Tracking Ocean Heat and Arctic Ice Loss | Dylan Oldenburg
The Arctic Ocean has been warming at a rate faster than the global average over the past few…
The Arctic Ocean has been warming at a rate faster than the global average over the past few decades. In a new project being developed at the University of Coimbra, in partnership with American investor Dylan Oldenburg, the team will research Ocean Heat Transport (OHT) in the Arctic Ocean. This project has been made possible thanks to Empowered Startups’ HQA® Program.
An Interest in Oceans
Dylan Oldenburg is an ocean and climate scientist specializing in North Atlantic and Arctic climate variability. With a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Washington, Oldenburg now works at the National Center of Atmospheric Research in Colorado.
With this background, Oldenburg is taking this research another step further to understand how OHT is affecting ice loss in the Arctic and which gateway to the ocean is the biggest contributor to ice loss. OHT is expected to increase in the future due to warm inflowing waters as well as changes to ocean circulation.
The goal will be to isolate the role of OHT, outside of other factors, and create model simulations to assess the impact. By modifying climate models, the research project hopes to improve predictions for the Arctic’s future.
Making an Impact through the HQA® Program
The launch of Oldenburg’s project is the latest example of the relationship between Empowered Startups and the University of Coimbra through the HQA® Program.
“I really enjoyed my visit to the Universidade de Coimbra”, noted Dylan Oldenburg. “The visit… gave me the chance to meet the scientist who will work with me on a research project, as well as several other interesting people at the university, and to learn about the history of the university. I also appreciated their professionalism and attention to detail”.
The university is one of 16 Portuguese universities and polytechnics that participate in the HQA® Program. By partnering with institutions distributed throughout the country’s interior, Empowered Startups is fostering territorial cohesion in Portugal while creating innovative opportunities for Portuguese students.
Looking to start a new venture in Portugal? Learn more about the HQA® Program.
