analysis in Oceanography (OCNG 655)
Advanced Oceanography Data Analysis and Communication (OCNG 461/OCNG 661)
Blue Planet (OCNG 251)
Undergraduate Research in Oceanography (OCNG 291/491)
Graduate Research in Oceanography (OCNG 691)

Research Interests

My research goal is to improve understanding of air-sea interaction. Energy exchange, in the form of heat, mass, and momentum, over the air-sea interface happens across 362 million square kilometers all day every day. This has limitless ramifications for weather and climate. I approach my research with one overarching question: how does air-sea exchange vary over space and time? Increased knowledge of air-sea interaction ultimately results in a more robust understanding of the contemporary ocean which provides the opportunity to develop accurate earth system models. As an observational oceanographer, novel field data are the backbone of my research. I also utilize satellite data, laboratory experiments, historical measurements, and models. My research covers the following topics:

  • Air-sea interaction
  • Hurricanes
  • Boundary layer turbulence
  • Coastal oceanography
  • Ocean wave breaking and whitecaps
  • Surface gravity waves
  • Upper ocean mixing and temperature structure
  • Infrared remote sensing
  • Offshore wind energy
  • Ocean observing instruments and technology

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. Applied Marine Physics, University of Miami, Miami, FL.B.S. Geography, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.A.A. Liberal Studies, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, ME.
  • B.S. Geography, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
  • A.A. Liberal Studies, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, ME.

Selected Publications

    • Lyu, M., Potter, H., Collins, C. O., Yang, X., & Wang, X. (2023). The impacts of gustiness on the evolution of surface gravity waves. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(12), e2023GL104085.

    • Potter, H., Ortiz-Suslow, D, & Collins, C.O. (2022). Pier-based Measurements of Air-Sea Momentum Fluxes over Shoaling Waves during DUNEX. 127(11), e2022JC018801

    • Yang, X., & Potter, H. (2021). A Novel Method to Discriminate Active from Residual Whitecaps Using Particle Image Velocimetry. Remote Sensing, 13(20), 4051.

    • Lyu, M., Potter, H., & Collins, C. O. (2021). The Impacts of Gustiness on Air–Sea Momentum Flux. Fluids, 6(10), 336.

    • Potter, H., & Rudzin, J. E. (2021). Upper-Ocean Temperature Variability in the Gulf of Mexico with Implications for Hurricane Intensity. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 51(10), 3149-3162.

    • Potter, H., Hsu, C. Y., & DiMarco, S. F. (2021). Rapid dissipation of a Loop Current Eddy due to interaction with a severe Gulf of Mexico hurricane. Ocean Dynamics, 71(9), 911-922.

    • Potter, H., DiMarco, S. F., & Knap, A. H. (2019). Tropical cyclone heat potential and the rapid intensification of Hurricane Harvey in the Texas Bight. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 124(4), 2440-2451.

    • Potter, H. (2018). The cold wake of typhoon Chaba (2010). Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 140, 136-141.

    • Collins III, C. O., Potter, H., Lund, B., Tamura, H., & Graber, H. C. (2018). Directional wave spectra observed during intense tropical cyclones. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 123(2), 773-793.

    • Potter, H., Drennan, W. M., & Graber, H. C. (2017). Upper ocean cooling and air‐sea fluxes under typhoons: A case study. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 122(9), 7237-7252.

    • Potter, H., Collins III, C. O., Drennan, W. M., & Graber, H. C. (2015). Observations of wind stress direction during Typhoon Chaba (2010). Geophysical Research Letters, 42(22), 9898-9905.

    • Potter, H., Smith, G. B., Snow, C. M., Dowgiallo, D. J., Bobak, J. P., & Anguelova, M. D. (2015). Whitecap lifetime stages from infrared imagery with implications for microwave radiometric measurements of whitecap fraction. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 120(11), 7521-7537.

    • Potter, H. (2015). Swell and the drag coefficient. Ocean Dynamics, 65(3), 375-384.

    • Potter, H., Graber, H. C., Williams, N. J., Collins III, C. O., Ramos, R. J., & Drennan, W. M. (2015). In situ measurements of momentum fluxes in typhoons. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 72(1), 104-118.

    • Drennan, W. M., Graber, H. C., Collins III, C. O., Herrera, A., Potter, H., Ramos, R. J., & Williams, N. J. (2014). EASI: An air–sea interaction buoy for high winds. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 31(6), 1397-1409.

    • Sahlée, E., Drennan, W. M., Potter, H., & Rebozo, M. A. (2012). Waves and air‐sea fluxes from a drifting ASIS buoy during the Southern Ocean Gas Exchange experiment. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 117(C8)..

    • Dragoni, D., Schmid, H. P., Wayson, C. A., Potter, H., Grimmond, C. S. B., & Randolph, J. C. (2011). Evidence of increased net ecosystem productivity associated with a longer vegetated season in a deciduous forest in south‐central Indiana, USA. Global Change Biology, 17(2), 886-897.