Eleanor Frajka-Williams

Eleanor Frajka-Williams

Professor of Ocean Dynamics in a Changing Climate

Universität Hamburg

I am a physical oceanographer who uses ocean observations to investigate ocean dynamics and circulation in a changing climate, and the leader of the Experimental Oceanography working group at the Institute of Oceanography, Universität Hamburg. I have a particular interest in problems spanning scales (from micro- to large-scale) or spheres (biogeosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere), and in methods that leverage traditional observations with new platforms and satellite data.

Interests
  • Ocean dynamics in a changing climate
  • Observational methods and technology
Education

  • PhD in Physical Oceanography, 2009

    University of Washington

  • MSc in Applied Mathematics, 2009

    University of Washington

  • MSc in Oceanography, 2005

    University of Washington

  • AB in Applied Mathematics, 2002

    Harvard University

Publications

  1. Louis Clément , Lukas Merckelbach , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2024). Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  2. Elodie Duyck , Nick Foukal , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2024). Circulation of Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay waters on the Labrador Shelf and into the subpolar North Atlantic. Ocean Sci. Disc..

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  3. Christopher D. J. Auckland , Povl E. Abrahamsen , Michael P. Meredith , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , C. P. Spingys , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Arnold L. Gordon (2024). Wind forcing controls on Antarctic Bottom Water export from the Weddell Sea via bottom boundary layer processes. Journal of Geophysical Research.

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  4. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , N. Foukal , Gokhan Danabasoglu (2023). Should AMOC observations continue: how and why?. Phil Trans A.

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  5. Leon Chafik , N. Penny Holliday , Sheldon Bacon , J. A. Baker , Damien G. Desbruyeres , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Laura C. Jackson (2023). Observed mechanisms activating the recent subpolar North Atlantic Warming since 2016. Phil Trans A.

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  6. Louis Clément , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Nicolai Von Oppeln-Bronikowski , I. Goszczko , Brad De Young (2023). Cessation of Labrador Sea Convection Triggered by Distinct Fresh and Warm (Sub)Mesoscale Flows. J. Phys. Oceanogr..

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  7. Gerard D. McCarthy , K. Burmeister , Stuart A. Cunningham , A. Düsterhus , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , And Others (2023). Climate change impacts on ocean circulation relevant to the UK and Ireland. Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership.

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  8. Laura C. Jackson , Arne Biastoch , Martha W. Buckley , Damien G. Desbruyeres , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Ben I. Moat , Jon Robson (2022). The evolution of the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation since 1980. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.

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  9. D. Gwyn Evans , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato (2022). Dissipation of mesoscale eddies at a western boundary via a direct energy cascade. Scientific Reports.

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  10. B Berx , Denis L. Volkov , Johanna Baehr , Molly O. Baringer , Peter Brandt , K. Burmeister , Stuart A. Cunningham , MF De Jong , Laura De Steur , S Dong , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Others (2022). Climate-Relevant Ocean Transport Measurements in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Oceanogr..

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  11. Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , X. Yu , J. Callies , R. Barkan , Kurt L. Polzin , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Others (2022). Kinetic Energy Transfers between Mesoscale and Submesoscale Motions in the Open Ocean’s Upper Layers. J. Phys. Ocean..

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  12. Alejandra Sanchez-Franks , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Ben I. Moat , David A. Smeed (2021). A dynamically based method for estimating the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26°N from satellite altimetry. Oc. Sci..

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  13. Carl P. Spingys , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , Sonya Legg , Kurt L. Polzin , E. Povl Abrahamsen , Christian E. Buckingham , Alex Forryan , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2021). Mixing and transformation in a deep western boundary current: A case study. J. Phys. Ocean..

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  14. Gokhan Danabasoglu , F. S. Castruccio , R. J. Small , R. Tomas , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Matthias Lankhorst (2021). Revisiting AMOC transport estimates from observations and models. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  15. D. Gwyn Evans , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , Kurt L. Polzin , Alex Forryan (2020). Mesoscale eddy dissipation by a zoo of submesoscale processes at a western boundary. J. Geophys. Res..

