1. STRATHLOCHY: A testable high-resolution ecosystem model for inshore waters

My contribution to this project includes modelling of hydrodynamics of the system, which sets background physical conditions for the ecosystem model. This task is being achieved through application of POLCOMS, a 3-D baroclinic hydrodynamic coastal ocean model developed at the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (now National Oceanography Centre Liverpool). POLCOMS has been already adapted to other Scottish fjords (i.e. Loch Torridon by FRS and POL, and Loch Etive by SAMS), and proved its eficiacy to provide realistic patterns of the wind-driven circulation as has been demonstrated for the Scottish shelf (Holt et al., 2005). The model is set up for Loch Linnhe with open boundaries across the Firth of Lorn and the strait between the Isle of Mull and the mainland. The model resolution is 100m, which adequately resolves the heterogeneity in the distributions and fluxes of surface layer properties. Key drivers of the model are tides, freshwater inputs and winds. Initial and boundary conditions for model experiments are approximated from climatological data. POLCOMS is currently operational on the SAMS linux cluster.

2. ACCESS: Arctic Climate Change, Economy and Society

The project's overall goal is to assess the consequences of current changes in the Arctic climate system for economy and society. The project includes five work packages. The Scottish Marine Institute contributes to WP1, task 2.3: Climate change and Arctic Environment: Monitoring snow, sea ice thermodynamics and sea ice drift. In the framework of this task sea ice thermodynamics in changed climatic conditions will be mapped over the critical area of the Eurasian Arctic by implanting 20 IMBs (ice mass balance buoys) over this sector, ten in the autumn of 2011 and ten in the autumn of 2012. The IMBs measure snow and ice thickness and upper ocean structure, and hence show the spatial and temporal evolution of sea ice and near-surface ocean properties. The information will be supplied to WP2 for ship routing analyses and WP4 for oil exploitation analysis, as well as used in testing the WP1 models. Ten of these buoys will be supplied by the Scottish Marine Institute. We intend to use an extension to the very successful 'SAMS Ice Mass Balance Buoy' (SIMBA).  This system will monitor the ice and snow mass balance as well the temperature of the lower atmospheric (0-2 m), snow and ice temperature and the ocean temperature throughout the mixed layer (down to 100 m) every 15 minutes. In addition the SIMBA will obtain a GPS measurement every 20 minutes as well as hourly measurements on atmospheric pressure. The SIMBA can be deployed through the ice or in open water. The outcome of this task includes time series of ice dynamics, mass balance and the temperature evolution in the upper mixed layer in the Eurasian sector of the Arctic Ocean.

Research grants

• Dense water overflows off continental shelves (cascading), EU INTAS, WP99-1600, 2000-2003
• International Arctic Research Center/JAMSTEC Cooperative Agreement, 2003-2007
• International Arctic Research Center/NSF Cooperative Agreement, Nansen and Amundsen Basin Observational System (NABOS), 2004-2008
• Sea Ice Upper Atmosphere Interactions, ONR US, 2007-2009
• Quantifying role of oceanic-ice-atmosphere interactions in shaping recent reduction of ice cover in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean, NASA US, 2008-2010
• A testable high-resolution ecosystem model for inshore waters, NERC, 2008-2011
• Arctic Climate Change, Economy and Society, EU FP-7, 2011-2015

Research cruises

• During my scientific career I participated in 16 research cruises including 11 cruises in the Arctic Ocean.