Emprego

This project focuses upon Kangiata Nunata Sermia (KNS), the most dynamic tidewater glacier in SW Greenland which influences the mass balance of the southern Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). The aim is to model a cycle of glacial advance and retreat over one thousand years and project future behaviour under varying climatic scenarios. Ongoing research is focused on understanding controls on contemporary dynamics of KNS by integrating field-based monitoring of dynamics and mass balance with recent developments in glacial ice flow modelling (e.g. GLIMMER – CISM). This studentship would develop the modelling to take advantage of a unique combination of geomorphology and archaeology (remnants of Viking settlements) that constrains fluctuations in the glacier’s advance and retreat over the last one thousand years. The glacial boundary conditions are well constrained by glacier surface elevation, bed topography and fiord bathymetry data. Climatic forcing will be constrained by measurements of accumulation and temperature patterns, ice core records, and by palaeo-ecology records for the western coastal region of Greenland. Model runs that replicate past glacier behaviour will be well placed to predict the future response to variable climate change scenarios over the coming millennium.

The successful applicant will join a growing glacial research group which includes expertise in glacial processes, geophysics, geomorphology, GIS and modelling. There will be potential for fieldwork around the marginal region of KNS. The student will gain affiliation to the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES), and the Centre for Earth System Dynamics. We encourage applicants with mathematical and physical sciences background and with experience in numerical modelling. Quantitatively strong geophysicists, earth scientists and physical geography are also encouraged.

The supervisors for this project are Dr Doug Mair, Dr Brice Rea and Dr Ed Schofield.

Application deadline: 12th March 2010

Formal applications can be completed online: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/apply.shtml (Please ensure you apply at least 4 days before the closing date to allow us to contact you if further information/documentation is required). All applications received up to and including the closing date will be processed.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr D Mair ( Este endereço de e-mail está protegido contra spam bots, pelo que o JavaScript terá de estar activado para que possa visualizar o endereço de e-mail ) by email, including a CV. All general enquiries should be directed to the Graduate School Admissions Unit.

 

Funding Notes
Please check NERC's website for eligibility criteria http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/postgrad/eligibility.asp

Applications are welcomed from all who meet the eligibility criteria as set out by NERC.