SHELF-MIX: Mapping Ocean Mixing Beneath Antarctic Ice Shelves

Project overview

Antarctic ice shelves, and the speed at which they are melted from below by ‘warm’ ocean waters, set Antarctica’s contribution to 21st century sea-level rise. In this project we will develop a pan-Antarctic map of sub-ice shelf ocean mixing and heat fluxes, and asses their implications for ice shelf melting.   

Project description

Antarctic ice shelves – the floating extensions of the Antarctic ice sheet – play a critical role in controlling Antarctica’s contribution to future sea-level rise by restraining the seaward flow of grounded ice from the continent’s interior. Over recent decades, the rate at which ice shelves in key sectors of Antarctica are being melted from below by the ocean has accelerated, increasing the flow of grounded ice into the ocean and contributing to sea-level rise. The magnitude of ice shelf basal melting is controlled by how quickly turbulent ocean mixing transfers heat and salt to the ice base. Direct measurements of this turbulent mixing are sparse, hampering our ability to understand the important ice-ocean processes that drive ice shelf basal melting. This project will exploit existing datasets and pan-Antarctic numerical models (e.g. tidal and ocean-circulation models) to generate and contextualise the first pan-Antarctic atlas of sub-ice shelf mixing. Specifically, we will seek to answer: 

1. How do the rates of vertical turbulent mixing vary in space and time beneath different Antarctic ice shelves? 
2. What are the key controls on this variability, including the role of large-scale ocean forcing (e.g. tides, stratification) and ice shelf topography? 
3. How is the space-time variability in mixing and vertical heat fluxes related to space-time variability in basal melting? 

The results will provide fundamental understanding of the mixing processes and their variability that drive Antarctic ice shelf melting and sea-level rise and will be promoted widely to the scientific community for use in state-of-the-art numerical models.

Training

Our programme provides comprehensive personal and professional development training alongside extensive opportunities for students to expand their multi-disciplinary outlook through interactions with a wide network of academic, research and industrial/policy partners. The student will be registered at the University of Southampton and hosted at the British Antarctic Survey. Specific training will include:  

1. Training in the processing and interpretation of sub-ice shelf ocean observations, time series analysis, and model output 
2. Training in finescale mixing parameterisations and calculating the rate of vertical mixing beneath Antarctic ice shelves. 
3. Training in the processing and interpretation of microstructure data. 
4. The potential opportunity to participate in polar research cruises/fieldwork in the Southern Ocean and on Antarctic ice shelves, giving experience in the collection and processing of a variety of different physical oceanographic data. Note that fieldwork is not required for successful completion of this PhD.

Entry requirements:

A UK bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours or higher in a relevant subject. See international equivalent qualifications on our website. English language: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components. We accept other English language tests.

How to apply

Apply online here. Please enter the project title and lead supervisor’s name in Section 2 to state which project you would like to apply for.

It is essential for overseas applicants to contact the lead supervisor to discuss the project before applying.

Applications should include:

· curriculum vitae giving details of your academic record and stating your research interests

· name two current academic referees together with an institutional email addresses in the Reference section of the application form. On

submission of your online application your referees will be automatically emailed requesting they send a reference to us directly by email.

· your academic transcript and degree certificate (translated if not in English) - if you have completed both a BSc & an MSc, we require both.

· IELTS/TOEFL certificate, if applicable. For more information, please see the University of Southampton's English Language Proficiency page.

Please remember to include a short statement of your research interests and rationale for your choice of project(s) in the Personal Statement section of the application form.