Marine

Award for the best undergraduate dissertation in marine science

September 18, 2014 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Collaborations, Marine News from other Organisations, Research Vessel Surveys

At the Challenger Society for Marine Science’s Biennial Conference, a student co-supervised by Dr Bee Berx from the Oceanography Group at Marine Scotland Science (MSS) was awarded a prestigious award for the best undergraduate dissertation in marine science.  Christine McKenna, studying for a BSc in Geography & Mathematics at the University of St Andrews, used data collected during a number of MSS research surveys on MRV Scotia to investigate the different water masses that are present in the Faroe Shetland Channel.  Christine combined measurements of temperature, salinity, nutrient concentrations and stable isotope ratios of oxygen to calculate the fractions of the different water masses and estimate mixing between them, using a new statistical technique (Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis).

The Faroe Shetland Channel is an important region for the exchange between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nordic Seas (the Norwegian and Greenland Seas).  The water masses that are found close to the sea surface originate from the North Atlantic, while those near to the sea bed were formed in the polar regions.  Mixing between these water masses can change their properties and may have an influence on the exchange of heat and salt between the two basins, which is an important component of the Earth’s climate system.  Marine Scotland Science has a long history of observing water mass properties (such as temperature and salinity) and velocities (using current meters) in the Faroe Shetland Channel.

Christine McKenna presenting results from her undergraduate dissertation work at the MASTS annual conference

Christine, who also received the 2014 Edwards Prize from the Department of Geography and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, was awarded the tripartite prize for the best undergraduate dissertation in marine science.  This award is made every year by the three major learned societies in the field of marine science: the Challenger Society for Marine Science, the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology, and the Society for Underwater Technology.

Christine recently presented results from her undergraduate dissertation work at the MASTS annual conference at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.  Together with her supervisor at the University of St Andrews, Prof William Austin, work is underway to finalise a manuscript for peer review based on Christine’s undergraduate research work.  Christine will start a post-graduate course at the University of Reading this autumn.

Further Reading:
Topic Sheet on North Atlantic Circulation
Ocean Challenge Article The Hydrography and circulation of the Faroe–Shetland Channel

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