Senior Oceanographer Joins MetOcean Solutions

Renowned oceanographer, Dr. Tom Durrant, joined MetOcean Solutions in March 2015.

He has assumed the role of expert wave modeller, providing strategic leadership for innovation and development in global and regional-scale marine forecasting and hindcasting.

MetOcean Solutions, together with partner MetraWeather, are Australasia’s foremost providers of oceanographic and meteorological guidance to the offshore industry. The two companies will be exhibiting at APPEA 2015 on the New Zealand Pavilion, Stand 260.

Dr. Durrant has highly specialised expertise in the physical processes, numerical modeling and observation of the marine environment. He previously worked at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, where he led the development of operational wave forecasting systems. These included systems based on both dynamical modelling and statistical downscaling techniques, with a focus on the practical application of the guidance.

He has extensive experience in the development and implementation of operational systems and the production of long-term wave hindcasts at a range of scales. He is experienced with the use and availability of in-situ and remotely sensed marine observations, and their application for both the verification and improvement of forecasting tools.

He has expert knowledge of the WAVEWATCH III™ spectral wave model, and maintains an active involvement with the WAVEWATCH III™ development community.

He also has experience in the production of long-term wave hindcasts and the analysis of current and future wave climate.

“The offshore oil and gas industry operates in a harsh and remote environment. Accurate marine forecasts are required in order to maintain safe, economical and environmentally responsible operations,” says Dr. Durrant.

“My research will focus on improvements in the representation of the physical processes within the current MetOcean Solutions operational model. In addition to an overall improvement in forecast performance, this research will bring improvements to both swell forecasts and waves under tropical cyclones, both of which are particularly important for offshore operations.”

Dr. Durrant holds a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Melbourne and has eight years’ professional experience. He currently holds an Adjunct Research Fellow position at Swinburne University of Technology, where his research interests focus on wave model physics and waves generated under tropical cyclones.