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Dr. Greg Leonard

Greg Leonard profileBS (1995), MS (1998), PhD (2001) (Clarkson University), MEngNZ

Email: greg.leonard@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (0)3 479 5075
Room: 119, 1st floor, Surveying Building, 310 Castle Street

Profile

I am a civil engineer who studies how Antarctic sea ice affects and is affected by its environment.  I also use remote sensing and geospatial tools to investigate both the icy world of Antarctica and and the civil engineering infrastructure of our urban communities.  I first travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1996 where I spent a few months interning at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch while studying towards a Masters degree at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York.  I also visited polar research centres in Japan and Germany during my postgraduate study, as well as interning for eight months at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, MD, USA. After completing my PhD in 2001, I returned to New Zealand and took up a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Physics at the University of Otago, where I participated in a Marsden funded research project that investigated the growth of Antarctic landfast sea ice. I made three separate trips to Antarctica during this time, including participating in a scientific cruise from Lyttelton Harbour to McMurdo Sound, Antarctic, and "wintering-over" at New Zealand's Scott Base from February – October 2003.

I next worked for 3+ years as an environmental engineer for the Duffill Watts Group, an engineering consultancy company based in Dunedin. While there I specialised in the design of water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, including taking on the role as the company's primary hydraulic modeller. Some of the larger projects that I was involved in include "Project Pure" in Wanaka (upgrade of Wanaka's wastewater system), the upgrade of Dunedin's Tahuna Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the strategic review of the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit wastewater network.

I returned to the University of Otago in July 2008 as a faculty member in the School of Surveying. My primary roles in the School are delivering the civil engineering portion of the curriculum, establishing and maintaining links with the civil engineering industry and maintaining an active research profile in Antarctic sea ice and urban engineering infrastructure.  I am fortunate to be involved in ongoing field studies in Antarctica, which has seen me routinely travel to Antarctica since 2010 with my colleagues from the Department of Physics, the University of Canterbury and NIWA.  I have also have the great pleasure of working with a number of postgraduate students from both the School of Surveying and the Department of Physics.

Teaching

Research

Research Interests

  • Antarctic sea ice
  • Antarctic ice-ocean interactions
  • Polar geophysics
  • Urban engineering infrastructure

Current Projects

Postgraduate Student Supervision

PhD

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Publications

Rack, W., Price, D., Haas, C., Langhorne, P. J., & Leonard, G. H. (2021). Sea ice thickness in the Western Ross Sea. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2020GL090866. doi: 10.1029/2020GL090866

Haas, C., Langhorne, P. J., Rack, W., Leonard, G. H., Brett, G. M., Price, D., … Gough, A. J. (2020). Airborne mapping of the sub-ice platelet layer under fast ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Cryosphere Discussions. doi: 10.5194/tc-2020-268

Brett, G. M., Irvin, A., Rack, W., Haas, C., Langhorne, P. J., & Leonard, G. H. (2020). Variability in the distribution of fast ice and the sub-ice platelet layer near McMurdo ice shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125(3), e2019JC015678. doi: 10.1029/2019JC015678

Kungl, A. F., Schumayer, D., Frazer, E. K., Langhorne, P. J., & Leonard, G. H. (2020). An oblate spheroidal model for multi-frequency acoustic back-scattering of frazil ice. Cold Regions Science & Technology, 177, 103122. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103122

Moore, A., Daniel, B., Leonard, G., Regenbrecht, H., Rodda, J., Baker, L., Ryan, R., & Mills, S. (2020). Comparative usability of an augmented reality sandtable and 3D GIS for education. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 34(2), 229-250. doi: 10.1080/13658816.2019.1656810

Rack, W., Price, D., Haas, C., Langhorne, P. J., & Leonard, G. H. (2021). Sea ice thickness in the Western Ross Sea. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2020GL090866. doi: 10.1029/2020GL090866

Journal - Research Article

Haas, C., Langhorne, P. J., Rack, W., Leonard, G. H., Brett, G. M., Price, D., … Gough, A. J. (2020). Airborne mapping of the sub-ice platelet layer under fast ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Cryosphere Discussions. doi: 10.5194/tc-2020-268

Journal - Research Other

Brett, G. M., Irvin, A., Rack, W., Haas, C., Langhorne, P. J., & Leonard, G. H. (2020). Variability in the distribution of fast ice and the sub-ice platelet layer near McMurdo ice shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125(3), e2019JC015678. doi: 10.1029/2019JC015678

Journal - Research Article

Kungl, A. F., Schumayer, D., Frazer, E. K., Langhorne, P. J., & Leonard, G. H. (2020). An oblate spheroidal model for multi-frequency acoustic back-scattering of frazil ice. Cold Regions Science & Technology, 177, 103122. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103122

