From Shelf-Break to Coastline: Connecting Ocean Upwelling to Biological Productivity on British Columbia’s Central Coast
Hayley Dosser
University of British Columbia
Upwelling is a process by which cold, low-oxygen, low-pH, nutrient-rich water from the deep Pacific Ocean is drawn onto the continental shelf in response to shifts in the large-scale winds. The pathways of upwelled water across the continental shelf, the timing of its arrival at the coast, and how mixing modifies its properties have consequences for coastal ecosystems. Climate projections suggest changes in upwelling, with impacts that will vary regionally. Dr. Dosser’s work aims to determine how seasonal upwelling affects nutrient availability that supports high levels of plankton productivity along the BC central coast.
Development of a Hydro-Sedimentary Model of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Application to the Atlantic Halibut Spawning and Nursery Areas
Christiane Dufresne
Université du Québec à Rimouski
Climate change and anthropogenic activities pose challenging questions for coastal managers, and decision support systems thus become of major concern. Models have proven to be very powerful tools that provide answers regarding contaminant dispersion, help to assess the impacts of human activities such as dredging and trawling, and have several engineering applications (like coastal planning and infrastructure design).This project aims at developing a numerical tool enables to simulate sediment dynamics in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Improving Iceberg Models’ Dynamics and Prediction Skills
Juliana Marson, University of Alberta
The overall objective of this proposal is to improve the current characterization of iceberg distribution across the North Atlantic, especially along the Canadian east coast, and to enhance the prediction capabilities of current iceberg models according to underlying environmental conditions and their changes.
Improved Canadian Arctic Sea Ice Thickness Estimates from Synthetic Aperture Radar Altimetry
Vishnu Nandan, University of Manitoba
The aim of this research is to produce a more accurate SIT product for the Canadian Arctic, utilizing SAR altimeter observations acquired by CryoSat-2 satellite and future satellite-based systems operating in the same radar frequency and imaging configuration. By engaging end-users, this project aims to enhance improved seasonal ice predicting capabilities from regional-scale ice prediction systems such as the CanSIPS and the PIOMAS, and provide inputs to upgraded operational sea ice charts to support safer shipping through ice-infested Canadian Arctic.
CoastNet: Blending Data Sources to Monitor Algal Blooms in British Columbia
Nicolas Preston, University of Victoria
The need for coastal intelligence has gained added importance in light of accelerating global changes in coastal ecosystem services and function. The capacity to monitor coastal processes and change is relevant to a broad range of stakeholders. Engaging a broad range of data sources could prove invaluable for monitoring changes and threats across a wide range of ecosystems. The principal goal of this project is to design a framework for fusing big data streams from networked in situ instruments, manual sampling, crowdsourced knowledge-sharing networks, instrumented aircraft and vessels, as well as remote sensing to help identify and forecast harmful algal blooms, monitor ecosystem health and protect food security in the region.
From Satellites to Social Media: Understanding and Communicating the Impacts of Climate Change in the Arctic Ocean
Sarah Rosengard
University of British Columbia
The Arctic Ocean is one of the most rapidly changing environments on the planet. Climate change has begun to shift primary productivity across the region, with likely effects on higher trophic levels of the marine food web. Dr. Rosengard’s project aimed to improve scientific and community-based understanding of Arctic Ocean change by compiling and sharing relevant remote sensing data sets among northern communities along the Canadian Arctic coastline.