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  16. Brad De Young , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Nicolai Von Oppeln-Bronikowski , Stephen Woodward (2020). Technicalities: Exploring the Labrador Sea with autonomous vehicles. The Journal of Ocean Technology.

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  17. Bieito Fernandez-Castro , D. Gwyn Evans , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Clement Vic , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato (2020). Breaking of internal waves and turbulent dissipation in an anticyclonic mode water eddy. J. Phys. Ocean..

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  18. Denis L. Volkov , Chris S. Meinen , Others , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2020). Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and associated heat transport. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc..

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  19. Delphine Lobelle , Claudie Beaulieu , Valerie Livina , Florian Sevellec , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2020). Detectability of an AMOC decline in current and projected climate changes. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  20. Ben I. Moat , David A. Smeed , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Damien G. Desbruyeres , Claudie Beaulieu , William E. Johns , Darren Rayner , Alejandra Sanchez-Franks , Molly O. Baringer , Denis L. Volkov , Laura C. Jackson , Harry L. Bryden (2020). Pending recovery in the strength of the meridional overturning circulation at 26°N. Oc. Sci..

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  21. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , And Others (2019). Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: Observed Transport and Variability. Frontiers in Mar. Sci..

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  22. Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , Jack Hooley , Tiago S. Dotto , Sheldon Bacon , M. Tsamados , A. Ridout , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , L. Herraiz-Borreguero , Paul R. Holland , H. D. B. S. Heorton , Mike P. Meredith (2019). Phased response of the subpolar Southern Ocean to changes in circumpolar winds. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  23. Freya K. Garry , Elaine L. McDonagh , Adam T. Blaker , Chris D. Roberts , Damien G. Desbruyeres , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Brian A. King (2019). Model derived uncertainties in deep ocean temperature trends between 1990--2010. J. Geophys. Res..

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  24. Emma Worthington , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , G. D. McCarthy (2019). Using GRACE and in situ bottom pressure recorders to evaluate external transports at 26°N. J. Geophys. Res..

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  25. Joel J.-M. Hirschi , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Adam T. Blaker , Bablu Sinha , P. Hyder , Andrew Coward , Others (2019). Loop Current variability as trigger of coherent Gulf Stream transport anomalies. J. Phys. Ocean..

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  26. P. Testor , Brad De Young , D. Rudnick , S. Glenn , D. Hayes , C. M. Lee , C. Pattiaratchi , Others , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2019). OceanObs19: OceanGliders: a component of the integrated GOOS. Frontiers in Marine Science.

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  27. Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Carl P. Spingys , Sonya Legg , Kurt L. Polzin , Alex Forryan , E. Povl Abrahamsen , Christian E. Buckingham , Stephen M. Griffies , Stephen D. McPhail , Keith W. Nicholls , Leif N. Thomas , Mike P. Meredith (2019). Rapid mixing and exchange of deep-ocean waters in an abyssal boundary current. PNAS.

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  28. Chris S. Meinen , William E. Johns , Ben I. Moat , Ryan H. Smith , Elizabeth M. Johns , Darren Rayner , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Rigoberto F. Garcia , Silvia L. Garzoli (2019). Structure and variability of the Antilles Current at 26.5°N. J. Geophys. Res..

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  29. Francisco M. Calafat , Thomas Wahl , Fredrik Lindsten , Joanne Williams , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2018). Coherent modulation of the sea-level annual cycle in the United States by Atlantic Rossby waves. Nature Comm..

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  30. D. Gwyn Evans , N. S. Lucas , Victoria S. Hemsley , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Adrian Martin , Stuart C. PAinter , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , Mark E. Inall , Matthew R. Palmer (2018). Annual cycle of turbulence estimated from Seagliders. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  31. Tiago S. Dotto , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato , Sheldon Bacon , M. Tsamados , Paul R. Holland , Jack Hooley , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , A. Ridout , Mike P. Meredith (2018). Variability of the Ross Gyre, Southern Ocean: drivers and responses revealed by satellite altimetry. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  32. David A. Smeed , Simon A. Josey , William E. Johns , Ben I. Moat , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Darren Rayner , Chris S. Meinen , Molly O. Baringer , Harry L. Bryden , Gerard D. McCarthy (2018). The North Atlantic Ocean is in a state of reduced overturning. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  33. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Matthias Lankhorst , J. Koelling , Uwe Send (2018). Coherent circulation changes in the Deep North Atlantic from 16°N and 26°N transport arrays. J. Geophys. Res..

