John Bane

Professor

Bane Lab

Education

Ph.D., Florida State University, 1975

Research Interests

Dynamics of Gulf Stream; Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics; Aircraft Observation and Analysis Systems

Research and Activities

Prof. Bane conducts research on the dynamics of the Gulf Stream and coastal currents, ocean-atmosphere interaction processes, and marine renewable energy. This work focuses on mesoscale oceanic and atmospheric variability that occurs on daily and longer time scales. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the State of North Carolina, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He is a joint faculty member in UNC’s Departments Physics and Astronomy, Geological Sciences, and Environmental Sciences and Engineering. Past study regions include the Gulf Stream from the southeastern United States to the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, the coastal ocean and atmosphere off the U. S. west coast, from southern California to Oregon, the northern Gulf of Mexico, and the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks. Dr. Bane has been involved in the promotion of marine alternative energy, from both wind and ocean current resources. Presently he is a member of two investigator groups funded through the National Science Foundation (Physical Oceanography Program) and the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program. These studies are ongoing in the Cape Hatteras region, offshore of the Carolinas and Virginia.