Research

I currently work with Prof. Matthias Heil and Dr. Andrew Hazel on improvements to the oomph-lib project; specifically, the parallelisation (using MPI) of adaptive mesh routines for both single and multiple mesh problems that have been distributed across as many processors as a user would wish to use. This will have direct relevance to departmental interests in fluid-structure interaction problems as well as other physical situations where multiple domains or meshes interact with each other in some way. Please visit the oomph-lib web page to find out more about the project as a whole.

Publications

My Ph.D., titled Mantle Convection Incorporating Evolving Plate Geometries, was completed in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds in 2007 under the suprevision of Prof. Julian Lowman, now at University of Toronto at Scarborough. Please see the following papers:

• Lowman, J.P., Gait, A.D., Gable, C.W., and H. Kukreja, Plumes anchored by a high viscosity lower mantle in a 3D mantle convection model featuring dynamically evolving plates, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 35, doi:10.1029/2008GL035342, 2008.
• Gait, A.D., Lowman, J.P., and C.W. Gable, Time-dependence in 3D mantle convection models featuring evolving plates: the effect of lower mantle viscosity, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 113, B08409, doi:10.1029/2007JB005538, 2008.
• Gait, A.D., and J.P. Lowman, Effect of lower mantle viscosity on the time-dependence of plate velocities in three-dimensional mantle convection models, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 34, L21304, doi:10.1029/2007GL031396, 2007.
• Gait, A.D., and J.P. Lowman, Time-dependence in mantle convection models featuring dynamically evolving plates, Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 171, 463-477, doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X, 2007.

Presentations

My most recent work has been investigating the benefits of using multi-domain methods where multiple domains interact in some way in multi-field problems where multiple variables interact (for example, Boussinesq convection).

• Gait, A.D., Muddle, R., Hazel A.L. and Heil, M., Multi-domain and multi-field approaches for the parallel adaptive solution of monolithically-coupled multi-physics problems, Coupled Problems, Ischia Island, Italy, June 2009.
• Gait, A.D., Muddle, R., Hazel A.L. and Heil, M., Multi-domain and multi-field approaches for the parallel adaptive solution of monolithically-coupled multi-physics problems, British Applied Mathematics Colloquium, Nottingham, April 2009.

My Ph.D. work was presented at various conferences, including:

• Gait, A.D. and J.P. Lowman, Evolving tectonic plates in convection models: investigating the feedback between sources of deep mantle buoyancy and plate motion, Eos Trans. AGU, Jt. Assembly Suppl., 85(17), Abstract T34A-03, Montreal, 2004.
• Gait, A.D. and J.P. Lowman, Mantle convection models incorporating evolving plates: effect of time-dependent viscosity and plate thickness on flow reversals, New Horizons Postgraduate Research Conference, Galway, 2005.
• Gait, A.D., Lowman, J.P. and C.W. Gable, Time-dependence in mantle convection models featuring dynamically evolving plates: implications for variability in mantle heat flow, Eos Trans. AGU, Fall Meeting Suppl., 87(52), Abstract T52D-04, San Francisco, 2006. There is a web version of this talk.
• Lowman, J.P., Gait, A.D. and C.W. Gable, The effect of plate boundary evolution in 3D Cartesian geometry convection models, IUGG XXIV General Assembly, JSS011 2125 (page 437), Perugia, 2007.
• Lowman, J.P., Gait, A.D. and C.W. Gable, The influence of lower mantle viscosity on plate velocity time-dependence in numerical mantle convection models, Eos Trans. AGU, 88(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract T23E-08 (Invited), San Francisco, 2007.
• Lowman, J.P., Gait, A.D. and C.W. Gable, The influence of lower mantle viscosity on plate velocity time-dependence in numerical mantle convection models, 33rd International Geological Congress, Oslo, 2008

Qualifications

• Ph.D. School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, 2007
• M.Sc. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, 2003.
• M.Math. Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Durham, 2001.

For further details please see my CV.

Professional Affiliations

• Member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

Links

• The oomph-lib project
• My Academia.edu homepage
• Web of Science
• Google Scholar
• Geodynamics Group, University of Leeds
• Do plumes exist in the mantle?
• Recent world earthquakes

Miscellaneous

If you're short of something to do, you could always go and look at my old informal website (made when I was an undergraduate) for a bit. Warning: may make you laugh. Particularly if you're a mathematician.

Having said that, my efforts pale into insignificance when put up against the might of xkcd.com. There really is no contest, and you could end up looking through the archive for hours...