Sinead Farrell

Sinead Farrell is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland with a joint appointment in the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Science and the Department of Geographical Sciences. She leads the Polar Oceans Laser and Radar Altimetry (POLARA) Group, focusing on Arctic and Antarctic sea ice dynamics using remote sensing techniques such as satellite and aircraft observations. Her research addresses climate change impacts, including sea ice loss, coastal erosion, and ecological shifts. Dr. Farrell is a Principal Investigator on NASA's ICESat-2 mission and contributes to the European Copernicus CRISTAL Mission. She holds a Ph.D. in Space and Climate Physics from University College London (2007).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Space and Climate Physics, University College London, UK (2007)

Research Interests:

• Remote sensing of polar regions
• Cryosphere science and sea ice processes
• Polar climate dynamics and Earth system interactions
• Development of altimetry and SAR techniques for ice monitoring

Recent Research Trends: Her publications emphasize high-resolution observations of sea ice topography, melt dynamics, and the integration of multi-sensor data (e.g., ICESat-2, SWOT, RCM SAR) to understand climate-driven changes. Key themes include sea ice thickness estimation, pressure ridge morphology, and validation of satellite missions like CRISTAL.

Labs/Teams: She leads the POLARA Group, advancing laser and radar altimetry for polar oceanography. Collaborations include NASA and international space agencies.