Research Portal
Displaying 1 – 10 of 11 results
Geoscience » Spill Preparedness
Advanced Coastal Mapping to Support Hydrodynamic Modelling
April 2016 – June 2018
Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast exhibits a variety of shorelines that may be vulnerable to contamination in the event of an offshore oil spill. In turn, variable currents, changing water levels, shoals, and exposed seaside conditions make effective spill response difficult for tidal inlets.
Going with the Flow: Advancement of Drifting Platforms for use in Tidal Energy Site Assessment & Environmental Monitoring
April 2015 – August 2017
This research project aimed to apply a simple and low cost philosophy to ocean observation by developing an inexpensive low-profile surface drifter for use in initial assessment of potential tidal energy development opportunities. The project addressed limitations in the existing drifter design
Drones and Drifters – The Great Pumpkin Race
October 2016 – July 2017
This project tested and developed a new low-cost approach to collecting oceanographic measurements for use in tidal initial site assessments. The plan combines one of the oldest tools in oceanography, the drifter, with one of the newest, the drone.
Geoscience » Tectonics and Crustal Structure
Extensional Tectonics across the Northern Nova Scotia Margin from Ocean Bottom Seismic Data
May 2015 – April 2017
This project analyzes two wide-angle refraction/reflection ocean-bottom seismometer profiles recently collected offshore north-central Nova Scotia.
Turbulence in Grand Passage Nova Scotia: Measures of Intermittency
April – December 2016
Turbulence research is very important to advancing the in-stream tidal energy sector, however turbulence in general is not well understood. Measurement at prospective turbine locations is essential prior to development, given the high degree of spatial variability between sites.
Numerical Modeling of Tidal Turbine Behaviour under Real Turbulent Tidal Flow Conditions
December 2015 – December 2016
Researchers investigated and numerically quantified the behaviour of a tidal turbine under turbulent unsteady tidal flow, using flow data collected in the lower Bay of Fundy (Digby area).
Characterizing Tidal Flows and Turbine Power Production in Petit Passage using Oceanographic and CFD Models
September 2015 – March 2016
The goal of this project was to identify potential turbine deployment locations in Petit Passage Nova Scotia, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite volume coastal ocean models (FVCOM).
Spectral and Structure Function Estimates of Turbulence Dissipation Rates in a High Flow Tidal Channel Using Broadband ADCPs
January 2016
Spectral and structure function methods are implemented to compute the dissipation rate, ε, from broadband, diverging-beam, acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data collected at four sites in a high-flow tidal channel.
Assessment of Hydrodynamic Impacts throughout the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine due to Tidal Energy Extraction by Tidal Lagoons
January 2010 – December 2011
The researchers extended existing hydrodynamic models of tidal flows in the Bay of Fundy to simulate the presence and operation of a tidal lagoon project located in the Minas Basin.
Geoscience » Seismic & Marine Sound
Feasibility of a Marine Vibroseis System to Minimize Potential Impacts of Seismic Surveying on Commercial Marine Invertebrates
May 2010 – May 2011
Marine vibroseis (a sound generating system that uses a large oscillating mass to emit a range of frequencies) offers an alternative to air-gun seismic sources and may have fewer environmental effects on marine biota.