Implementation of a model for the horizontal gradients in the ESA retrieval algorithm for MIPAS

Neglecting the horizontal variability of the atmosphere in the forward model for the simulation of limb emission radiances causes a systematic error in MIPAS retrieved profiles. The horizontal gradient model will be introduced into the Optimized Retrieval Model (ORM) v8, which will be used for the final ESA reprocessing of the whole mission. Several optimizations exploiting the spherical symmetry of the atmosphere can no longer be used. Therefore, both the ray tracing and the radiative transfer integration algorithms have been completely rewritten.

Dynamics and rheology of cells and vesicles in shear flow

A deep understanding of the dynamics and rheology of suspensions of vesicles, cells, and capsules is relevant for different applications, ranging from soft glasses to blood flow [1]. I will present the study of suspensions of fluid vesicles by a combination of molecular dynamics and mesoscale hydrodynamics simulations (multi-particle collision dynamics) in two dimensions [2], pointing out the big potential of the numerical method to address problems in soft matter.

Analysis of free-surface flows through energy considerations: Single-phase versus two-phase modeling

The study of energetic free-surface flows is challenging because of the large range of interface scales involved due to multiple fragmentations and reconnections of the air-water interface with the formation of drops and bubbles. Because of their complexity the investigation of such phenomena through numerical simulation largely increased during recent years. Actually, in the last decades different numerical models have been developed to study these flows, especially in the context of particle methods.

A numerical algorithm for the assessment of the conjecture of a subglacial lake tested at Amundsenisen, Svalbard

The melting of glaciers coming with climate change threatens the heritage of the last glaciation of Europe likely contained in subglacial lakes in Greenland and Svalbard. This aspect urges specialists to focus their studies (theoretical, numerical, and on-field) on such fascinating objects. Along this line, we have approached the validation of the conjecture of the existence of a subglacial lake beneath the Amundsenisen Plateau at South-Spitzbergen, Svalbard, where ground penetrating radar measurements have revealed several flat signal spots, the sign of the presence of a body of water.

Robust Design Optimization for the refit of a cargo ship using real seagoing data

Robust Design Optimization (RDO) represents a really interesting opportunity when the specifications of the design are careful and accurate: the possibility to optimize an industrial object for the real usage situation, improving the overall performances while reducing the risk of occurrence of off-design con- ditions, strictly depends on the availability of the information about the probability of occurrence of the various operative conditions during the lifetime of the design.

Sequential quadrature methods for RDO

This paper presents a comparative study between a large number of different existing sequential quadrature schemes suitable for Robust Design Optimization (RDO), with the inclusion of two partly original approaches. Efficiency of the different integration strategies is evaluated in terms of accuracy and computational effort: main goal of this paper is the identification of an integration strategy able to provide the integral value with a prescribed accuracy using a limited number of function samples.

Petaflop biofluidics simulations on a two million-core system

We present a computational framework for multi-scale simulations of real-life biofluidic problems. The framework allows to simulate suspensions composed by hundreds of millions of bodies interacting with each other and with a surrounding fluid in complex geometries. We apply the methodology to the simulation of blood flow through the human coronary arteries with a spatial resolution comparable with the size of red blood cells, and physiological levels of hematocrit (the red blood cell volume fraction).

Clathrate structure-type recognition: Application to hydrate nucleation and crystallisation

For clathrate-hydrate polymorphic structure-type (sI versus sII), geometric recognition criteria have been developed and validated. These are applied to the study of the rich interplay and development of both sI and sII motifs in a variety of hydrate-nucleation events for methane and H2S hydrate studied by direct and enhanced-sampling molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.