Air–sea interaction and surface waves
Momentum, heat, and moisture exchange under evolving winds, currents, stratification, and sea states.
Explore SCOAR →Understanding ocean–atmosphere–wave interactions across scales
Hyodae Seo is a Professor in the Department of Oceanography and Associate Director of the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography.
The Seo Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Research (SCOAR) Lab investigates how the ocean, atmosphere, and surface waves interact across scales—from turbulent air–sea exchange to extreme weather and regional climate.
Our research combines observations, theory, numerical modeling, and data-driven approaches to study coupled ocean–atmosphere–wave dynamics, extreme weather, air–sea exchanges, and short-term climate variability. We aim to improve forecasts, coastal and offshore hazard assessments, resilience to extreme events, and decision-making for communities, infrastructure, and maritime operations.
Our lab also engages the public on critical issues such as extreme weather, climate, and renewable energy, aligning our research efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and UC•AO activities.
Explore the SCOAR Lab
How we study the coupled Earth system
Coupled ocean–atmosphere–wave modeling
High-resolution atmosphere–ocean–wave simulations reveal feedbacks that component models cannot represent alone.
Observations across scales
Satellite products and in situ measurements connect modeled processes with the evolving ocean and atmosphere.
Data-driven analysis
Statistical and machine-learning approaches help identify regimes, mechanisms, and sources of predictability.
Research themes
Extreme weather and regional climate
Ocean and wave influences on tropical cyclones, atmospheric rivers, monsoons, and coastal weather.
View related projects →Offshore wind and coastal oceans
Coupled atmospheric wakes, surface-wave responses, upper-ocean mixing, and ocean feedbacks around wind farms.
View offshore-wind research →Process understanding and prediction
Physical, statistical, and data-driven approaches for improving regional coupled prediction.
Browse publications →
Seo Lab in the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join the ONR-funded SAFARI team (Study of Air–Sea Fluxes and Atmospheric River Intensity). The UH SAFRI project will utilize a combination of in situ and satellite observations, along with high-resolution coupled model simulations, to investigate the link between spatial variability of SST–wind–wave–current interactions and the diabatic intensification or dissipation of atmospheric rivers through air-sea heat and momentum fluxes.
The successful candidate is expected to bring expertise in surface waves and air–sea interaction modeling, satellite remote sensing (e.g., SWOT), or analysis of in situ observations of air–sea fluxes, turbulent boundary layer processes, and/or their parameterizations.
Please apply online.
Dr. Ben Barr is an expert in sea spray modeling and air–sea interaction under high-wind conditions. He has published influential studies on sea spray parameterizations (Barr et al., 2023) and their effects on tropical cyclones (Barr et al., 2025). Before joining UH, Ben was a postdoctoral researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) from 2023 to 2025. He earned his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington in 2023 under the guidance of Prof. Shuyi Chen. At UH, Ben will continue advancing sea-state-based sea spray modeling, contributing to the development of a next-generation, sea-spray–enabled COARE bulk flux algorithm.
Welcome Ben!
