Research Portal

Application of (Low-Cost) Drifters with Suspended Hydrophone Arrays to Assess Harbour Porpoise Use of the Water Column and Spatial Overlap with MRE Devices in the Minas Passage

October 2017 – April 2019

The project investigated the use of a new low-cost drifter technology to monitor the activity and depth distribution of harbour porpoises frequenting the Minas Passage and Minas Channel.

Geoscience » Tectonics and Crustal Structure

Advanced Analyses of the MIRROR-1 OBS Profile from Offshore Morocco

July 2017 – April 2019

This project completes an analysis of the OETR and OCTOPUS seismic lines collected from offshore Nova Scotia and integrates the MIRROR I refraction line from offshore Morocco to allow comparison of the conjugate margins using wide-angle refraction/reflection ocean bottom seismometer profiles.

Quantifying Demographics and Monitoring Movement of American Lobster in the Minas Passage and Basin

October 2017 – March 2019

The project consists of lobster fishing in Minas Passage during the fall lobster season to collect, assess and tag lobsters in this area, then fishing in Minas Basin from April to May to assess the spawning characteristics of lobster tagged the previous fall, then returning to Minas Passage to fi

Turbine Wake Characterization

November 2017 – March 2019

Turbine wake characterization is a key endeavour to the development of in-stream tidal turbine arrays.  In a sense, a turbine’s footprint includes its wake, wherein flow speeds are less and turbulence is elevated compared to the ambient surroundings.  It is thus desired to not just delineate wake

Real-Time, Targeted Imaging of Turbine-Marine Life Interactions

March 2017 – February 2019

The research goal is to redesign and validate a dynamic mount to improve targeted real-time imaging of marine life in the near-field zone of a tidal turbine. The adjustable mount will enable imaging sensors to be aimed directly facing the tidal turbine.

Turbulent Scale and Wake Modeling on a Horizontal Axis Turbine

January – April 2015

This project aimed to accurately simulate turbulent flow over a scaled horizontal axis tidal turbine to resolve turbulence in the near and far field regions.

Geoscience » Seismic & Marine Sound

Establishment of Baseline Biological Data on Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) Offshore Cape Breton for Future Assessment of Potential Impacts of Seismic Noise on Snow Crab

April 2012 – February 2015

The study investigates the impact of sound energy generated by acoustic/seismic arrays on snow crabs.

Geoscience » Play Fairway Analyses Atlases 2010–Present

SW Nova Scotia Expansion Atlas (2015)

January 2015

This project is an expansion of the 2011 Play Fairway Analysis to the western border of the Nova Scotia marine shelf. This expansion corresponds to the Georges Bank zone and surrounding area extending from the Yarmouth Arch to the Shelburne Sub-basin.

Seasonal Erodibility of Sediment in the Upper Bay of Fundy

February 2012 – January 2015

This project developed methods for studying sedimentation to the macro-tidal flats of the upper Bay of Fundy. The researchers looked at seasonal variation in the erodibility of sediments in tidal creeks and flats using a Gust Erosion Chamber and repeated grain size surveys.