Ayon Sen

TEXAS

Ayon Sen, 17, of Austin, investigated the natural processes by which the ocean transports heat for his Intel Science Talent Search project in earth and planetary science. He developed a MATLAB software interface for deep water ocean current velocity data and integrated it with surface water velocity data from satellite altimeters. He subsequently determined that a significant amount of energy is dissipated in the ocean depths due to a mechanism called quadratic bottom boundary layer drag, and believes that his research makes the first quantitative estimate of this phenomenon. Because energy dissipation drives "mixing" in the ocean - a process analogous to the manner in which a ceiling fan transports heat by mixing warm and cold air - it has important implications for maintaining global climate. Ayon is first author of a paper on this project that has been submitted to Geophysical Research Letters. At Westwood High School, he is a member of the school orchestra, active in Junior Statesmen of America and a staff writer for its publication. The son of Mrinal and Alo Sen, he is an award-winning pianist and hopes to study applied mathematics at Caltech or Harvard.