Dr G Marshall, Prof David Stevens, Prof Timothy Osborn, Dr A Orr
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Scientific Background
The Arctic Ocean has warmed faster than anywhere else on Earth over the past few decades. Climate change in the eastern Eurasian Basin region of the Arctic Ocean may have wider environmental implications because significant stores of carbon are contained there, within subsea permafrost on the East Siberian Arctic Shelf. Some scientists argue that its release might be a major contributor to global warming. We do know that the region’s climate is sensitive, as the Eurasian Basin has shown the greatest reduction in minimum sea ice extent across the Arctic in recent years. Thus, there is a pressing need to better understand the key physical interactions governing climate variability in the Eurasian Basin, to better constrain projections of how the region’s climate will evolve
Research methodology
The successful candidate will:
Undertake an analysis of the relationships between the atmosphere, sea ice and ocean in the Eurasian Basin (East Siberian and Laptev Seas) to establish the key statistical linkages driving regional climate variability. He/she will use a range of meteorological observations, gridded reanalysis, remote-sensing datasets, climate models and proxy data.
Relate climate in the Eurasian Basin to large scale modes of climate variability.
Undertake new climate modelling experiments to determine the primary physical processes that govern regional atmospheric coupling to the ice-ocean system.
Focusing on these key physical processes and statistical relationships, he/she will utilise a subset of the models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to examine how projected future atmospheric circulation changes are likely to impact the regional ice-ocean system
Training
In addition to the EnvEast training programme, the candidate will have training opportunities in statistical methods, data analysis and visualisation techniques, climate modelling and public outreach. There is the potential to visit and collaborate with scientists from Moscow State University (MSU).
Secondary supervisors: Professor David Stevens (UEA), Professor Timothy Osborn (UEA), Dr Andrew Orr (British Antarctic Survey), Dr Manoj Joshi (UEA)
We are looking for enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-motivated candidates with a strong numerical background in mathematics, physics or the environmental sciences. Previous programming experience in one of Python, MATLAB, IDL or similar computing environment would be advantageous.
This project has been shortlisted for funding by the EnvEast NERC Doctoral Training Partnership, comprising the Universities of East Anglia, Essex and Kent, with over twenty other research partners. Undertaking a PhD with the EnvEast DTP will involve attendance at mandatory training events throughout the course of the PhD.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 12/13 February 2018.
For further information, please visit www.enveast.ac.uk/apply
For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here: https://www.bas.ac.uk/profile/gjma/
Type of programme: PhD
Start date of project: October 2018
Mode of study: Full time or part time
Length of studentship: 3.5 years
Acceptable first degree: Mathematics, physics or the environmental sciences.
EnvEast welcomes applicants from quantitative disciplines who may have limited background in environmental sciences. Excellent candidates will be considered for an award of an additional 3-month stipend to take appropriate advanced-level courses in the subject area.
Minimum entry requirement: 2:1 or equivalent.
Funding Notes
Successful candidates who meet RCUK’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a NERC studentship - in 2017/18, the stipend is £14,553. In most cases, UK and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for 3 years are eligible for a stipend. For non-UK EU-resident applicants NERC funding can be used to cover fees, RTSG and training costs, but not any part of the stipend. Individual institutes may, however, elect to provide a stipend from their own resources.
References
(i) Koenigk T, et al. 2013. Arctic climate change in 21st century CMIP5 simulations with EC-Earth. Climate Dynamics, 32, 1119-1138, doi:10.1007/s00382-012-1505-y.
(ii) Marshall GJ, Vignols RM, & Rees WG. 2016. Climate change in the Kola Peninsula, Arctic Russia, during the last 50 years from meteorological observations. Journal of Climate, 29, 6823-6840, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0179.1.
(iii) Overland JE, and Wang M. 2009. Large-scale atmospheric circulation changes are associated with the recent loss of Arctic sea ice. Tellus, 62, 1-9, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0870.2009.00421.x.
(iv) Turner J, & Marshall GJ. 2011. Climate Change in the Polar Regions, Cambridge University Press, pp 434.
(v) Heuzé, C., K.J. Heywood, D.P. Stevens and J.K. Ridley. 2015. Changes in global ocean bottom properties and volume transports in CMIP5 models under climate change scenarios. Journal of Climate, 28, 2917-2944, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00381.1.
Continue with Facebook
