About the Project
This project offers the exciting opportunity to study Greenland ice sheet melting, and its associated impact upon global sea level rise, using recent advances in satellite and ground-based radar systems.
Melting of the polar ice sheets has increased rapidly over the past twenty years, and currently contributes over one third of global sea level rise. As Earth’s climate continues to warm during the 21st Century, increasing ice melt will drive further rises in global sea level that will threaten many vulnerable coastal communities.
To track the changes that are currently underway in the Polar regions requires detailed, large-scale monitoring efforts. Given the vast and inaccessible nature of the ice sheets, this is only feasible from space. One technique that has proved extremely valuable in recent decades is that of satellite radar altimetry, which is able to track the movement of the ice surface; thereby resolving the detailed pattern of ice sheet mass loss across Greenland and Antarctica.
In this project you will develop new measurements of Greenland Ice Sheet melting and mass loss using the latest generation of high-resolution satellite altimeters (CryoSat-2, ICESat-2, Sentinel-3). Focusing on the most sensitive coastal regions of Greenland, where complex topography and narrow outlet glaciers are common, you will use recent advances in satellite technology to retrieve new information about how these vulnerable regions are changing, and the extent to which they are contributing to ongoing sea level rise. Crucially, you will also have the exciting opportunity to work alongside experts in radar engineering to develop and test a new state-of-the-art ground-based radar system, that will be designed to mimic the satellite measurements themselves. It is expected (subject to funding) that, once designed and tested, there will be the opportunity for you to deploy the new radar in the field, to collect ground measurements with which to validate the satellite datasets.
Training
The successful candidate will gain expertise in satellite and ground based radar techniques, providing the training for a future career in glaciology, polar science or broader environmental research. The project will be hosted within the Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) and benefit from cross-disciplinary supervision by Mal McMillan (LEC), Lai Bun Lok (Engineering), and Amber Leeson (LEC). The successful candidate will join a growing community of polar scientists at Lancaster, which currently comprises 8 PhD students and 1 postdoctoral researcher, and offers a collaborative and supportive training environment for PhD study.
The successful candidate will also become a member of the UK Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (a national research centre with over twenty years of experience of satellite radar altimetry design, development and data processing), and the Lancaster University-CEH Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science (a new initiative that aims to grow collaborations between environmental and data scientists). The PhD will offer extensive opportunities to collaborate with glaciologists, climate scientists, engineers and data scientists, and to work closely with the European Space Agency.
Further Information
Funding is available on a competitive basis to UK and EU candidates only.
Enquiries
Informal enquiries are welcome; please email Mal McMillan, [Email Address Removed].
Application Process
1. Download the LEC Funded PhD Application Form and LEC Funded PhD Reference Form.
2. Complete the Application Form, renaming the document with your ’Name and Application Form’ e.g., Joe Bloggs Application Form.
3. Submit the completed Application Form and a CV to [Email Address Removed]
4. Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted.
5. Rename the referee form with your ‘Name and Reference’, e.g., Joe Bloggs Reference. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to forward the referee document to [Email Address Removed]
6. Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
7. You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
8. Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
9. Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English (https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/). This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
10. Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Submit all applications and references to this email address: [Email Address Removed]
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