Polar Environment Remote Sensing
Development and validation of retrieval algorithms for satellite parameters and their applications in studies of mesoscale sea ice and ocean processes, air-sea-ice interaction and climate change focusing on the polar region and the cryosphere.
The research activities include satellite remote sensing, ocean acoustics and development of information systems where observational data are integrated with models and disseminated to users. Satellite methods and monitoring systems are developed for sea ice, icebergs and ocean variables such as wind, temperature, currents, fronts, eddies, natural slicks and potential oil spills. Acoustic methods used are ocean acoustic tomography and passive listening of ambient noise with focus on the Fram Strait region. Acoustic tomography is to combine acoustic observations with acoustic and ocean modeling to obtain oceanographic parameters such as temperature and current. Passive acoustic data are used to monitor changes in the environment such as ice break up and increased internal ice stress. Validation of satellite and acoustical observations by in situ data is an important part of the work. Our major goal of the research work is to develop observing systems to support operational oceanography and climate research. A system to provide daily sea ice information from satellites and models is developed under Arctic ROOS and products are disseminated to users free-of-charge (http://arctic-roos.org). Development of operational monitoring and forecasting of the Arctic Ocean is a contribution to GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). The department develops web-based dissemination systems where users can search, display and download observational data and model results from ocean and coastal areas.
The department has expertise in:
- Analysis and interpretation of multisensor satellite data in polar regions
- Retrieval algorithms for radar, passive microwave, infrared and optical satellite data
- Operational provision of near real time sea ice monitoring from satellite sensors
- Conducting field experiments in the Arctic
- Validation of inversion algorithms based on satellite data and acoustic data using independent in-situ oceanographic, sea-ice observations and acoustic observations.
- Collection, processing, analysis, interpretation of acoustic data and acoustic modelling.
- Synthesis of satellite remote sensing, ocean acoustics and numerical modelling
- Data analysis including image processing and GIS analysis
- Programming and data management
- Standards for web-GIS services and systems, data and metadata
- Web-based data delivery and processing services and information systems
Staff
| Name | Field of Research |
|---|---|
| Babiker, Mohamed |
geo-sciences hydrology |
| Dushaw, Brian David | acoustics |
| Geyer, Florian | oceanography |
| Hamre, Torill | computer science |
| Ivanova, Natalia | oceanography |
| Khvorostovsky, Kirill | glaciology |
| Kloster, Kjell | glaciology |
| Olaussen, Tor I. |
computer science oceanography |
| Robson, Ben | glaciology |
| Sagen, Hanne | acoustics |
| Sandven, Stein |
acoustics oceanography remote sensing sea ice |
| Stette, Morten |
computer science mathematics physics |
| Zygmuntowska, Marta | oceanography |
Projects
MAIRES
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MAIRES will study land and sea ice in the Arctic using data from European and Russian satellites
PRODEX CRYOSAT
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Collection and analysis of sea ice data from various field experiments in the Arctic for validation of ice thickness data from CryoSat
SEALEV
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The project is part of the Centre of Climate Dynamics established at the University of Bergen in 2010
SIDARUS
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To develop and implement a set of sea ice downstream services in the area of climate research, marine safety and environmental monitoring for stakeholders and users in the Arctic and Antarctic.
CISAR
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The project will exploit data from CryoSat-2 and RADARSAT-2 for sea ice studies in the Arctic.
ArcticSIV
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The project will improve the quantification of Arctic sea ice variability, trends and uncertainties over the last 3 decades using passive microwave data from satellites
SIOS-PP
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SIOS is a Collaborative Project and Coordination and Support Actions for
Construction of New Infrastructures - Preparatory Phase - funded by EU under INFRA-2010-2.2.3.
NETMAR
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NETMAR aims to develop a pilot European Marine Information System for searching, downloading and integrating satellite, in situ and model data from ocean and coastal areas.
WIFAR
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The conjunction of waves and sea ice represents a serious threats for the offshore activities in the Marginal Ice Zone. WIFAR is introducing the effect of waves into operational forecast models of the coupled ice-ocean system.
ACOBAR
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Developing an integrated ocean monitoring and forecasting system combining acoustic tomography, gliders, measurements and ice-ocean modelling to improve the estimates of the heat, mass and freshwater transport through the Fram Strait.
