Herman studied applied mathematics and fluid dynamics at Twente University, spent an academic year at Moscow University’s MechMat Department, and returned to Twente for further studies, where he obtained his PdD in 1982. In 1980 he joined Delft Hydraulics full time to focus on numerical modeling of flows and transports, tides, flood forecasting and inundation. He has been developing and applying models to a variety of seas and ocean margin areas Examples are the North Sea, NW European shelf, Baltic Sea, Arabian Gulf, South China Sea, Indonesian seas, Bay of Bengal, Black Sea / Mediterranean. His present position is Senior researcher oceanography at Deltares / Delft Hydraulics, where he is involved in several studies related to data assimilation techniques and large-scale modeling. Quantified techniques for controlling quality of models and of their application are topics that continue to interest him.

Dr. Gerritsen is author or co-author of some 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and books plus about 40 papers in conference proceedings. He has been key note lecturer and invited speakers at various conferences, and has organized and co-organized several conferences and workshops on fluid dynamics and ocean modeling.

Some Selected publications :

• G.Y. El Serafy, H., Gerritsen, S. Hummel, A.H. Weerts, A.E. Mynett and M. Tanaka, 2007. Application of data assimilation in portable operational forecasting systems- the DATools assimilation environment. Ocean Dynamics, Vol. 57, 4-5, 485-499 DOI 10.1007/s10236-007-0124-3
• Daniel Twigt, Erik de Goede, Ernst Schrama and Herman Gerritsen, 2007, Analysis and modelling of the seasonal South China Sea temperature cycle using remote sensing. Ocean Dynamics, Vol. 57, 4-5, 467-484, DOI 10.1007/s10236-007-0123-4
• Kernkamp, H.W.J., H.A.H. Petit, H. Gerritsen and E.D. de Goede, 2005, A unified formulation for the shallow water equations: theory and application. Ocean Dynamics, Vol. 55, No. 3-4, pp. 351-369
• Gerritsen, H. Uittenbogaard, R.E., and E.J.O. Schrama, 2004, “Modelling of monsoon driven flows in South-east Asian waters using satellite remote sensing techniques. Proc. 6th Int. Conf. on Hydroinformatics, Singapore, June 2004, – Liong, Phoon & Babovic, eds, Vol. 2, pp. 1285-1294.
• Gerritsen, H., E.J.O. Schrama and H.F.P. van den Boogaard, 2003, “Tidal model validation of the seas of South-East Asia using altimeter data and adjoint modelling”, Proc. XXX IAHR Congress, Thessaloniki, 24-28 August 2003, Vol. D, pp. 239-246
• Battjes, J.A. and H. Gerritsen, 2002, Coastal modelling for flood defence. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A (2002) Vol 360, pp. 1461-1475
• Vatvani, D.K., H. Gerritsen, G.S. Stelling and A.V.R. Krishna Rao, 2002, Cyclone-induced storm surge and flood forecasting system for India, In: Proc. Int. Conf. Solutions to coastal disasters, San Diego, February 2002, pp. 473-487. Reston, VA: ASCE

Contact details
Tel: +31-15-2858470
Fax: +31-15-2858582
Email: herman.gerritsen@deltares.nl