Glaciology, Physical Geography: Fully Funded PhD in the VARIANCE – VARiability In Antarctic Calving Extent (RS729)

Funding provider: Faculty of Science and Engineering

 
Subject area: Glaciology, Physical Geography

 
Project start date: 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

 
Supervisors: Dr Jim Jordan and Dr Adrian Luckman

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Physical Geography

Location – Primarily based at Swansea University, with the option of short visits to Edinburgh University to work more closely with a secondary supervisor

Mode of study: Full or Part-time study is possible.

Project description:

The main contribution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) to sea level rise comes from the flow of inland ice out to sea, a process that is controlled by the presence of floating ice shelves around the AIS. Ice loss from ice shelf calving has been shown to account for roughly half of AIS mass loss (Greene et al., 2022). Ice shelves typically follow a period of slow advance for several decades before undergoing more rapid ice shelf calving events that reduce their extent. In addition to this natural variance, the ice-shelf extent is becoming increasingly impacted by a heating climate driving melting. As such, an understanding of the range and variance of their extent and their effect on inland ice flow is of great importance when determining the future contribution to sea level rise of the AIS (Miles et al., 2022). In particular, how much of the observed trend is due to the natural calving cycle, and how much is a result of increased Antarctic warming?

VARIANCE seeks to address this by first compiling a data set of the Antarctic calving front position over time to derive an understanding of its range and variability, and how the present-day calving front extent compares to the observational record. These observations will then be used with the numerical ice model, Úa, to simulate the relative impact of the variance in calving front extent on inland ice speed, and hence sea level rise, for the AIS. This modelling setup is similar to that used by Jordan et al., 2023. The student will be primarily based at Swansea University, working closely with Dr Jordan and Professor Luckman as part of the Swansea Glaciology Research Group.

There will be the opportunity to spend time at Edinburgh University and work more closely with Dr Miles. This project would be suitable for candidates with a first degree in a related environmental or physical science as well as mathematics or physics. Basic programming skills in languages such as Python, Matlab or R are desirable, but not essential for consideration. This project will provide the candidate with training in numerical modelling and remote sensing, both sought-after transferable skills, setting them up for a career in academia or industry.

References

Greene, C.A., Gardner, A.S., Schlegel, NJ. et al. Antarctic calving loss rivals ice-shelf thinning. Nature 609, 948–953 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05037-w

Jordan, J.R., Miles, B.W.J., Gudmundsson, G.H. et al. Increased warm water intrusions could cause a mass loss in East Antarctica during the next 200 years. Nat Commun 14, 1825 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37553-2

Miles, B.W.J., Stokes, C.R., Jamieson, S.S.R. et al. High spatial and temporal variability in Antarctic ice discharge linked to ice shelf buttressing and bed geometry. Sci Rep 12, 10968 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13517-2

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

• CV 
• Degree certificates and transcripts 
• A cover letter 
• Two references 
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable) 
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of submission of EDI Form

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

*For ALL scholarship applications from February 2023 an EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Monitoring Form is required.