Origin of overdeepened bedrock basins and valleys in ice sheet settings

There is renewed interest in glacial erosion because it presents an important safety consideration for the siting of geological repositories for the long-term storage of nuclear waste. Previous work has assumed that glacial erosional landforms (e.g. over deepenings) are distinct from glaciofluvial forms such as tunnel valleys, but new bedrock topography datasets for present and former ice sheets reveal erosional landforms that are difficult to classify using existing process and morphological criteria. This project will address the current lack of morphological data on these phenomena by applying new quantitative analyses and will use geomorphological and numerical analysis to understand the role of glacial and fluvial erosion beneath ice sheets.

The successful applicant will be expected to produce a review of the literature and primary data on the distribution and morphology of channel-like bedrock landforms (CBLs) for the project partner (Nagra) and from this develop and then apply morphological analyses to CBLs to test likely formation hypotheses and explore the influence of scale and lithology. There will also be opportunities to explore the use of ice-erosion and glaciohydrological models to investigate the role of glacial and fluvial erosion beneath ice sheets. The successful applicant will also be responsible for liaising with the project partner, providing updates on research in progress, and providing a final report or summary of the project and the potential implications for the long-term behaviour of ice sheets and the disposal of radioactive waste.

The project will suit a motivated graduate with expertise or interest in geology, glacial processes, and geomorphology and with strong statistical or mathematical ability. Training will be provided in geomorphological mapping and analysis using ArcGIS, glacier and ice sheet modeling, and the implications of future glaciation for nuclear waste management. The successful applicant will be required to spend up to 6 months in Switzerland to further their training where they will be co-hosted by Nagra/ETH Zurich and there will be a requirement to undertake further international travel and fieldwork as dictated by the requirements of the project.