Skip to main content

Research Seminar Series: Bhargava on Sea Temperatures, Ice, and Current Velocities

Back to All Events
Professor Alok Bhargava's headshot on a background of icy ocean water

Join the School of Public Policy for our first Research Seminar Series session of the spring semester! Professor Alok Bhargava will be sharing his findings from his paper on sea surface temperatures, sea ice thicknesses and ocean surface current velocities, read more about the content of the paper below. These sessions are opportunities for SPP members to learn about the incredible work that our faculty and staff are engaging in, and are meant to be informal and collegial. The expectation is for interactive engagement with the speakers and each other. All are welcome! 

This paper analyzed quarterly longitudinal data during 2000-2019 on sea surface temperatures, sea ice thicknesses, and ocean surface current zonal and meridional velocities in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The methodological framework addressed issues such as the processing of remote sensing signals, interdependence between sea surface temperatures and sea ice thicknesses, and combining zonal and meridional velocities as eddy kinetic energy. The remote sensing data available at different resolutions were merged into a longitudinal database for 64,800 1x1 degree grids. Dynamic and static random effects models were estimated by maximum likelihood and stepwise methods, respectively, taking into account the unobserved heterogeneity across grids. The main findings were that quarterly sea surface temperatures increased steadily in the Northern hemisphere, whereas cyclical patterns were apparent in the Southern hemisphere; sea ice thicknesses declined steadily in the Northern hemisphere. Second, sea surface temperatures were estimated with large negative coefficients in the models for sea ice thicknesses in both hemispheres; previous sea ice thicknesses were negatively associated with sea surface temperatures thereby indicating feedback loops. Third, sea surface temperatures were positively and negatively associated with eddy kinetic energy in Northern and Southern hemispheres, respectively. Overall, the results indicated the importance of reducing sea surface temperatures via reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and dumping of pollutants in oceans for enhancing global sustainability.


For Media Inquiries:
Shannon Kennedy
Strategic Engagement Manager, CGS
For More from the School of Public Policy:
Sign up for SPP News

You Also Might Be Interested In…