Gunnar Voet
Physical Oceanographer
R/V Roger Revelle under way on the open ocean

Small-scale physics,
big ocean impacts

Flow-topography interaction, internal waves, and turbulent mixing.
Observed from ships and moorings, surface to abyss.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Multiscale Ocean Dynamics
La Jolla, CA
32.8696° N, 117.2504° W

Where & why
the ocean mixes.

I am a physical oceanographer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Using shipboard and moored in-situ observations, I study flow-topography interaction, internal waves, and turbulent mixing. Part of this work asks how these small-scale processes affect the large-scale ocean circulation. I am a member of Multiscale Ocean Dynamics at Scripps.

  • Flow-Topography Interaction
  • Internal Waves
  • Overflows and Hydraulics
  • Ocean Turbulence and Mixing
  • Global Overturning Circulation

Projects

2010–2026 · all 12 →
2026

Moored Turbulence Sensors - MODchi

Developing a moored temperature microstructure sensor, and measuring turbulent mixing across the equatorial Pacific cold tongue.

2026

Drivers of Oceanic Change in the Amundsen Sea - DECADES

Measuring how warm Circumpolar Deep Water crosses the Antarctic shelf break and is transformed by turbulence on its way toward Pine Island Glacier.

2025

Sensing the Ocean with Seafloor Fiber-Optic Cables

Ground-truthing distributed fiber-optic sensing on a telecommunication cable off Madeira against conventional ocean measurements.

2024

Mixing Below Tropical Instability Waves - MOTIVE

Evaluating mixing mechanisms and associated turbulent heat fluxes below tropical instability waves near the equator.

2023

New England Seamount Chain - Gulf Stream Interactions

What happens when one of the strongest ocean currents on earth encounters a seamount?

2020

Boundary Layer Turbulence - BLT

Turbulence and abyssal upwelling in the deep bottom boundary layers.

2019

Near-Inertial Shear and Kinetic Energy in the North Atlantic Experiment - NISKINe

ONR-funded project to study the generation, propagation and decay of near-inertial waves in the North Atlantic

2018

Propagation of Intra-Seasonal Tropical Oscillations - PISTON

Understanding three-dimensional oceanic processes that may influence the propagation of multi-scale convective systems in the atmosphere

2017

Hydraulic Processes in the Samoan Passage

NSF-funded project to study hydraulic processes in the abyssal flow through the Samoan Passage

2015

Flow Encountering Abrupt Topography - FLEAT

ONR-funded project to study flow-topography interactions in the vicinity of Palau in the northern tropical Pacific

2012

Samoan Passage Abyssal Mixing Experiment

NSF-funded project to study volume transport and mixing processes in the abyssal flow through the Samoan Passage

2010

On the Nordic Overturning Circulation

Doctoral thesis on the mid-depth circulation of the Nordic Seas, the dense overflows across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge, and the entrainment that dilutes them downstream.

Software

open source

mixsea

Ocean Mixing Parameterizations in Python.

code   |   docs

ctdproc

CTD Data Processing in Python.

code   |   docs

velosearaptor

ADCP Data Processing in Python.

code   |   docs

gvpy

Somewhat random collection of data analysis code snippets written in Python. Sharing this here as I sometimes find inspiration in other peoples code. Please be aware that breaking changes may occur at any moment.

code   |   docs

watchmagic

Adds a Jupyter Notebook magic command to watch a file or folder and re-evaluate a notebook cell if any changes occur.

code

Data

archived

Samoan Passage

Mooring and shipboard data from the Samoan Passage project.

process cruise & mooring data   |   monitoring mooring data

PISTON

Mooring data from PISTON.

data   |   processing code

PISTON data have also been archived to the official CAMP2EX_PISTON data repository hosted by NASA.

