marginal ice zone (MIZ) program

An integrated program of observations and numerical simulations focuses on understanding ice–ocean–atmosphere dynamics in and around the MIZ, with particular emphasis on quantifying changes associated with decreasing ice cover.

sea state and boundary layer physics of the emerging arctic ocean

This ONR DRI is in response to the observed decline in Arctic sea ice extent. The U.S. Navy has a renewed interest in understanding and predicting the environment in this region, including a desire to forecast the presence or absence of sea ice at a variety of lead times.

swift: surface wave instrument float with tracking

SWIFT is a free drifting system to measure waves, wind, turbulence, and ambient noise at the ocean surface.

swell and sea in the emerging arctic ocean

Thomson, J., and W.E. Rogers, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 3136-3140, 2014.

scientific research meets coast guard training on mission through arctic skies

Kamala Kelkar, Alaska News Dispatch

sea ice floe size distribution in the marginal ice zone: theory and numerical experiments

Zhang, J., A. Schweiger, M. Steele, and H. Stern, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 3484-3498, 2015.

mizmas

A new model for the marginal ice zone and towards a prognostic description of floe size distribution.

on thin ice: combined arctic ice observations show decades of loss

Modern and historic measurements of Arctic sea ice thickness show a thinning in the central Arctic Ocean of 65 percent between 1975 and 2012. September ice thickness, when the ice cover is at a minimum, is 85 percent thinner for the same 37-year stretch.

arctic sea ice thickness loss determined using subsurface, aircraft, and satellite observations

Lindsay, R., and A. Schweiger, The Cryosphere, 9, 269-283, 2015.

extreme summer melt: assessing the habitability and physical structure of rotting first-year arctic sea ice

Sea ice cover in the Arctic during summer is shrinking and thinning. The melt season is lengthening and the prevalence of "rotten" sea ice is increasing.

arctic marine mammal population status, sea ice habitat loss, and conservation recommendations for the 21st century

Laidre, K.L., H. Stern, et al., Conserv. Biol., 29, 724-737, 2015.

first global review of arctic marine mammals reveals uncertain future

Emily Shenk, National Geographic

arctic marine mammals swim up to the microphone

Christopher Intagliata, Scientific American

subarctic cetaceans in the southern chukchi sea: evidence of recovery or response to a changing ecosystem?

Clarke, J., K. Stafford, S.E. Moore, B. Rone, L. Aerts, and J. Crance, Oceanography, 26, 136-149, 2013.

a synthesis of year-round interdisciplinary mooring measurements in the bering strait (1990-2014) and the rusalca years (2004-2011).

Woodgate, R.A., K.M. Stafford, and F.G. Praha, Oceanography, 28, 46-67, 2015.

spurs: salinity processes in the upper ocean regional study

The NASA SPURS research effort is addressing the essential role of the ocean in the global water cycle. Researchers are studying salinity changes that span thousands of miles simultaneously with those happening in one centimeter of water.

variability in near-surface salinity from hours to decades in the eastern north atlantic

Riser, S.C., J. Anderson, A. Shcherbina, and E.D'Asaro, Oceanography, 28, 66-77, 2015.

variability and interleaving of upper-ocean water masses surrounding the north atlantic salinity maximum

Shcherbina, A.Y., E.A. D'Asaro, S.C. Riser, and W.S. Kessler, Oceanography, 28, 106-113, 2015.

regional rainfall measurements using the passive aquatic listener during the spurs field campaign

Yang, J., S.C. Riser, J.A. Nystuen, W.E. Asher, and A.T. Jessup, Oceanography, 28, 124-133, 2015.

stable near-surface ocean salinity stratifications due to evaporation observed during strasse

Asher, W.E., A.T. Jessup, and D. Clark, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 3219-3233, 2014.

visions'15 expedition

Ocean Observatories Initiative Cabled Array cruise aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson

u.s. navy awards $8 million to develop wave, tidal energy technology

A four-year contract with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command is developing marine renewable energy technologies for use at the Navy's facilities worldwide.

orca tracks the 'blob'

A ‘blob’ of very warm surface water in the northeastern Pacific Ocean influenced the inland waters of Puget Sound. The unprecedented conditions were tracked by the ORCA (Oceanic Remote Chemical Analyzer) buoy network — an array of six heavily instrumented moored buoys in the Sound.

'odd' puget sound conditions prompt multi-agency awareness day

Local scientists have been tracking unusual trends for the past several months. They now say it's time for the general public to understand that Puget Sound is stressed.

'the blob' may warm puget sound's waters, hurt marine life

Scientists say they are concerned about the continued ecological effects of the unusually warm and dry conditions in the Puget Sound region this summer.

uw-made tool displays west coast ocean acidification data

Increasing carbon dioxide in the air penetrates into the ocean and makes it more acidic. The West Coast is one of the first marine ecosystems to feel the effects.

seaweed might have the power to make the oceans less acidic

Lynne Peeples, Huffington Post

noaa funds uw, partners to investigate west coast harmful algal bloom

NANOOS was awarded grant funds to better understand the bloom by collecting and aggregating more data, and to better communicate the situation to managers and the public.

ferry-based monitoring of puget sound currents

ADCPs on Washington State DOT vehicle/passenger ferries measure water mass movement and transport between Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean.

marine renewable energy: kvichak river project

Scientific and engineering expertise from the UW Department of Mechanical Engineering and APL-UW was put to work in late summer 2014 on a renewable energy project in the village of Igiugig, Alaska.

historical wave and wind observations at ocean station p

Belka, D.J., M. Schwendeman, J. Thomson, and M.F. Cronin, APL-UW Technical Report APL-UW TR 1407, August 2014.

assessing the impact of small, canadian arctic river flows to the freshwater budget of the canadian archipelago

This project collected water samples from seven rivers and their adjoining estuaries throughout the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

a synthesis of year-round interdisciplinary mooring measurements in the bering strait (1990-2014) and the rusalca years (2004-2011).

Woodgate, R.A., K.M. Stafford, and F.G. Praha, Oceanography, 28, 46-67, 2015.

tasman tidal dissipation experiment — t-tide

Internal waves propagate across the Tasman Sea and interact with the multitude of other motions that exist in the basin. What happens when the waves encounter the continental shelf?

burst wave lithotripsy: an experimental method to fragment kidney stones

This noninvasive method uses ultrasound pulses rather than shock waves to crumble kidney stones.

ultrasounic detection, propulsion, and comminution of kidney stones

The goal for spin-off company SonoMotion is to market an all-in-one, noninvasive kidney stone treatment solution.

bluhaptics: safer and more efficient undersea robotic operations

BluHaptics improves the ROV pilot's operational performance by improving spatial perception of the work area and then providing haptic feedback for maipulator guidance.

ultrasounic detection, propulsion, and comminution of kidney stones

The goal for spin-off company SonoMotion is to market an all-in-one, noninvasive kidney stone treatment solution.

joint venture to produce manned submersible

OceanGate and APL-UW team to develop the deep-diving Cyclops.

polar science weekend @ pacific science center

supporting aspiring investigators

science + engineering enrichment + development — seed

apl-uw publications, 2000 – present