Carl H. Gibson, a professor of engineering and oceanography at the University of California San Diego, passed away in February 2024. A distinguished figure and expert in turbulence, Gibson joined UC San Diego in 1965 and held various positions in the decades since. Gibson was a professor of engineering physics in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), and professor of oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as well as serving as Acting Provost of Warren College.
Research Contributions
Gibson was an expert in turbulence and turbulent mixing. Through physical and computational experiments in the ocean and atmosphere, he illuminated fundamental phenomena shaping our understanding of the natural world. Collaborations with astrophysicists and astronomers demonstrated his interdisciplinary approach, as he sought to understand the creation of the universe.
Colleagues relied on his knowledge and experience in turbulence, which he demonstrated through pioneering the design and development of turbulent probes for measuring properties in both liquids and air. His groundbreaking research attracted exceptional graduate students to his research group, even early in his career, and many of them were recruited to industry and research careers shortly after graduating.
Beyond research, Gibson was a devoted educator, inspiring future generations through teaching and mentorship, including courses like Fluid Mechanics, and Society and the Sea. His impact transcended the classroom, motivating students and colleagues alike to pursue excellence and embrace curiosity. Gibson's insatiable curiosity, insightful inquiries, and genuine humility and kindness left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered.
Background and Professional Distinctions
Gibson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin in 1956 and 1957 before earning his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1962. He then embarked on a journey of intellectual exploration and service that touched countless lives, dedicating two years to the Peace Corps, where he volunteered in the Chemical Technology Department at Osmania University in Hyderabad, India. When he returned to the United States, Gibson briefly joined the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Among his professional distinctions, Gibson was honored as a Guggenheim Fellow in 1973 in Applied Mathematics, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1975. He is known for his discovery of the Gibson scale in the field of premixed turbulent combustion. With a background that included a position at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1958 and participation in eight ocean expeditions, Gibson published more than 80 articles in books and journals, pioneering research on scalar dissipation, turbulence, and intermittency in the ocean.
