Activities
Activities are focussed on oceanographic topics such as eddies, fronts, internal waves, ice edge processes and deep convection. The oceanographical studies include ocean acoustics and acoustical observing systems. Activities with focus on satellite remote sensing are dealing with sea ice observations with different types of sensors, sea ice classification, sea ice drift, and validation of sea ice remote sensing with in situ observations. Recently, papers have been published on development of operational observing systems for the Arctic using both satellite, in situ, and underwater sensors. Activities also include teaching of students at UNIS and supervision of Master and PhD candidates.
Region of Study
Arctic And Subarctic Regions, North Atlantic
Skills
The main fields of expertise include: marine and polar remote sensing, polar and coastal oceanography using field data in combination with satellite data, sea ice research with emphasis on remote sensing methodology using passive microwave data, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), optical and infrared radiometer data, combined with in situ data
Comment(s)
Stein Sandven has been leader of more that 60 research projects since 1992. He has been coordinator of 14 EU projects, of which 4 are ongoing (2011). He has established extensive cooperation with Russian scientists in Arctic climate research, ocean and sea ice research and in satellite earth observation. Many of the ongoing Arctic projects have therefore Russian participation. He has also been instrumental in establishing the Arctic Regional Ocean Observing System (Arctic ROOS) which has 16 member institutions form 9 countries. The objective of Arctic ROOS is to develop and implement operational monitoring and forecasting systems in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas (www.arctic-roos.org). In recent years he has conducted a series of projects for offshore companies planning to start oil and gas exploration in Arctic waters. The companies include StatoilHydro, Total, Shell and Shtokman Development AG. From 2009 he has been involved in development of the Svalbard Integrated Observing System (SIOS) which is an EU research infrastructure preparatory phase project. From 2011 he is coordinator of the SEALEV project (Sea Level Change and Ice Sheet Dynamics) in the new Centre for Climate Dynamics in Bergen. He became director of the Nansen Center from 01 January 2010.