Journal - Research Article

Moore, A., Daniel, B., Leonard, G., Regenbrecht, H., Rodda, J., Baker, L., Ryan, R., & Mills, S. (2020). Comparative usability of an augmented reality sandtable and 3D GIS for education. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 34(2), 229-250. doi: 10.1080/13658816.2019.1656810

Journal - Research Article

Wongpan, P., Meiners, K. M., Langhorne, P. J., Heil, P., Smith, I. J., Leonard, G. H., … Haskell, T. G. (2018). Estimation of Antarctic land-fast sea ice algal biomass and snow thickness From under-ice radiance spectra in two contrasting areas. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 123(3), 1907-1923. doi: 10.1002/2017JC013711

Journal - Research Article

Nelson, M. J. S., Queste, B. Y., Smith, I. J., Leonard, G. H., Webber, B. G. M., & Hughes, K. G. (2017). Measurements of Ice Shelf Water beneath the front of the Ross Ice Shelf using gliders. Annals of Glaciology, 58(74), 41-50. doi: 10.1017/aog.2017.34

Journal - Research Article

Langhorne, P. J., Hughes, K. G., Gough, A. J., Smith, I. J., Williams, M. J. M., Robinson, N. J., … Leonard, G. H., … Haskell, T. G. (2015). Observed platelet ice distributions in Antarctic sea ice: An index for ocean-ice shelf heat flux. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(13), 5442-5451. doi: 10.1002/2015GL064508

Journal - Research Article

Price, D., Beckers, J., Ricker, R., Kurtz, N., Rack, W., Haas, C., … Leonard, G., & Langhorne, P. J. (2015). Evaluation of CryoSat-2 derived sea-ice freeboard over fast ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology, 61(226), 285-300. doi: 10.3189/2015JoG14J157

Journal - Research Article

Smith, I. J., Gough, A. J., Langhorne, P. J., Mahoney, A. R., Leonard, G. H., Van Hale, R., Jendersie, S., & Haskell, T. G. (2015). First-year land-fast Antarctic sea ice as an archive of ice shelf meltwater fluxes. Cold Regions Science & Technology, 113, 63-70. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.01.007

Journal - Research Article

Mager, S. M., Leonard, G. H., Pauling, A. G., & Smith, I. J. (2015). A framework for estimating anchor ice extent at potential formation sites in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, 56(69), 394-404. doi: 10.3189/2015AoG69A711

Journal - Research Article

Hughes, K. G., Langhorne, P. J., Leonard, G. H., & Stevens, C. L. (2014). Extension of an Ice Shelf Water plume model beneath sea ice with application in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 119(12), 8662-8687. doi: 10.1002/2013JC009411

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, C. L., McPhee, M. G., Forrest, A. L., Leonard, G. H., Stanton, T., & Haskell, T. G. (2014). The influence of an Antarctic glacier tongue on near-field ocean circulation and mixing. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 119(4), 2344-2362. doi: 10.1002/2013JC009070

Journal - Research Article

Price, D., Rack, W., Langhorne, P. J., Haas, C., Leonard, G., & Barnsdale, K. (2014). The sub-ice platelet layer and its influence on freeboard to thickness conversion of Antarctic sea ice. Cryosphere, 8, 1031-1039. doi: 10.5194/tc-8-1031-2014

Journal - Research Article

Wright, J. W., Moore, A. B., & Leonard, G. H. (2014). Flow direction algorithms in a Hierarchical Hexagonal Surface Model. Journal of Spatial Science, 59(2), 333-346. doi: 10.1080/14498596.2014.918863

Journal - Research Article

Leonard, G. H., Mager, S. M., Pauling, A. G., Hughes, K. G., & Smith, I. J. (2014). Towards a process model for predicting potential anchor ice formation sites in coastal Antarctic waters. Journal of Spatial Science, 59(2), 297-312. doi: 10.1080/14498596.2014.913271

Journal - Research Article

Mager, S. M., Smith, I. J., Kempema, E., Thomson, B. J., & Leonard, G. H. (2013). Anchor ice in polar oceans. Progress in Physical Geography, 37(4), 468-483. doi: 10.1177/0309133313479815

Journal - Research Article

Leonard, G. H., Langhorne, P. J., Williams, M. J. M., Vennell, R., Purdie, C. R., Dempsey, D. E., … Frew, R. D. (2011). Evolution of supercooling under coastal Antarctic sea ice during winter. Antarctic Science, 23(4), 399-409. doi: 10.1017/s0954102011000265

Journal - Research Article

Wright, J. W., & Leonard, G. H. (2011). Evaluation of automated flow direction algorithms for defining urban stormwater catchment boundaries. New Zealand Surveyor, 301, 28-38.

