Project Glacier Watch
Northrop Grumman is developing sensor data technology to collect continuous and accurate measurements of glacial melting in Greenland
90 percent of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases warms the oceans, not the air. While data cannot solve this problem, this information can point us towards solutions to better estimate global sea level rise and its effects, as well as drive environmental policies.
Current methods to measure sea level rise include measuring the height of the ocean’s surface or using satellite images to see the change in glacier formation, but not all of the melting happens at the surface. Meltwater actually runs below the glacier creating a “meltwater plume” in the immediate vicinity of the glacier and melts the glacier from the bottom up causing it to break off.
That’s why Northrop Grumman has collaborated with HyperKelp to support NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) mission to measure the melting of Greenland’s glaciers in a different way.
The result of our collaboration is a wire-tethered device (an “ocean profiler”) connected to a smart buoy that collects and transmits conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) information from glacial meltwater plumes in the deep ocean.
This device will collect data daily, more often and more efficiently than current data collection methods.
The data provided by our technology will help scientists more effectively understand and mitigate the impact of climate change and sea-level rise.
The goal of Project Glacier Watch is to provide NASA JPL with a solution to collect a continuous dataset of the entire water column near glaciers’ meltwater plumes to monitor the rates and effects of ice melt below the surface.
Capabilities:
Survivability: Intended to operate in freezing temperatures for six months, 1000 meters below the ocean surface
Are you interested in technology and innovation? We are too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities and consider joining our team.
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