BLT

Mooring data from the Boundary Layer Turbulence (BLT) project.

data   |   processing code

NISKINe

Mooring data from the Near-Inertial Shear and Kinetic Energy in the North Atlantic experiment (NISKINe) project.

data   |   processing code

Publications

gv.bib ↗

2026

Ground-Truthed Fiber-Optic Sensing Reveals Internal Tide Bores Over Madeira’s Steep Slope
Alford, M.H., Belal, M., Naveira Garabato, A.C., Spingys, C., Voet, G., Godin, O.A., Uzhansky, E.M., Neale, J.W., Reis, J., Loureiro, A.Geophys. Res. Lett. 53, e2026GL124117
Observation of Yanai Wave Excitation by Tropical Instability Waves in the Equatorial Pacific
Anutaliya, A., Whalen, C.B., Voet, G., Deppenmeier, A.-L., Waterhouse, A.F., Luko, C.D., Le Boyer, A.Geophys. Res. Lett. 53, e2026GL124052
Climatic reach of small-scale turbulence in the ocean interior
Cimoli, L., Mashayek, A., Naveira Garabato, A.C. … Voet, G., et al.Nat. Commun. 17, 5212
Standing Wave–Induced Tidal Shear in a Submarine Canyon in the Rockall Trough
Ma, Y., Ferrari, R., Polzin, K., Alford, M.H., Naveira Garabato, A.C., Voet, G.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 56, 665–680
Wintertime Convection in the Subpolar North Atlantic
Moum, J.N., Voet, G., Waterhouse, A.F., Moulin, A.J.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 56, 1405–1418

2025

Observations of Turbulence Generated by a Near-Inertial Wave Propagating Downward in an Anticyclonic Eddy
Alford, M.H., Le Boyer, A., Ren, A.S., Voet, G., Bellerjeau, C., Whalen, C.B., Hall, B., Couto, N.Geophys. Res. Lett. 52, e2024GL114070
A 90-m-Tall Neutrally Buoyant Instrument Chain for Measuring Ocean Fine Structure in a Quasi-Lagrangian Reference Frame
Alford, M.H., Thode, A., Voet, G., Laferriere, A.B., Le Boyer, A., Couto, N., Souhrada, K., Bevans, D., Berkenpas, E., Freeman, L.J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. 42, 425–434
Buoyancy Flux and Mixing Efficiency from Direct, Near-Bottom Turbulence Measurements in a Submarine Canyon
Alford, M.H., Wynne-Cattanach, B., Le Boyer, A., Couto, N., Voet, G., Spingys, C.P., Fernández-Castro, B., Forryan, A., Naveira Garabato, A.C., van Haren, H.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 55, 97–118
Pathways to Turbulent Dissipation in a Submarine Canyon
Bellerjeau, C., Alford, M.H., Le Boyer, A., Dematteis, G., Naveira Garabato, A., Voet, G., Couto, N., Wynne-Cattanach, B.L.Geophys. Res. Lett. 52, e2024GL113526
Connecting Mixing to Upwelling Along the Ocean’s Sloping Boundary
Naveira Garabato, A.C., Spingys, C.P., Fernández-Castro, B. … Voet, G., et al.Geophys. Res. Lett. 52, e2025GL119186
Internal-wave-induced dissipation rates in the Weddell Sea Bottom Water gravity current
Pinner, O., Pollmann, F., Janout, M., Voet, G., Kanzow, T.Ocean Sci. 21, 701–726

2024

Linking ocean mixing and overturning circulation
Burchard, H., Alford, M., Chouksey, M. … Voet, G., et al.Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 105, E1265–E1274
Observations of Tidally Driven Turbulence over Steep, Small-Scale Topography Embedded in the Tasman Slope
Marques, O.B., Alford, M.H., Pinkel, R., MacKinnon, J.A., Voet, G., Klymak, J.M., Nash, J.D.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 54, 601–615
Near-slope turbulence in a Rockall canyon
van Haren, H., Voet, G., Alford, M.H., Fernández-Castro, B., Naveira Garabato, A.C., Wynne-Cattanach, B.L., Mercier, H., Messias, M.-J.Deep Sea Res. I 206, 104277
Near-inertial energy variability in a strong mesoscale eddy field in the Iceland Basin
Voet, G., Waterhouse, A.F., Savage, A.C., et al.Oceanography
Observations of diapycnal upwelling within a sloping submarine canyon
Wynne-Cattanach, B.L., Couto, N., Drake, H.F. … Voet, G., et al.Nature 630, 884–890

