ONEPlanet DTP - Understanding iceberg calving in Antarctica (OP2119)

The Antarctic Ice Sheet is one of the largest contributors to global sea level change and its contribution may increase sharply in the near future. One of the key processes that controls the evolution of the ice sheet is iceberg calving, whereby vast areas, often exceeding several 1000 km2 in size, break off from the continent and drift out into the open ocean. If calving events become more frequent in a warming world, they could have a significant impact on the state of Antarctica, and its future contribution to sea level rise. However, the underlying physical conditions that cause the ice to break and icebergs to form, remain poorly understood.
In this project, you will work with a world-leading team of glaciologists at Northumbria University to advance the understanding of these important processes. You will use data from recent calving events for a number of areas in Antarctica (Brunt, Pine Island, Larsen C) to test and improve the representation of calving in computer simulations. Training will be offered in glaciology and numerical modelling, and there will be an opportunity to attend summer schools in Svalbard and the Alps to gain further skills in glaciology and fieldwork. This project will be in collaboration with MSC software, a world leading provider of simulation software used extensively in the aerospace and automotive industries. You will be supported by expert developers at the company and will spend time working at MSC software where you will have the opportunity to apply their state of the art tools to glaciological problems. You will be encouraged to participate in UK and international scientific conferences to discuss with colleagues and to promote your research.
Your results will inform future model developments, with the overall aim to provide improved projections of Antarctic mass loss over the next decades to centuries.