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Energy and Environment Directorate

Ruth Branch

(206) 528-3081

Biography

Ruth Branch joined the Ocean Dynamics & Modeling group in the Coastal Sciences Division of PNNL in 2020. Her work focuses on using numerical models to estimate wave and tidal resources for wave energy converter and tidal turbine siting. She currently leads the Powering Arctic Observations with Marine Renewable Energy task in the Powering the Blue Economy Initiative. Her recent work has also included the development of a sampling protocol for measuring microplastics in U.S. rivers as part of the WaterPACT project. Prior to her work at PNNL, Ruth was at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington in the Polar Science and Air Sea Interaction and Remote Sensing groups. She used passive microwave and infrared data to study the Antarctic ice sheets and air-sea gas fluxes.

Education and Credentials

  • PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington
  • MSc, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington
  • MSc, Physics, University of Washington
  • BSc, Physics, University of Washington

PNNL Publications

2024

  • Branch R.A., R.J. Cavagnaro, B.Q. Roberts, J.R. McVey, A.L. Barker, and A.M. Turpin. 2024. Characterizing Interference in a Wave-Powered Buoy. PNNL-35370. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Characterizing Interference in a Wave-Powered Buoy

2023

  • Branch R.A., D.J. Rose, M.E. Grear, C.D. Briggs, and F.M. Ticona Rollano. 2023. "Powering the Blue Economy: Marine Energy at Kelp Farm Sites." Marine Technology Society Journal 57, no. 4:6-14. PNNL-SA-182866. doi:10.4031/MTSJ.57.4.2
  • Branch R.A., M. Bernitsas, M.E. Grear, S. Liapis, D.J. Rose, C.D. Briggs, and K.M. Jones, et al. 2023. "Low Tidal Current Speed Electricity Generation for Power at an Aquaculture Farm." In University Marine Energy Research Community 2023 (UMERC 2023), 4-6 October, Durham, NH, USA. PNNL-SA-188287. doi:10.5281/zenodo.10265459
  • Branch R.A., M.E. Grear, F.M. Ticona Rollano, J.R. McVey, and T. Wang. 2023. Powering Arctic Observations with Marine Energy. PNNL-31428. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Powering Arctic Observations with Marine Energy
  • Branch R.A., Z. Yang, B. Maurer, and A. Chamas. 2023. Riverine Plastic Pollution: Field Sampling Protocol and Implementation in U.S. Rivers. PNNL-35007. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Riverine Plastic Pollution: Field Sampling Protocol and Implementation in U.S. Rivers
  • Jung H., B. Friedman, H. Ouro-Koura, A.L. Salalila, J.J. Martinez, A.E. Copping, and R.A. Branch, et al. 2023. "Self-Powered Autonomous Sensing System for Arctic Ocean using a Frequency-multiplied Cylindrical Triboelectric Nanogenerator." In OCEANS 2023, June 5-8, 2023, Limerick Ireland, 1-5. Hoboken, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-183896. doi:10.1109/OCEANSLimerick52467.2023.10244599
  • Jung H., B. Friedman, W. Hwang, A.E. Copping, R.A. Branch, and Z. Deng. 2023. "Self-powered Arctic Satellite Communication System by Harvesting Wave Energy using a Triboelectric Nanogenerator." Nano Energy 114. PNNL-SA-185318. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.108633

2022

  • Branch R.A., F.M. Ticona Rollano, E.D. Cotter, J.R. McVey, I. Rigor, and R.J. Cavagnaro. 2022. "Marine Renewable Energy for Arctic Observations." Frontiers in Marine Science. PNNL-SA-173773. doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.970337
  • Branch R.A., R.J. Cavagnaro, A.M. Turpin, J.R. McVey, M. Wickett, M. Wickett, and W. Boult, et al. 2022. "Vortex Induced Vibration Test of the WITT Device in a Tidal Channel." In OCEANS 2022, October 17-20, 2022, Hampton Roads, VA, 1-7. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-178071. doi:10.1109/OCEANS47191.2022.9977026
  • Branch R.A., Z. Yang, B. Maurer, L.M. Miller, and L. Garavelli. 2022. Riverine Plastic Pollution: Sampling and Analysis Methods. PNNL-32657. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1863833.Riverine Plastic Pollution: Sampling and Analysis Methods
  • Chickadel C.C., R.A. Branch, W.E. Asher, and A.T. Jessup. 2022. "Laboratory Heat Flux Estimates of Seawater Foam for Low Wind Speeds." Remote Sensing 14, no. 8:Art. No. 1925. PNNL-SA-172737. doi:10.3390/rs14081925

2021

  • Branch R.A., G. Garcia Medina, Z. Yang, T. Wang, F.M. Ticona Rollano, and L. Hosekova. 2021. "Modeling Sea Ice Effects for Wave Energy Resource Assessments." Energies 14, no. 12:3482. PNNL-SA-163118. doi:10.3390/en14123482
  • Yang Z., T. Wang, R.A. Branch, Z. Xiao, and M. Deb. 2021. "Tidal Stream Energy Resource Characterization in the Salish Sea." Renewable Energy 172. PNNL-SA-158248. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2021.03.028

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

Contacts