2023

Prolonged thermocline warming by near-inertial internal waves in the wakes of tropical cyclones
Gutiérrez Brizuela, N., Alford, M.H., Xie, S.-P., Sprintall, J., Voet, G., Warner, S.J., Hughes, K., Moum, J.N.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 120, e2301664120
Energy and Momentum of a Density-Driven Overflow in the Samoan Passage
Voet, G., Alford, M.H., Cusack, J.M., Pratt, L.J., Girton, J.B., Carter, G.S., Klymak, J.M., Tan, S., Thurnherr, A.M.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 53, 1429–1452

2022

Observations of double diffusive staircase edges in the Arctic Ocean
Boury, S., Supekar, R., Fine, E.C., Musgrave, R., Mickett, J.B., Voet, G., Odier, P., Peacock, T., MacKinnon, J.A., Alford, M.H.J. Geophys. Res. 127, e2022JC018906
Hydraulic control of flow in a multi-passage system connecting two basins
Tan, S., Pratt, L.J., Voet, G., Cusack, J.M., Helfrich, K.R., Alford, M.H., Girton, J.B., Carter, G.S.J. Fluid Mech. 940
Internal wave breaking near the foot of a steep East-Pacific continental slope
van Haren, H., Voet, G., Alford, M.H., Torres, D.J.Prog. Oceanogr. 205, 102817
Measurements of turbulence generated by wake eddies near a steep headland
Wynne-Cattanach, B.L., Alford, M.H., MacKinnon, J.A., Voet, G.J. Geophys. Res. Oceans 127, e2022JC018674

2021

Data-driven identification of turbulent oceanic mixing from observational microstructure data
Couchman, M.M.P., Wynne-Cattanach, B., Alford, M.H., Caulfield, C.P., Kerswell, R.R., MacKinnon, J.A., Voet, G.Geophys. Res. Lett. 48
Turbulence driven by reflected internal tides in a supercritical submarine canyon
Hamann, M.M., Alford, M.H., Lucas, A.J., Waterhouse, A.F., Voet, G.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 51, 591–609
Abyssal heat budget in the Southwest Pacific Basin
Lele, R., Purkey, S.G., Nash, J.D., MacKinnon, J.A., Thurnherr, A.M., Whalen, C.B., Mecking, S., Talley, L.D., Voet, G.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 51, 3317–3333
Broadband submesoscale vorticity generated by flow around an island
Zeiden, K.L., MacKinnon, J.A., Alford, M.H., Rudnick, D.L., Voet, G., Wijesekera, H.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 51, 1301–1317

2020

2019

Eddies, topography, and the abyssal flow by the Kyushu-Palau Ridge near Velasco Reef
Andres, M., Siegelman, M., Hormann, V. … Voet, G., et al.Oceanography 32, 46–55
A spatial geography of abyssal turbulent mixing in the Samoan Passage
Carter, G.S., Voet, G., Alford, M.H., Girton, J.B., Mickett, J.B., Klymak, J.M., Pratt, L.J., Pearson-Potts, K.A., Cusack, J.M., Tan, S.Oceanography 32, 194–203
Persistent turbulence in the Samoan Passage
Cusack, J.M., Voet, G., Alford, M.H., Girton, J.B., Carter, G.S., Pratt, L.J., Pearson-Potts, K., Tan, S.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 49, 3179–3197
Flow-topography interactions in the Samoan Passage
Girton, J.B., Mickett, J.B., Zhao, Z. … Voet, G., et al.Oceanography 32, 184–193
FLEAT: A multiscale observational and modeling program to understand how topography affects flows in the Western North Pacific
Johnston, S., Schönau, M., Paluszkiewicz, T. … Voet, G., et al.Oceanography 32, 10–21
Eddy wake generation from broadband currents near Palau
MacKinnon, J.A., Alford, M.H., Voet, G., Zeiden, K., Johnston, T.M.S., Siegelman, M., Merrifield, S., Merrifield, M.J. Geophys. Res. Oceans 124, 4891–4903
Pacific abyssal transport and mixing: Through the Samoan Passage versus around the Manihiki Plateau
Pratt, L.J., Voet, G., Pacini, A., Tan, S., Alford, M.H., Carter, G.S., Girton, J.B., Menemenlis, D.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 49, 1577–1592
Understanding vorticity caused by flow passing an island
Rudnick, D., Zeiden, K., Ou, C., Johnston, S., MacKinnon, J., Alford, M., Voet, G.Oceanography 32, 66–73
Observations of near-inertial surface currents at Palau
Siegelman, M., Merrifield, M.A., Firing, E., MacKinnon, J.A., Alford, M.H., Voet, G., Wijesekera, H.W., Schramek, T., Terrill, E.Oceanography 32, 74–83
Squeeze dispersion and the effective diapycnal diffusivity of oceanic tracers
Wagner, G.L., Flierl, G., Ferrari, R., Voet, G., Carter, G.S., Alford, M.H., Girton, J.B.Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, 5378–5386

