Researcher: 2017 - present, Bangor Uni & Nortek-AS

Developing techniques to aid the design and operation of Tidal Energy Convertors by characterisation of key aspects of turbulence, i.e. the scales, structure/coherency and stress, which are most likely to compromise the structural integrity of the tidal energy infrastructure.

Researcher: 2016, Norwegian Young Sea Ice Project, Norwegian Polar Institute

The study of under ice turbulence and its role in diapycnal mixing modulating the heat budget of the Arctic Ocean. https://eos.org/project-updates/arctic-research-on-thin-ice-consequences-of-arctic-sea-ice-loss.

Researcher, 2012-2016, Bangor Uni

Working on the Ocean Surface Mixing, Ocean Sub-mesoscale Interaction Study focusing on the role of Langmuir circulation and inertial shear spikes in driving mixing within and below the surface mixed layer of the ocean.

Curriculum designer, 2008-2012

I was project lead to design and develop a Repackaged Degree. Within this programme I developed problem based learning (PBL) modules unified with industrial seminars, with labs linked to lectures integrating social media and Web 2.0 technologies.

Researcher, 2001-2008

Working in the corporate sector my role was to develop a stand-off rugidised Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) system with a range capability in excess of 100m for remote, non-contact material detection/characterisation of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive materials for security and protection, as part of a project for Applied Photonics Limited and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.

Previous to this I was reading for my PhD. For this work I developed a LIBS system for the analysis of geological samples in simulated extra-terrestrial environments. The analysis covered pressures of 160x10^3 Pa to 0.4x10^-3 Pa and ambient gaseous mixtures of air, nitrogen and methane. Particular attention was paid to temporal and power considerations under such regimes.

Dr Natasha Lucas

Rm 207 Craig Mair Building, / Ystafell 207 Craig Mair Adeilad,

School of Ocean Sciences, / Ysgol Gwyddorau Eigion,

Bangor University, / Prifysgol Bangor,

Askew St, / Ffordd Y Coleg

Menai Bridge, / Porthaethwy,

Anglesey, / Ynys Mon,

LL59 5AB, UK 

n.lucas@bangor.ac.uk

+44 (0) 1248 388 065

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natasha_Lucas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashalucas/

  • Physical Oceanographer

    Bangor University & Nortek

    Apr 2017 – Present

    School of Ocean Sciences - Menai Bridge

    The aim of this project is to develop techniques to aid the design and operation of Tidal Energy Convertors (TECs) by characterisation of key aspects of turbulence, i.e. the scales, structure/coherency and stress, which are most likely to compromise the structural integrity of the tidal energy infrastructure.

    Oceanographers are able to exploit local assumptions of stationary and homogeneity to measure the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (ε) by applying the recently developed structure function approach to velocity profiles measured using off-the-shelf acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) (Lucas et al., 2014; Wiles et al., 2006). These flows have primarily been applicable to quantification of fluxes across critical interfaces within marine environments, and thus of considerably lower Reynolds numbers than those found in the tidal race environments attractive to TEC.

    Recent measurements demonstrate that whilst ε is strongly linked to tidal current speed, in a confined channel it is highly variable, fluctuating by over an order of magnitude for a given flow speed. Importantly, the widely used acoustic techniques reported above fail to resolve this variability in ε, which results from the formation of coherent structures.

    The occurrence of coherent structures is linked the formation of vortices downstream of rough seabed topography leading to the ejection of turbulence from the turbulent boundary layer close to the sea bed. The surface manifestation of sub-surface coherent structures, “boils”, are commonly observed in regions of strong flow such as rivers and strong tidal flows, the intensity of which is observed to increase with the roughness of the sea bed. This complication puts these processes beyond simple parameterisation, and hence inclusion in current standard tidal models, and so implying the need for site specific assessment of the potential impact of coherent structures on in-stream tidal energy generation infrastructure.

    Physical Oceanographer

    Norsk Polarinstitutt

    Apr 2016 – Dec 2016

    Tromso / Bangor

    NORWEGIAN YOUNG SEA ICE PROJECT (N-ICE2015)

    The study of under ice turbulence and its role in diapycnal mixing modulating the heat budget of the Arctic Ocean. Using novel instrumentation and techniques we are able to study turbulence directly under ice floes. https://eos.org/project-updates/arctic-research-on-thin-ice-consequences-of-arctic-sea-ice-loss

    Physical Oceanographer

    School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University

    Apr 2012 – Jan 2016

    Menai Bridge

    Natasha works as a Post-Doctoral Research Assistant for the OSMOSIS[i] project; working in partnership with other institutions to develop new parameterisations of turbulent processes that drive the deepening and shoaling of the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL).

    Natasha’s work concentrates on analysis of mooring-, ship- and glider-based measurements of small and fine-scale processes to investigate the dynamics of turbulent mixing in the NE Atlantic Ocean, focusing on how the OSBL fluxes heat and momentum, including the processes of Langmuir circulation and inertial shear spikes, and how these processes drive mixing within and below the OSBL governing surface temperatures and mixed layer depths.

    Her work also includes analysis of atmospheric, hydrographic, velocity and microstructure measurements in the small-fetch environment of the Clyde Sea. Concurrent to this project she has been involved in a parallel turbulence project at Lake Windermere, assisted in the supervision of an MSc and PhD student, taught for the MSc in Physical Oceanography and undertaken participation in teaching cruises on the RV Prince Madog. She has written and collaborated to produce papers on the quantitative results of her work and presented results both nationally and internationally.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [i] Ocean Surface Mixing and Submesoscale Interaction Study

2022

2019

2018

  • PublishedAnnual Cycle of Turbulent Dissipation Estimated from Seagliders
    Evans, D. G., Lucas, N., Hemsley, V., Frajka-Williams, E., Naveria Garabato, A. C., Martin, A., Painter, S. C., Inall, M. E. & Palmer, M. R., 16 Oct 2018, In: Geophysical Research Letters. 45, 19, p. 10560-10569 45.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2015

2014

Education

  • The University of Salford

    Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (FHEA)

    Education

    2011 – 2012

     

  • The University of Salford

    PhD

    Laser ablation, spectroscopy, space technology

    2001 – 2007

    Activities and Societies: SUMC, SUCK

    PhD title:

    The application of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to the analysis of geological samples in simulated extra-terrestrial atmospheric environments

     

  • The University of Salford

    BSc

    Physics with Space Technology

    1st Class Honours

    1997 – 2001

    Activities and Societies: SUMC, SUCK, Student Rep.

Volunteer Experience

 

Volunteer

DASH, AVIT, among others..

1996 – 2012

16 yrs

Volunteer experience:

February 2006 – April 2012, Adventure Volunteers Initiative Team (AVIT).

Duke of Edinburgh Volunteer for Deans Open Award Centre, including IT training and setup of a networked PC Suite.

February 2002 – December 2007, Salford University Canoe and Kayak (SUCK)

Level 4 Inland Kayak Coach, providing free white water coaching for the club both in the UK and Europe. Trip Secretary for the years 2002 - 2005.

April 1996 – June 1997, Drugs Advice and Support in Hulme (DASH)

Needle Exchange worker & supervisor of D.A.S.H. at the women’s evening.

March 1996 – June 1996, The Princes Trust Volunteers

Team building, Community project, Individual voluntary placement, Group project

Awards and Accreditations:

Full University Colours

8 Hour Aquatic First Aid

HeartStart Trainer

MIDAS Certificate

Duke of Edinburgh Platinum Award

BCU Inland Kayak Coach, Level 4

GNAS, Archery Leader

SPA Trained

Introduction to Counselling

Acupuncture (short course)