Today (10/1), 4.15pm, SCCE E108: Data Science Initiative Talk - Nick Holschuh, From data starved to data rich in Antarctic Science

[Matteo Riondato]

Dear All,

Sorry for the late notice (we’ll do better next time. See calendar at https://www.amherst.edu/about/science_at_amherst/data-science-initiative)

We have a DSI Talk today (10/1) at 4.15pm in SCCE E108.

Prof. Nick Holschuh (GEOL) will present "From data starved to data rich in Antarctic science”

Abstract:

Observing the behavior of the Antarctic Ice Sheet requires overcoming unique challenges. On the ground, the environment is inhospitable, with extreme temperatures and harsh winds limiting the regions that can be studied, the instruments that can operate, and the duration of field campaigns. From space, satellites have to be launched with high orbital inclination to pass over the poles, and sensors have to contend with the 6-month polar night, the bright polar day, and the intense cloud cover that is common at high latitudes. For much of our history, the polar science community was small, and every observation hard fought. But as the threat of sea level rise increases and sea-ice-loss changes the geopolitical landscape of the Arctic, there is increasing investment in polar data collection. In this talk, I will present several types of data that define our understanding of Antarctica, describe how existing data are being used today, and invite you to think about how we might use those data in new ways going forward.

Bio:

Nick Holschuh is an Assistant Professor of Geology at Amherst College. His primary research interest is in improving our understanding of ice, rock, and water interactions at the base of glaciers. He was a member of NASA’s ICESat-2 Satellite mission, a project lead within the National Science Foundation’s “Center for Oldest Ice Exploration”, and an active participant in Antarctic data collection, participating in four Antarctic field campaigns (most recently returning from Antarctica last February).

Thanks,
Matteo