Featured Projects
Sea Ice Modeling
Modeling subsurface sea ice to predict oil spreading
Project Summary
Background
Oil trapped under the ice endangers not only the local marine life but the communities that depend on those resources for food as well. Tracking oil slick movement under sea ice is difficult; therefore, this project aims to model the interaction between oil and sea ice to better anticipate oil spreading.
Methods
With the use of sonars and acoustics, sea ice measurements will be obtained and modeled. From these models, methods for predicting sea ice types based on observed conditions will be developed and estimates of how much oil these types of sea ice can sequester will be discovered.
Results
Better sea ice models will enable future researchers to identify the impacts of oil trapped under the ice, evaluate the short and long-term effects of oil trapped under ice, and improve oil spill response technologies.