Ken Zhao

Physical oceanographer studying polar & coastal dynamics at UNC Chapel Hill.

Photos from recent fieldwork are included below.

South Atlantic Bight and Gulf Stream (June 2026)

PhD seagoing training cruise for new ocean observers.

Group photo of the seagoing training cruise team aboard the research vessel in the South Atlantic Bight, June 2026

Instrumented surface drifter decorated with a North Carolina redfish, ready for deployment during the June 2026 Gulf Stream cruise

Greenland (July 2024)

As part of OSNAP (Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program), we joined the R/V Neil Armstrong cruise AR84-02 (July–August 2024) out of Reykjavík to recover and redeploy the moorings that measure the overturning circulation across the subpolar North Atlantic near Cape Farewell, Greenland.

The R/V Neil Armstrong during the OSNAP AR84-02 cruise in the subpolar North Atlantic, July 2024 Working aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong during the OSNAP AR84-02 cruise, July 2024

LeConte Glacier, Alaska (June 2022)

Field work within an Alaskan fjord measuring the ice-ocean boundary layer near icebergs.

Fieldwork near icebergs in an Alaskan fjord at LeConte Glacier, June 2022 Deploying instruments to measure the ice-ocean boundary layer at LeConte Glacier, June 2022

Small boat operations measuring the ice-ocean boundary layer near icebergs at LeConte Glacier, June 2022

LeConte Glacier, Alaska (August 2022)

2-week cruise on the RV Steadfast within an Alaskan fjord to measure the ice-ocean boundary layer near both marine-terminating glaciers and icebergs as well as develop new instrumentation for future cruises.

Research operations aboard the RV Steadfast during the August 2022 LeConte Glacier cruise

Measuring the ice-ocean boundary layer near marine-terminating glaciers, August 2022 LeConte cruise

Developing new instrumentation during the August 2022 LeConte Glacier cruise