PhD Study : Constraining Past and Future Glacier Mass Changes in Northwest North America

Summary

Glaciers are an integral part of the climate system and an important indicator of climate change. In particular, glacier mass change has impacts ranging from local ecosystems to local and regional water resources to global sea level and climate. In the face of continued climate change, understanding past glacier changes can provide the key to constraining predictions of global sea level change. Accurate prediction of sea level changes are critical for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies for the billions of people who live within a few kilometres of the coast.

Despite this importance, detailed, long-term observations of glacier mass changes remain relatively scarce (Zemp et al., 2019), which limits our ability to accurately model and understand both the past and future impacts of glacier mass change across much of the globe. Glaciers in northwest North America (Alaska/British Columbia/Yukon) are some of the largest ice bodies outside of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets, representing a strong potential source of sea level rise in a warming climate.

Due to the size of the region and its remote nature, detailed long-term observations are available for only a small portion of glaciers. In part, this is because historic topographic maps, a main source of information about past glacier extents, are often prone to large errors. Modern image processing techniques allow for the reprocessing of historic imagery to enable detailed observations of past glacier extents and elevations.

When combined with modern satellite imagery and digital elevation models, these reprocessed images enable detailed observations of past glacier extents over time (e.g., King et al., 2020). These detailed observations of area, elevation, and thickness change provide important data that can be used with numerical glacier and ice sheet models such as the Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM; Maussion et al., 2019) in order to reconstruct the past development of glaciers and provide accurate projections of their future evolution.

Aims

The aims of this PhD will be (1) to improve the understanding of past glacier changes in the region, by mapping past glacier extents using a combination of remote sensing and GIS techniques; (2) use these data in conjunction with OGGM to accurately project the future evolution of glacier change and sea level potential from this region.

Objectives

1. Develop a time series of recent glacier extents, using a combination of historic air photos, modern satellite imagery, and digital elevation models.
2. Map the most recent (Little Ice Age) maximum of glaciers in the region to provide a long-term constraint on recent area and mass changes.
3. In conjunction with OGGM, use the time series of glacier extents to reconstruct past, and project future, mass changes of glaciers in the region.
4. Use the OGGM output to help constrain the future trajectory of sea-level rise from glaciers in the region.

The successful candidate should have an interest in glacier change. Background knowledge in remote sensing and numerical modelling are useful, but not essential, as training will be provided by the supervisory team.

References will be requested for shortlisted candidates.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living