Alethea Mountford

Alethea Mountford is a Research Fellow at Northumbria University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, specializing in ocean circulation and marine plastic pollution. She employs the NEMO ocean general circulation model to study climate change impacts on the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf, alongside microplastic transport dynamics.

• Education
  • PhD in Environmental Science and Physical Science (2016–2021), Plastic dispersion in the global ocean, Newcastle University
  • MPhil in Marine Biology (2016–2018), Modelling three-dimensional plastic distribution, Newcastle University
  • BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology and Oceanography (2013–2016), Newcastle University

Her research spans two key areas: (1) ocean circulation modeling under future climate scenarios in polar regions, particularly the Ross Sea and its ice shelf; and (2) microplastic transport mechanisms through water columns, influenced by biofouling and sea ice dynamics in Arctic and Southern Oceans. Methodologies include Eulerian modeling and NEMO simulations.

Recent work focuses on microplastic accumulation patterns and their interaction with sea ice, contributing to understanding marine pollution pathways. She also explores climate projections' effects on polar ocean currents and melt rates, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).