PLEASE NOTE: Application deadline date 08 Jan 2024. Applications are no longer being accepted for this project
Project Overview
Glaciers are retreating worldwide and are a major contribution to global sea-level rise. There are many factors which control melting rate, particularly water at the glacier bed. The aim of this project is to understand the subglacial hydrology from both modern and ancient glaciers, using remote sensing (satellite and drone) and sedimentology.
Project Description
The subglacial hydrological system modulates ice dynamics and is a vital component in understanding how glaciers respond to climate change [1]. Recent work has suggested that soft-bedded glacier (such as the unstable West Antarctic Ice streams) have a braided subglacial hydrology [2], whilst traditional models argue for a channelized hydrology. The difference in hydrology is important as it is part of the understanding of the rate of glacier velocity and hence sea-level rise. If soft-bedded glaciers have a braided hydrology, what would this look like in terms of glacial sedimentology from both modern and Quaternary environments? This project would investigate sites from Iceland and UK Quaternary sites to develop a model of subglacial braided system sedimentology. This models will be developed in Iceland and the UK using a variety of techniques including the use of ‘Planet Lab’ images and UAV survey to carry out offset (or intensity) tracking, a well-established method for deriving displacements from repeat imagery to calculate velocity, to map the glacial geomorphology, as well as sedimentological logging.
The INSPIRE DTP programme provides comprehensive personal and professional development training alongside extensive opportunities for students to expand their multi-disciplinary outlook through interactions with a wide network of academic, research and industrial/policy partners. The student will be registered at the University of Southampton.
Specific training will include:
glaciology, glacial geomorphology and sedimentology, remote sensing, GIS and UAV survey. Velocity data will be generated using the intensity tracking algorithm within the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP). The student will have the opportunity to acquire a UAV pilot license, learn to use the Metashape photogrammetry processing, as well as the grain size laboratory equipment. The student will also carry out much of the RS and photogrammetry analysis on the SoGES high specification workstations.
- Hart, J.K., Martinez, K., Basford, P.J., Clayton, A.I., Robson, B.A. and Young, D.S., 2019. Surface melt driven summer diurnal and winter multi-day stick-slip motion and till sedimentology. Nature communications, 10(1), p.1599.
- Hart, J.K., Young, D.S., Baurley, N.R., Robson, B.A. and Martinez, K., 2022. The seasonal evolution of subglacial drainage pathways beneath a soft-bedded glacier. Nature Communications Earth & Environment, 3(1), pp.1-13.
