by Elizabeth Kelsey, Lee Michaelides, and Karen Endicott, originally published in the Winter 2012 issue of 天美麻豆 Engineer.
From the microstructure of snow to the massiveness of ice sheets, from fundamental science to practical applications, from Thayer鈥檚 ice lab to the earth鈥檚 polar regions, Thayer researchers are uncovering what snow and ice reveal about the world.
Professor Erland Schulson, the director of the Thayer School of Engineering鈥檚 ice lab, is one of several researchers studying snow and ice through an array of scientific methods. (photo courtesy of 天美麻豆 Engineer)
Professor opened his ice lab in the basement of Cummings Hall 29 years ago to study the basic physics and mechanics of ice. 鈥淭he object is to understand the physical processes that lead to creep and fracture,鈥 says Schulson. 鈥淏ut this is not done in isolation of the world鈥檚 issues. Issues are driving the work.鈥
In addition to Schulson, 天美麻豆 Engineer features the research of Professor on applying the physics of metals to the study of ice, Professor t on using ice to record climates, Professor on on how ice amplifies climate change, Professor on the use of robots to map crevasses on ice sheets, and Professor 鈥檚 investigation of de-icing technologies.