2018

Application of a model of internal hydraulic jumps
Thorpe, S.A., Malarkey, J., Voet, G., Alford, M.H., Girton, J.B., Carter, G.S.J. Fluid Mech. 834, 125–148

2017

Spectral decomposition of internal gravity wave sea surface height in global models
Savage, A.C., Arbic, B.K., Alford, M.H. … Voet, G., et al.J. Geophys. Res. 122, 7803–7821
Frequency content of sea surface height variability from internal gravity waves to mesoscale eddies
Savage, A.C., Arbic, B.K., Richman, J.G. … Voet, G., et al.J. Geophys. Res. 122, 1–20

2016

Warming and weakening of the abyssal flow through Samoan Passage
Voet, G., Alford, M.H., Girton, J.B., Carter, G.S., Mickett, J.B., Klymak, J.M.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 46, 2389–2401

2015

Pathways, volume transport and mixing of abyssal water in the Samoan Passage
Voet, G., Girton, J.B., Alford, M.H., Carter, G.S., Klymak, J.M., Mickett, J.B.J. Phys. Oceanogr. 45, 562–588

2013

Turbulent mixing and hydraulic control of abyssal water in the Samoan Passage
Alford, M.H., Girton, J.B., Voet, G., Carter, G.S., Mickett, J.B., Klymak, J.M.Geophys. Res. Lett. 40, 4668–4674

2010

Intense mixing of the Faroe Bank Channel overflow
Fer, I., Voet, G., Seim, K.S., Rudels, B., Latarius, K.Geophys. Res. Lett. 37, L02604
On the Nordic Overturning Circulation
Voet, G.PhD thesis, University of Hamburg
Entrainment in the Denmark Strait overflow plume by meso-scale eddies
Voet, G., Quadfasel, D.Ocean Sci. 6, 301–310
The mid-depth circulation of the Nordic Seas derived from profiling float observations
Voet, G., Quadfasel, D., Mork, K.A., Søiland, H.Tellus A 62, 516–529

2008

The overflow flux west of Iceland: Variability, origins and forcing
Dickson, R.R., Dye, S., Jónsson, S. … Voet, G.Arctic–Subarctic Ocean Fluxes, Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 443–474

Posts

all 10 posts →
2026 Aug 29 Python Environments with uv How I manage Python projects, environments, and Jupyter kernels with uv 2023 Jun 22 Publication Management with Zotero How I manage publications using Zotero and its Better BibTex and ZotFile plugins 2020 Jun 19 watchmagic A watchdog for IPython / jupyter notebook cells 2019 Nov 06 BLT Test Moorings Recovered Successful recoveries of two test moorings deployed in San Diego Trough 2019 Oct 29 A Step Beyond Exploring physical oceanography through dance

Experience

Aug 2024 – present Associate Research Scientist Scripps Institution of Oceanography / UCSD, La Jolla, California
Jul 2014 – Jul 2024 Assistant/Associate/Full Project Scientist Scripps Institution of Oceanography / UCSD, La Jolla, California
Mar 2012 – Jun 2014 Postdoctoral Scholar Applied Physics Laboratory / UW, Seattle, Washington
Aug 2005 – Jun 2010 Graduate Student University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

Get
in touch

Email
gvoet@ucsd.edu
Phone
+1 858-822-6809
Curriculum vitae
cv.pdf
Mail
9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0213
La Jolla, CA 92093
United States
Office
8851 Shellback Way
Keck OAR Building 2, 3rd floor, Office 357
La Jolla, CA 92093