PhD Studentship: Biogeochemical impacts of sea-ice thickening in the Arctic

Primary supervisor - Prof Katharine Hendry (British Antarctic Survey & UEA Honorary Professor)

Secondary supervisor - Prof Dorothee Bakker

Fragile polar ecosystems are critical to the global climate system, yet the potential ecological consequences of climate interventions at the poles are poorly understood. This studentship will be linked to a larger project, Eco-Ice, which will provide an independent impact assessment of potential climate interventions in the Arctic marine environment through laboratory experiments and computer modelling. The team will develop physical, climate and ecosystem models with direct input from bespoke biogeochemical and biological laboratory experimentation. This independent assessment by experts in modelling and ecology is critical to provide a thorough and balanced evaluation of potential climate interventions providing best-practice guidance for the ecological risk assessment of future proposed interventions within the polar marine environment.

One potential approach in the Arctic Ocean involves the artificial thickening of sea-ice to prevent total loss during the summer melt season. The PhD candidate will work closely with biogeochemical (BGC) modellers and analysts to develop numerical and laboratory experimental approaches to understand the impact of Arctic sea-ice thickening geoengineering approaches on nutrient and alkalinity cycling.

Mode of study

Full-time

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirement is 2:1 (Hons) in physics, chemistry, natural sciences, mathematics, computing, environmental sciences, or similar numerical subject. 

Start date

1 October 2025

References

1. i)    Tuerena, R. E., Mahaffey, C., Henley, S. F., De La Vega, C., Norman, L., Brand, T., ... & März, C. (2022). Nutrient pathways and their susceptibility to past and future change in the Eurasian Arctic Ocean. Ambio, 51, 355-369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01673-0
2. ii)    Henley, S. F., Cavan, E. L., Fawcett, S. E., Kerr, R., Monteiro, T., Sherrell, R. M., ... & Smith, S. (2020). Changing biogeochemistry of the Southern Ocean and its ecosystem implications. Frontiers in marine science, 7, 581. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00581

iii)    Kanna, N., Toyota, T., & Nishioka, J. (2014). Iron and macro-nutrient concentrations in sea ice and their impact on the nutritional status of surface waters in the southern Okhotsk Sea. Progress in Oceanography, 126, 44-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2014.04.012

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