With apologies for potential cross-posting:
An exciting opportunity for a PhD studentship starting in October 2013
is available within the Climate Program of the British Antarctic
Survey:
Investigating the spatial distribution of Föhn conditions and their
impact on surface melt over the Larsen Ice Shelf
1995 and 2002 saw the dramatic break-up and collapse of huge parts of
the Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica. It is widely accepted that
hydrofracturing (melt water enters crevasses and prevents their
refreezing) is the mechanism behind the break-up of the Larsen A and
Larsen B ice shelves. Adiabatic warming of the air on the lee side of
mountains, so called Föhn winds, are thought to provide the
atmospheric conditions for significant warming over the Larsen Ice
Shelf thus leading to the initial firn densification and subsequently
providing the melt water for hydrofracturing. Measurements have
provided evidence that in some cases Föhn events reach an Automatic
Weather Station (AWS) over 100km from the foot of the Antarctic
Peninsula mountains.
The project will use archived output from the Antarctic Mesoscale
Prediction System AMPS to spatially analyse surface parameters during
cases of Föhn events identified in AWS measurements during 2011. High
resolution model simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting
(WRF) model will be used to compare how the representation of these
cases differs depending on model resolution. Model data and
measurements from various AWS on the Larsen Ice Shelf will be combined
to study the spatial and temporal distribution of Föhn events over the
entire Larsen Ice Shelf, their impact on surface melt conditions, and
their potential role in past and potential future ice shelf break ups
in the area.
This NERC PhD Studentship is linked to the British Antarctic Survey
Climate Programme. In the Climate programme we use climate and weather
model simulations together with observations from both polar regions
to improve our understanding of how natural and human-induced factors
contribute to climate change. More information about the programme can
be found at http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/bas_research/our_research/current/programmes/climate/index.php
Supervisors will be
Dr Amélie Kirchgaessner and Dr. John King at the British Antarctic
Survey, Cambridge and at the University of Leeds:
Dr. Andrew Ross, Dr. Alan Gadian (School of Earth and Environment, and
National Centre for Atmospheric Science NCAS)
The student will be based at BAS, supervised by Dr. Amélie
Kirchgaessner and Dr. John King. The student will be registered in the
School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds with Dr.
Andrew Ross as University supervisor. A close link to NCAS will be
provided through Dr. Alan Gadian, who will act as co-supervisor in
Leeds.
Applicants should hold or expect to gain a first or upper second-class
degree in Meteorology/ Atmospheric Sciences/ Physics, or closely
related relevant discipline. As the use of a sophisticated numerical
model is an essential part of the project, candidates should be highly
numerate and must be able to demonstrate evidence of good computing/IT
skills. The studentship will provide excellent training in the
analysis of large data sets and in numerical modelling. No fieldwork
is planned for this project.
The studentship is expected to last 3.5 years from October 2013.
Stipend for 2012/2013 was £13,590 p.a. For eligibility criteria,
please go to:
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/postgrad/eligibility.asp
Requests for further information on this studentship should be
addressed to Dr. Amélie Kirchgaessner (acrki@bas.ac.uk). Applications
should include a cover letter, CV and the e-mail addresses of two
referees, and should be sent to basstudentoffice@bas.ac.uk. Please
quote reference number BASDTG/kirc/3
Closing date for applications is 31st January 2013.
For further details about the British Antarctic Survey please see:
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk
For further details about the School of Earth and Environment please
see: http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/home/
For further details about the National Centre for Atmospheric Science
please see: http://www.ncas.ac.uk/index.php/en/
*****************************
Dr. Amélie Kirchgaessner FRMetS
British Antarctic Survey
High Cross, Madingley Road
Cambridge
CB3 0ET
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1223 221359
email : Amelie.Kirchgaessner@bas.ac.uk
*****************************
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