My work in glaciology is motivated by rapid climate change and its effect on humans. Glaciers provide fresh water for agriculture and drinking water. Where they flow into the ocean they contribute to sea level change. In my career I pursue research questions that ultimately inform policymakers of the effects of climate change on glaciers. Below are a selection of my ongoing projects.
Stability of Thwaites glacier: ice-ocean interactions at the grounding zone
Where glaciers flow into the ocean and go afloat, they are particularly sensitive to changes in ocean temperature and circulation. I am part of a large group of international researchers currently focused on describing how Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica is responding to the changing southern ocean. In January of 2020 we successfully drilled through the Thwaites ice shelf and measured properties of the ocean at the grounding zone.
I specifically use active seismic surveying to describe the geometry of the glacier and its ocean cavity: a task only possible with ground-based fieldwork. This work is funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration
I specifically use active seismic surveying to describe the geometry of the glacier and its ocean cavity: a task only possible with ground-based fieldwork. This work is funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration
Tidewater glacier dynamics of the west Antarctic Peninsula
Glaciers along the west Antarctic Peninsula are retreating in response to changing atmospheric and oceanic conditions. I am interested in quantifying how this region may contribute to future sea level rise while also learning something about how different glacier geometries respond to forcing.
This project is focused on big data synthesis: bringing together many different freely-available remotely-sensed datasets and using machine learning techniques to capture patterns of glacier sensitivity.
This project is focused on big data synthesis: bringing together many different freely-available remotely-sensed datasets and using machine learning techniques to capture patterns of glacier sensitivity.
Ice stream shear margin stability
Ice streams are the primary outlets of ice flow from large reservoirs of ice in the interior of ice sheets to the coastal margins. Where these ice streams can grow or shrink, the mass balance of the entire ice sheet changes. I have long studied the NE Greenland Ice Stream in order to understand what determines is size and position.. and how these could change in the future.
