Oceana Francis

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University of Alaska Fairbanks
International Arctic Research Center
Atmospheric Science Department
Graduate Research AssistantAppointed: 2005
Professional Headshot of Oceana Francis

Mailing Address

International Arctic Research Center
930 Koyukuk Dr.
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7340
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (907) 474-1553
oceana@iarc.uaf.edu

Qualifications

M.S., University of Alaska Anchorage, Civil Engineering (Advisor: Orson P. Smith, P.E., Ph.D.), 2004.
B.S., University of Alaska Anchorage, Civil Engineering, 2002.
B.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Physics and Astronomy, 1995.

Expertise and Research Interests

I am currently a full-time fourth year PhD student in Atmospheric Science at University of Alaska Fairbanks. My expected graduation date is May 2010. I have twelve years of work experience, eight years in research and four years professional work experience.

My current PhD research focuses on how climate drives physical ocean processes in the Chukchi Sea. I am investigating what type of swells develop in the Arctic. With the retreat of sea ice, more open ocean is exposed which would allow swells to be carried out of its origin. To do this, I am experimentally using a Recording Doppler Current Profiler, and a Coastal Radar. I am using NOAA Wavewatch III for wave modeling. Ph.D. work will provide an operational capability to predict future coastal erosion and flooding addressing near shore retreat of sea ice, permafrost loss, and sea level rise and related impacts on coastal erosion due to increased coastal wave and storm surge action.

I have eight years of research work experience in extreme statistical analysis, coastal dynamics, astrophysics, and atomic & molecular physics. My extreme statistical work focused on modeling extreme wind events in Alaska using the Gumbel distribution. This was part of the PRIDE project which involves the testing of a wave model forecasting system for Alaska and the development of an Alaskan coastal wind/wave climatology involving hind cast wind and wave modeling, near shore ice edge changes, and sea level rise at Alaskan coastal locations. My coastal dynamics work included assessing the relationship of coastal erosion to variations and trends in wind and wave climate in Elson Lagoon, Barrow, Alaska. This coastal work included investigation of physical properties and wave mechanics, storm surge analysis through use of ACES and STWAVE wave models, and measuring and comparing the geomorphic shoreline change. My astronomy work focused on performing data reductions for quasars and supernovae. My physics background focused on photoionizing neutral atoms with lasers.

I am also a licensed engineer with the State of Alaska. My past professional work experience includes four years of engineering experience in both consulting and government. My engineering background includes professional work throughout rural Alaska in planning and designing sanitation facilities and other utilities, and assisting with relocation efforts due to coastal erosion.

Other Expertise

Professional Engineer (Civil), License No. 11226, State of Alaska

Scientific Scuba Diver, American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)

Previous Positions

2003-2005, Civil Engineer, Tryck Nyman Hayes, Inc., Anchorage
2002-2003, Graduate Research Fellow, University of Alaska Anchorage, School of Engineering
2000-2002, Project Engineer Intern, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Village Safe Water
1999-2001, Web Designer, University of Alaska Anchorage, School of Engineering
1993-1995, Tutor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Athletics, Physics/Math/Astronomy
1993-1995, Student Research Assistant, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Physics & Astronomy
1991-1992, Student Research Assistant, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Physics & Astronomy, Atomic/Molecular Physics

Memberships

American Geophysical Union
American Meteorological Society
American Society of Civil Engineers
Association of Coastal Engineers
National Society of Professional Engineers

Honors and Awards

2006-2007, College of Natural Science & Mathematics Graduate Fellowship, University of Alaska Fairbanks
2006-2007, Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science (MS PHDS Earth System Science), National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Science Foundation
2005, International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP) II Scholarship, Danish Polar Center
2005-2006, College of Natural Science & Mathematics Graduate Fellowship, University of Alaska Fairbanks
2002-2003, Alaska Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Infrastructure and Systems for Cold Regions (ISCR) Graduate Fellowship, National Science Foundation and the State of Alaska
2000, Lawrence Schachle/AWWA Memorial Scholarship, Alaska Water Well Association

Publications

  • Francis-Chythlook, O. and D.E. Atkinson, Using Gumbel distribution to estimate return intervals for extreme wind events for Alaska and Hawaii., 19th Conf. on Probability and Statistics, New Orleans, LA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., P1.9., 2008
  • Francis, O. and D.E. Atkinson, Synoptic forcing of severe wave states in the southeast Chukchi Sea., Eos Trans. AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract A51E-0162., 2008
  • Francis-Chythlook, O. and D.E. Atkinson, Estimating strong wind event return frequency in Alaska., Great Alaska Weather Modeling Symposium, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophys. Inst., 13-15 March 2007., 2007
  • Francis-Chythlook, O. and D.E. Atkinson, Investigating methods of wave-ice interactions., Eos Trans. AGU, 88(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS43B-1235., 2007
  • Francis-Chythlook, O. and D.E. Atkinson, Deployment of an RDCP600 to measure directional wave spectra in open and marginal ice zones., 10th International Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting and Coastal Hazard Symposium., North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, 11-16 November 2007., 2007
  • Francis-Chythlook, O. and D.E. Atkinson, Extreme value wind analysis in Alaska., Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract A21A-0828., 2006
  • Francis-Chythlook, O.P., Field observations of storm-induced water levels for Elson Lagoon, Barrow, Alaska, Reports on Polar and Marine Research, Montreal, Canada, Report of the 5th International Workshop, 13-16 October 2004., 2005
  • Francis-Chythlook, O.P., Results of a wave climate study for Elson Lagoon, Barrow, Alaska, Reports on Polar and Marine Research, Montreal, Canada, Report of the 5th International Workshop, 13-16 October 2004., 2005
  • Francis-Chythlook, O.P. and J. Brown, Additional erosion observations for the Elson Lagoon Key Site, Barrow, Alaska, Reports on Polar and Marine Research, Montreal, Canada, Report of the 5th International Workshop, 13-16 October 2004., 2005
  • Atkinson, D.E., J. Partain, D. Levinson, J. Walsh, J. Jensen, O. Francis-Chythlook, Assisting emergency response in the coastal zone, International Conference on Arctic Research Planning, Copenhagen, Denmark, 10-12 November 2005., 2005
  • Francis-Chythlook, O.P., Coastal processes in Elson Lagoon, Barrow, Alaska, M.S. Thesis, Anchorage, Alaska, University of Alaska Anchorage, 1, 130, 2004
  • Dietrich M. , O. P. Francis, C. M. Gaskell, S. P. Pebley, et al. (1998) Steps toward determination of the size and structure of the broad-line region in active galactic nuclei. XII. Ground-based monitoring of 3C 390.3, Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 115 (2), 185-202
  • McLaughlin K. W. , D. S. Eschliman, O. P. Francis, and D. W. Duquette (1994) Near-threshold photoionization spectrum of aligned Ca 4s5p1P1, Physical Review a, 49 (1), 240-245
  • Atkinson, D E, S. Ogorodov, O. Francis-Chythlook, A. Houque, and J. Turner, Chapter 3: Environmental forcing of the arctic coastal margins (manuscript submitted for book about Arctic coasts)., Submitted

Profile Details

Last Updated: 11/19/2008

COS Expertise ID #1196210
Reference this profile directly: http://myprofile.cos.com/Oceana