PhD Studentship (Centre for Climate Repair) - Protecting Glaciers - Physical Barriers Sea Bed Curtains

This PhD project stems from a novel idea as to whether giant underwater curtains could slow ice-sheet melting.

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 looking at the possibility of creating physical barriers to impede the flow of deep saline, warm water encroaching upon the grounding line of glaciers. The concept involves the installation of buoyant flexible curtains tethered to the ocean floor in front of glaciers.

Although there have been some numerical simulations of the curtain, there is much more analysis and engineering work required before any decision can be made as to the viability of such a concept.

This project will involve building upon the current analysis by undertaking a series of laboratory experiments in a flume and investigating the dynamical behaviour of a suspending flexible curtain. The interplay of multiple curtains, the design configuration, and the potential for instabilities and vibrations in the mechanical design of the structure will be key. The project will also involve development of analytical models of the fluid-curtain interaction, and fundamentally identification of the key design parameters influencing the rate of flow of warm water towards a glacier and ultimately the rate of melting.

It is envisaged that the experimental work will also involve outdoor experiments, firstly in rivers or Fjords which are more accessible than glaciers.

This studentship is 4 years in length and includes fees and maintenance for students eligible for Home fees.

Applicants should have (or expect to obtain by the start date) at least a good 2.1 degree in an Engineering, Material Science or related subject.

Applications should be submitted through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal (via the ‘Apply’ button above), with Professor Gary Hunt identified as the potential supervisor.

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

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