PhD Position on Modelling the Evolution of the Larsen C Ice Shelf

Many Antarctic ice shelves have recently thinned, retreated, or disintegrated. As a result, buttressing of the grounded ice has reduced, increasing the loss of grounded ice and affecting sea level. Thus, understanding the future viability of ice shelves in a warming climate is paramount to better predict the future sea level rise. The state and evolution of the firn layer, expressed in the available pore space, and determined by changes in melt water production, percolation and refreezing, is one of the key indicators of ice shelf health and the topic of this NWO-funded project.

Your job

As a fully-funded four-year PhD candidate, you will study the evolution of the firn layer of the Larsen C ice shelf, Antarctica, using a combination of observations and models. You will use the IMAU firn densification model forced by high resolution output from the regional climate model RACMO to simulate the evolution of the Larsen C firn layer in the recent past (1950 to present) and into the future (up to 2100) based on different climate scenarios. You will perform the model runs, analyse the results, and compare them to firn properties estimated from (airborne) radar observations and weather station observations. Your major challenge is in model development, and there is room for you to develop machine learning applications in the field of firn modelling. If successful, your work will lay the foundation for several peer-reviewed scientific publications.

This position is part of the NWO-BAS project Evolution of the Larsen C firn layer: a multi-decadal record of ice shelf vulnerability to atmospheric warming (ELF). You will therefore collaborate intensively with international partners for support, and measurement analysis will be an integral part of your job.

Your qualities

You are an enthusiastic and collaborative colleague and meet several or all of the following criteria:

• an interest in studying ice sheet-climate interactions;
• a Master's degree in (climate) physics, geosciences or a similar field;
• strong programming skills (Fortran, Python or similar);
• affinity with spatiotemporal data analyses and numerical modelling;
• strong reporting and presentation skills;
• a good level of written and spoken English.

Our offer

• A position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
• a fulltime working week and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.