GeoSciences researcher begins new fellowship journey

The project, titled "Future sea-level rise and freshwater export from Antarctic Peripheral Glaciers and Ice Caps in a warming climate,” will be led by Dr Beatriz Recinos, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the School. This research is fully funded and supported by the prestigious Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Independent Research Fellowship for a period of five years. 

The main objective of Dr Recinos’ research will be to estimate the probability of various levels of future sea-level rise and freshwater export from Antarctic glaciers under different climate conditions. 

The main goal is to propose new standards and innovative methods to simulate the dynamical response of APGs to changes in the ice sheet-ocean-climate system and improve ice dynamical models to simulate these glaciers’ ice volume and future sea level rise contribution.

Antarctic peripheral glaciers and ice caps (APGs) comprise the largest global glacier system outside the main ice sheets, covering an area half the size of the UK. The freshwater released by melting APGs has wide-ranging implications for marine ecosystems and global oceanographic patterns, affecting ocean circulation, salinity, and nutrient distribution. 

Despite their significance, there is no clear consensus on how much ice these APGs contain or the extent of their impact on global sea-level rise. Therefore, understanding how APGs will evolve in a warming climate is essential for predicting their role in shaping the future of both global sea levels and the marine environment.

“The aim of my fellowship is to evaluate the volume of ice within these glaciers and ice caps and to approximate its likely changes using different ice dynamical models, machine learning techniques, and the latest remote sensing data,” Dr Recinos explained.

“This stems from the lack of consensus among large-scale glacier models regarding the volume of ice stored in APGs, which affects projections of sea-level rise and has significant implications for both oceanographic and ecological systems.”

Dr Recinos’ project will employ cutting-edge ice dynamical models and machine learning techniques, combined with the latest remote sensing data, to develop more accurate projections of ice volume and meltwater contribution. By filling the gaps in the knowledge base, the project will provide critical insights for global sea-level assessments.

Dr Recinos has a unique blend of expertise that ranges from glacier modelling and remote sensing to scientific computing which will be key for undertaking a project that calls for a diverse skillset. Her academic and professional postings have taken her around the world, stretching from her native country of El Salvador to the United States, and then across the Atlantic to mainland Europe before eventually settling in the UK. 

“These complex glacier systems require a multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration with diverse partners and data providers. This fellowship has granted me the freedom to integrate multiple disciplinary backgrounds and my previous academic networks, which include the glacier and ice sheet modelling communities, remote sensing experts, oceanographers, and climate scientists. 

My goal is to bring these disciplines together and answer complex research questions by developing open-source scientific software.”

The project will use two primary types of numerical models—a glacier model and an ice sheet model—to simulate the future evolution of APGs. The models will be powered by the latest remote sensing data from Antarctica, which will provide the boundary conditions, as well as climate and ocean forcing (the melting of the ice-ocean boundary).

In the first two years of the fellowship, the focus will be on improving boundary conditions and updating the glacier inventory for APGs. The second half of the project will concentrate on developing the numerical models to enhance the dynamics of APGs and their interactions with the ocean.

“I’m hoping to develop a new approach for modelling these glaciers,” she said, “and improve our understanding of the minimum model complexity required to simulate dynamical changes in APGs.”

As the world continues to warm, the melting of Antarctic glaciers will play a critical role in shaping the planet’s future, making this research more relevant than ever. 

Through NERC’s support, this study will contribute crucial insights into sea-level rise predictions and their implications for both global ecosystems and human communities.

In addition to Dr Recinos, the NERC Independent Research Fellowships were awarded to 10 other early career researchers. The total funding pool is £7.4 million, which will support innovative research in critical areas such as sea-level rise, coral reef dynamics, climate prediction, and ecotoxicity.

Its fellowships are designed to foster the development of the next generation of environmental science leaders. They provide fellows with five years of funding to advance their research, hone leadership skills, and establish international reputations.

Learn more here: https://www.ukri.org/news/early-career-scientists-awarded-distinguished-nerc-fellowships/