Journal - Research Article

Leonard, G. H., Purdie, C. R., Langhorne, P. J., Haskell, T. G., Williams, M. J. M., & Frew, R. D. (2006). Observations of platelet ice growth and oceanographic conditions during the winter of 2003 in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, C04012. doi: 10.1029/2005JC002952

Journal - Research Article

Albrecht, N., Vennell, R., Williams, M., Stevens, C., Langhorne, P., Leonard, G., & Haskell, T. (2006). Observation of sub-inertial internal tides in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L24606. doi: 10.1029/2006GL027377

Journal - Research Article

Purdie, C. R., Langhorne, P. J., Leonard, G. H., & Haskell, T. G. (2006). Growth of first-year landfast Antarctic sea ice determined from winter temperature measurements. Annals of Glaciology, 44, 170-176.

Journal - Research Article

Leonard, G. H., Purdie, C. R., Langhorne, P. J., Williams, M. J. M., & Haskell, T. G. (2010). Ice crystals in the water column: The view from an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). Proceedings of the 20th IAHR International Symposium on Ice. [CD-ROM] Helsinki, Finland: International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Langhorne, P. J., Purdie, C. R., Smith, I. J., Leonard, G., Kempema, E. W., Petrich, C., Gribble, M. A., Bond, P. E., & Haskell, T. G. (2006). Antarctic landfast sea ice: The role of platelet ice. Proceedings of the 18th International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research International Symposium on Ice. (pp. 285-292). IAHR. Retrieved from http://web2.clarkson.edu/projects/iahrice/IAHR%202006/program.html

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Leonard, G. H., Wright, J. W., & Haskell, T. G. (2011). Measurement of coastal sea ice vertical and horizontal displacements using a differential GPS and Total Station measurement array. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow and Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop. (pp. 23). Retrieved from http://www.sirg.org.nz/abstracts/SIRG2011FoxGlacier_Programme.pdf

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Smith, I. J., Langhorne, P. J., Leonard, G. H., Gough, A. J., Frew, R. D., Trodahl, H. J., Mahoney, A. R., & Haskell, T. G. (2011). Sea ice thicknesses: Results from the 2010 Antarctic winter. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow and Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop. (pp. 21). Retrieved from http://www.sirg.org.nz/abstracts/SIRG2011FoxGlacier_Programme.pdf

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Leonard, G., Stevens, C., Williams, M., Mahoney, A., Robinson, N., Langhorne, P., & Haskell, T. (2010). ADCP detection of ice crystals in the water column. Proceedings of the Annual Antarctic Conference: A Taste of the Ice. (pp. 67). Christchurch, New Zealand: Antarctica New Zealand. [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Langhorne, P. J., Haskell, T. G., Gough, A. J., Leonard, G. H., Mahoney, A., Purdie, C. R., … Robinson, N. J. (2010). Antarctic landfast sea ice: The role of ice shelf-ocean interaction. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow and Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop. (pp. 23). Retrieved from http://www.sirg.org.nz/

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Smith, I. J., Langhorne, P. J., Leonard, G. H., Gough, A. J., Frew, R. D., Mahoney, A. R., & Haskell, T. G. (2010). Sea ice thickness: Measurement techniques used in the field. Proceedings of the New Zealand Snow and Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop. (pp. 36). Retrieved from http://www.sirg.org.nz/

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Haskell, T., Mahoney, A., Gough, A., Leonard, G., Purdie, C., Williams, M., … Robinson, N., & Langhorne, P. (2010). Two winters on sea ice. Proceedings of the Annual Antarctic Conference: A Taste of the Ice. (pp. 42). Christchurch, New Zealand: Antarctica New Zealand. [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Purdie, C., Langhorne, P. J., Leonard, G. H., & Haskell, T. G. (2007). Desalination of first-year landfast sea ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Proceedings of the Polar Dynamics Conference. Retrieved from http://web.gfi.uib.no/conference2007/abstracts/S2posters.html#CPurdie

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gamble, R., Wilson, G. S., Langhorne, P. J., Enlow, R., & Leonard, G. (2006). Independent flow regimes in the Southern McMurdo and Ross Ice Shelves: New evidence from velocity analysis of Landsat images and numerical modelling. Proceedings of the XVIII Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Open Science Conference. Retrieved from http://www.uam.es/otros/cn-scar/zz/scar_sessions_type.html

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Langhorne, P., Purdie, C., Smith, I., Leonard, G., Kempema, E., Petrich, C., Gribble, M., Bond, P., & Haskell, T. (2006, July). Antarctic land-fast sea ice thickness: The role of platelet ice. Poster session presented at the International Workshop on Antarctic Sea Ice Thickness, Hobart, Australia.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

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