Alison Kohout

From MathsDept

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics, 2009

Water Wave Scattering by Floating Elastic Plates with Application to Sea-Ice

Alison Kohout graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics from Latrobe University in Melbourne, Australia in 2001. Following this she graduated with a Bachelor of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies with Honours from the University of Tasmania in 2002. After a couple of years work as an Oceanographic scientist she commenced her Doctor of Philosophy studies in the Department of Mathematics. Her PhD Research was supervised by Senior Lecturer Dr Mike Meylan and funded by a Marsden grant. Alison’s main focus was investigating the propagation of wave energy through an ice infested sea.

The ice-covered polar seas play a vital role in controlling the atmosphere/ocean climate balance. Sea-Ice is highly influenced by the surrounding ocean and its dynamic and unrelenting nature. In particular, ocean waves can propagate remarkable distances into sea-ice, leaving behind a wake of broken ice sheets. Significant work is required for the most sophisticated three-dimensional wave-ice models to reach a point where predictions of wave attenuation are possible and such predictions require large computational resources, so that no summary of the wave attenuation has been possible. Using a simplified two-dimensional model Alison and Mike succeed in describing the attenuation of wave energy under the ice. The model shows promising results against experimental results. Coupling the wave attenuation model with a strain model, Alison and Mike are able to predict wave induced ice sheet break-up.

During her doctoral studies Alison developed a strong interest in sea-ice modelling. She is currently employed by New Zealand’s National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) as a hydrodynamic modeller and is seeking funding to continue her research on wave and sea-ice interaction.