PORTAL (Polar Ocean Research Through ALgorithms) is a research group in the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), University of Manitoba. We use numerical models to understand physical processes and their changes in the Polar oceans (Arctic and Southern Ocean) .
Assistant Professor
I am physical oceanographer focused on studying the Polar oceans, their interactions with the cryosphere and climate. In particular, I am interested in understanding how increasing freshwater input to the ocean (from melting glaciers, ice sheets, ice caps and river runoff) can change its circulation and feedback to the climate. I am also fascinated by icebergs, their role on ocean dynamics and primary productivity, their patterns of drift, how they can affect marine transportation and other offshore activities, and how we can better predict their trajectories.
I was born in Brazil and went through undergrad and grad schools over there. In 2015, after defending my thesis and getting married the next month, my husband and I moved to Edmonton, Canada. Today, we live in Winnipeg with our two kids and two dogs!
BSc. Oceanography (FURG, 2008)
MSc. Physical, Chemical, and Geological Oceanography (FURG, 2010)
PhD. Physical Oceanography (USP, 2015)
Juliana.MariniMarson@umanitoba.ca
PhD student
PhD student
Postdoc
MSc student (2022-2025)
Thesis: Exploring the environmental factors controlling iceberg season severity along the east coast of Canada
https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/items/973b72d3-cdf8-4349-8687-84dea0e79a41
Postdoc
Natasha is interested in ocean dynamics in polar seas, and uses both regional ocean models and observations in her work. Her work focuses mostly on Hudson Bay Complex dynamics, circulation, and the role of freshwater. In her spare time, if she's not chasing after her kids (which is most of the time), you can probably find her tangled up in her latest knitting project.
ridenour@ualberta.ca
Natasha is currently a research scientist at DFO.
MSc student (2023-2025)
Thesis: Parameterizing the release of iceberg meltwater at depth: impacts on the Subpolar North Atlantic
https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/items/ed79c5ba-6d75-4529-bf6d-d60d5f368693
MODELLING ICEBERGS:
Improving the numerical representation of icebergs
Improving simulated iceberg seasonality off the coast of NFL
FRESHWATER IN THE OCEAN:
Impacts of glacial discharge on Baffin Bay
Beaufort Gyre freshwater accumulation and release
LAND ICE - OCEAN INTERACTIONS:
Glacial fjord dynamics
Melt plume transformation before entering open ocean
Iceberg transformation and export from fjords
ARCTIC CHANGE:
Atlantification of the Arctic
Sea ice-ocean interactions
If you are interested in one of these or other related topics, please contact me (Juliana.MariniMarson@umanitoba.ca)