Project Description
Supraglacial lakes, formed by the melting of snow and ice on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets, can impact ice mass balance by promoting melting and influencing glacial hydrology. Understanding the evolution of these lakes is essential for predicting the response of glaciers to climate change and hence their contribution to sea-level rise. Quantities of surface melt in Antarctica are projected to rise under climate change, meaning supraglacial lakes are likely to become more common and influential, however observations of lakes are far more limited in Antarctica than in other regions such as Greenland.
This project aims to provide new observations of supraglacial lake behavior in Antarctica by studying the evolution of lakes on the surface of Crane Glacier in the Antarctic Peninsula. This is a notable glacier in a region of Antarctica which has experienced significant warming and ice mass loss. The project will use optical and synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery to construct a time-series of lake characteristics, such as area, draining, and refreezing, and compare these to environmental data from models and reanalysis.
Candidates for this project should be familiar with geographic information systems (GIS) software such as QGIS and have some experience with programming languages such as Python or MATLAB. Prior experience of glaciology is not essential, and this project would suit someone looking for their first experience of cryosphere research.
Supervisor & Contact
Benjamin Wallis, eebjwa@leeds.ac.uk
How to Apply
- Complete the online REP application form, one for each project of interest, including a copy of your CV.
- Complete the EDI form (only one is needed, you do not need to submit more than one if you apply for multiple projects). Although this is optional, if places are over-subscribed, preference will be given to under-represented groups.