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  34. Bablu Sinha , David A. Smeed , Gerard D. McCarthy , Ben I. Moat , Simon A. Josey , Joel J.-M. Hirschi , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Adam T. Blaker , G. Madec (2018). The Accuracy of Estimates of the Overturning Circulation from Basin Wide Mooring Arrays. Prog. Oceangr..

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  35. Lena M. Schulze Chretien , Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2018). Wind-driven transport of fresh shelf water into the upper 30m of the Labrador Sea. Oc. Sci..

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  36. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Claudie Beaulieu , Aurelie D. Duchez (2017). Emerging negative Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation index in spite of warm subtropics. Scientific Reports.

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  37. Shane Elipot , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Chris W. Hughes , Sofia Olhede , Matthias Lankhorst (2017). Observed basin-scale response of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation to wind stress forcing. J. Clim.

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  38. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Jonathan Bamber , Kjetil Vage (2016). Greenland Melt and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Oceanogr..

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  39. Aurelie D. Duchez , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Simon A. Josey , D. Gwyn Evans , Jeremy P. Grist , R. Marsh , Gerard D. McCarthy , Bablu Sinha , David I. Berry , Joel J.-M. Hirschi (2016). Drivers of exceptionally cold North Atlantic Ocean temperatures and their link to the 2015 European heat wave. Env. Res. Lett..

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  40. Ben I. Moat , Simon A. Josey , Bablu Sinha , Adam T. Blaker , David A. Smeed , Gerard D. McCarthy , William E. Johns , Joël J.-M. Hirschi , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Darren Rayner , Aurelie D. Duchez , Andrew Coward (2016). Major Variations in Sub-Tropical North Atlantic Heat Transport at Short (5 day) Timescales and their Causes. J. Geophys. Res..

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  41. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Chris S. Meinen , William E. Johns , David A. Smeed , Aurelie D. Duchez , Adam J. Lawrence , David A. Cuthbertson , Harry L. Bryden , Gerard D. McCarthy , Molly O. Baringer , Darren Rayner , Ben I. Moat (2016). Compensation between meridional flow components of the Atlantic MOC at 26°N. Oc. Sci..

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  42. Louis Clement , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Katy L. Sheen , J. Alex Brearley , Alberto C. Naveira Garabato (2016). Generation of Internal Waves by Eddies Impinging on the Western Boundary of the North Atlantic. J. Phys. Ocean..

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  43. Victoria S. Hemsley , Timothy J. Smyth , Adrian P. Martin , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Andrew F. Thompson , Gillian Damerell , Stuart C. PAinter (2015). Estimating Oceanic Primary Production Using Vertical Irradiance and Chlorophyll Profiles from Ocean Gliders in the North Atlantic. Environmental Science Technology.

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  44. Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2015). Estimating the Atlantic MOC at 26°N using satellite altimetry and cable measurements. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  45. Gerard D. McCarthy , David A. Smeed , Williams E. Johns , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Ben I. Moat , Darren Rayner , Molly O. Baringer , Chris S. Meinen , Harry L. Bryden (2015). Measuring the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26°N. Prog. Oceangr..

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  46. Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2014). Sustaining observations of an unsteady ocean circulation. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc..

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  47. Louis Clément , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Zoltan B. Szuts , Stuart A. Cunningham (2014). Vertical structure of eddies and Rossby waves and their effect on the Atlantic MOC at 26.5°N. J. Geophys. Res..

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  48. Aurelie D. Duchez , Stuart A. Cunningham , Joel J.-M. Hirschi , Adam T. Blaker , Harry L. Bryden , C. Atkinson , Gerard D. McCarthy , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Darren Rayner , David A. Smeed (2014). A new index for the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. J. Clim.

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  49. Aurelie D. Duchez , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Natalia Castro , Joel J.-M. Hirschi , Andrew Coward (2014). Seasonal to interannual variability in density around the Canary Islands and their influence on the AMOC at 26°N. J. Geophys. Res..

