PhD Studentship (NERC GW4+ DTP) - Unravelling Ice Dynamics by Integrating Meltwater Insights into Ice Sheet Models (September 2025 Entry)

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/ 

Project details

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via S.J.Palmer@exeter.ac.uk

Project Aims and Methods

This PhD research will focus on improving the understanding of the complex interactions between ice sheet hydrology and ice dynamics, with implications for sea-level rise and climate change projections. The project will integrate cutting-edge remote sensing and machine learning techniques, field data and numerical modelling to investigate how surface, englacial and basal water systems influence ice flow and mass balance.   

Remote sensing observations from satellites such as ICESat-2 and Sentinel-1 will be combined with ArcticDEM data to map surface meltwater features, quantify ice velocities, and monitor changes in ice sheet thickness over time. Complementary in situ measurements from hydrological and GPS sensors will provide high-temporal resolution observations of ice sheet deformation and hydrological processes. The combined dataset will serve as input for numerical ice flow models, which will be used to simulate the impact of varying hydrological conditions on ice sheet behaviour. 

By integrating these methods, the research aims to improve predictive models of ice dynamics, particularly in response to increasing meltwater from climate warming. This work will contribute to a more accurate assessment of the potential contribution of glaciers and ice sheets to future sea-level rise and will offer insights into how they may respond to evolving climate conditions. 

 Training

The DTP offers funding to undertake specialist training relating to the student’s specialist area of research. 

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

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