PhD Studentship: Protecting Glaciers - Non Physical Barriers Seabed Curtains

Description

With ice in polar regions disappearing at record rates it is important to investigate potential options to keep land-based, glacier ice on land whilst greenhouse gas levels are reduced; not just emissions, but atmospheric levels.

A number of glaciers, including the large Thwaites glacier in Antarctica, are at risk of increasing slippage and loss due to warmer water finding its way to the grounding line at the toe of the glacier. The warming of deep saline water currents is increasing the rate of melting of these kinds of glaciers, and thereby increasing the risk of higher rates of irreversible sea level rise.

This project will involve collaboration with the University of Lapland, Aker Solutions (an engineering consulting company based in Norway with a UK office), and a number of other universities who are looking at the possibility of creating physical barriers to impede the flow of deep saline, warm water encroaching upon the grounding line of glaciers. However, this research project will look at different options for reducing the rate of supply of warm water to the base of glaciers.

This project will explore how the creation of bubble curtains or pumped flow might reduce the rate of melting of glaciers. Bubble curtains are already used to contain the debris created in the construction of wind turbines but have not been used in the context of reducing the rate of supply of warm deep saline water to the grounding line of glaciers. Fluid curtains are also used to disrupt exchange flows in other applications, for example overhead air curtains in the doorways of retail environments in high summer to reduce air-conditioning loads.

The project will first involve laboratory experiments and the development of mathematical models to build a fundamental understanding of the fluid mechanics associated with such potential interventions. It is hoped that the project will then expand to outdoor experiments, liaising with organisations working in marine environments such as harbour management entities, in order to test concepts in the field.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

*Funding will cover the student's stipend at the current Research Council rate and University fees. The studentship will be funded for four years from October 2025.

**This studentship is tied to Girton College therefore the successful applicant will be allocated to Girton College for the duration of their programme.