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  50. Shane Elipot , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Chris W. Hughes , Josh Willis (2014). The observed North Atlantic MOC, its meridional coherence and ocean bottom pressure. J. Phys. Ocean..

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  51. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Peter B. Rhines , Charles C. Eriksen (2014). Horizontal stratification during Deep convection in the Labrader Sea. J. Phys. Ocean..

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  52. David A. Smeed , Gerard D. McCarthy , Stuart A. Cunningham , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Darren Rayner , William E. Johns , Chris S. Meinen , Molly O. Baringer , Ben I. Moat , Aurelie D. Duchez , Harry L. Bryden (2014). Observed decline of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation 2004 to 2012. Oc. Sci..

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  53. Stuart A. Cunningham , Chris D. Roberts , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , William E. Johns , W. Hobbs , M. D. Palmer , Darren Rayner , David A. Smeed , Gerard D. McCarthy (2013). Atlantic MOC slowdown cooled the subtropical ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  54. Chris D. Roberts , J. Waters , K. A. Peterson , M. Palmer , Gerard D. McCarthy , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , K. Haines , D. J. Lea , M. J. Martin , D. Storkey , E. W. Blockley , H. Zuo (2013). Atmosphere drives observed interannual variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.5N. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  55. Charlotte Mielke , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Johanna Baehr (2013). Observed and simulated variability of the AMOC at 26°N and 41°N. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  56. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , William E. Johns , Chris S. Meinen , Lisa M. Beal , Stuart A. Cunningham (2013). Eddy impacts on the Florida Current. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  57. Gerard D. McCarthy , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , William E. Johns , Molly O. Baringer , Chris S. Meinen , Harry L. Bryden , Darren Rayner , Aurelie D. Duchez , Chris D. Roberts , Stuart A. Cunningham (2012). Observed Interannual Variability of the Atlantic MOC at 26.5°N. Geophys. Res. Lett..

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  58. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Charles C. Eriksen , Peter B. Rhines , Ramsey R. Harcourt (2011). Determining Vertical Velocities from Seaglider. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech..

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  59. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Stuart A. Cunningham , Harry L. Bryden , Brian A. King (2011). Variability of Antarctic Bottom Water at 24.5°N in the Atlantic. J. Geophys. Res..

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  60. Darren Rayner , Joel J.-M. Hirschi , Torsten Kanzow , William E. Johns , Paul G. Wright , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Harry L. Bryden , Christopher S. Meinen , Molly O. Baringer , Jochem Marotzke , Lisa M. Beal , Stuart A. Cunningham (2011). Monitoring the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Deep Sea Res. II.

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  61. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Peter B. Rhines (2010). Physical controls and interannual variability of the Labrador Sea spring phytoplankton bloom in distinct regions. Deep Sea Res. I.

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  62. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Peter B. Rhines , Charles C. Eriksen (2009). Physical controls and mesoscale variability in the Labrador Sea spring phytoplankton bloom observed by Seaglider. Deep Sea Res. I.

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Chapters

  1. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , J. Alex Brearley , J. D. Nash , C. B. Whalen (2022). New technological frontiers in ocean mixing. Ocean Mixing: Drivers, Mechanisms and Impacts.

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  2. Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2019). Topographic Eddies. Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences.

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Magazine

  1. K. R. Hendry , A. Annett , R. Bhatia , G. M. Damerell , S. Fielding , Y. L. Firing , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Others (2020). Equity at sea: Gender and inclusivity in UK sea-going science. Ocean Challenge.

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  2. Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2011). RAPID: Monitoring the meridional overturning circulation at 26°N. Ocean Challenge.

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  3. Kim Martini , Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Colleen Mouw (2009). The Pattullo Conference: Building Community Through mentoring. Oceanography.

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Preprints

  1. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , F. Landerer , T. Lee (2018). Fast response of deep ocean circulation to mid-latitude winds in the Atlantic. Geophys. Res. Lett. (rejected).

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  2. Eleanor Frajka-Williams , Eric Kunze , Jennifer A. MacKinnon (2014). Bispectra of Internal Tides and Parametric Subharmonic Instability. ArXiv.

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  3. Eleanor Frajka-Williams (2004). Convection in a Fluid Loop. Proceedings of the WHOI Geophysical Fluid Dynamics program.

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