We use advanced ocean models to understand how currents, particles and discharges move through marine and coastal environments. The models provide better insight into what happens beneath the surface and can be used to assess dispersion, environmental impact and risk in complex marine systems.

Our oceanographers develop model systems and analytical tools that make it possible to simulate currents, particle transport and the dispersion of dissolved substances in fjords, coastal areas and open ocean environments. We use FVCOM and other ocean models, and adapt the models to local conditions and specific challenges. This provides a solid basis for decisions related to environmental impact, site selection, monitoring and mitigation measures.

We work with challenges ranging from discharges through pipes to dispersion from aquaculture sites and other marine industries, as well as how land reclamation, coastal infrastructure, dredging and changes to the coastline affect currents and the marine environment. The models can be used to investigate both particulate and dissolved pollution, the spatial distribution of plankton in the water column, and how changes in climate and the environment affect marine systems — from local coastal areas to research on how the ocean influences ice shelf melting in Antarctica.

Our projects are often interdisciplinary and pursued in close collaboration with colleagues in ecology, biodiversity and ecotoxicology. This allows us to link physical ocean modelling with biological and environmental effects, providing a more complete understanding of impacts in the marine environment.

We map the extent and effects of different types of emissions, model the spatial distribution of plankton, and analyze the effects of climate change on glacier systems in Antarctica.