Mathematical modelling of pancake ice cycles in presence of extreme wave events, winds, and currents

(PROMENT_UMTH24ARIES)

Mathematical modelling of pancake ice cycles in presence of extreme wave events, winds, and currents

(PROMENT_UMTH24ARIES)

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Davide Proment, University of East Anglia – Contact me

Dr Alberto Alberello, School of Mathematics, University of East Anglia

Professor Ian Renfrew, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

Scientific background

The Antarctic sea ice seasonal cycle is the Earth’s heartbeat, but current climate models are unable to reproduce its often baffling regional and inter-annual variabilities. The extreme Southern Ocean waves, winds, and currents play a major role in regulating sea ice extent and properties, and, hence, atmosphere-ocean fluxes and ice advance/retreat. This four-year PhD project will develop reliable mathematical models for pancake ice cycle in the presence of waves, winds, and currents, aiming at better predicting the evolution of floe size distribution and deriving a parametrisation for implementation in Earth system models.

Research methodology

The project will use theoretical and numerical methods for solving wave/ice models and kinetic equations mimicking the ice merging/fragmentation process; machine learning techniques will be used for data driven model parametrisation. The research will unfold as follows: (year 1) literature review, wave/ice model in 1D; (year 2) wave/ice model in 2D and kinetic equation models; (year 3) model extension to include ocean currents and wind; (year 4) statistics of extreme events. The parametrisation of the floe size distribution will start in year 2, while the machine learning data driven techniques in year 3. Scientific collaborations with Dr Fabien Montiel (Otago) for the merging/fragmentation ice models and Prof. Marcello Vichi (Cape Town) for field data acquisition, with the possibility of a field trip in the Indian/Southern Ocean, will take place in due course.

Training

The student will take part to the weekly research seminars across the Faculty of Science (Mathematics, Environmental Sciences, COAS) and take mathematics/physics modules of the MAGIC consortium. Other training offered like numerical modelling, use of HPC, scientific dissemination and writing will be available. The student will present their findings to meetings in the UK (UK Sea-ice meeting) and internationally (EGU). This PhD project is part of the ARIES DTP, and as such the student will participate to all its training activities.

Person specification

We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and outstanding candidate holding a degree in Mathematics, Physics, Environmental Sciences, or similar. Experience in mathematical and numerical modelling is highly recommended.

References

  • 1 Alberello, Alberto, Luke G. Bennetts, Miguel Onorato, Marcello Vichi, Keith MacHutchon, Clare Eayrs, Butteur Ntamba Ntamba et al. "Three-dimensional imaging of waves and floes in the marginal ice zone during a cyclone." Nature Communications 13, no. 1 (2022): 4590.
  • 2 Landwehr, Sebastian, Michele Volpi, F. Alexander Haumann, Charlotte M. Robinson, Iris Thurnherr, Valerio Ferracci, Andrea Baccarini et al. "Exploring the coupled ocean and atmosphere system with a data science approach applied to observations from the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition." Earth System Dynamics 12, no. 4 (2021): 1295-1369.Landwehr, Sebastian, Michele Volpi, F. Alexander Haumann, Charlotte M. Robinson, Iris Thurnherr, Valerio Ferracci, Andrea Baccarini et al. "Exploring the coupled ocean and atmosphere system with a data science approach applied to observations from the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition." Earth System Dynamics 12, no. 4 (2021): 1295-1369.
  • 3 Alberello, Alberto, Miguel Onorato, Luke Bennetts, Marcello Vichi, Clare Eayrs, Keith MacHutchon, and Alessandro Toffoli. "Brief communication: Pancake ice floe size distribution during the winter expansion of the Antarctic marginal ice zone." The Cryosphere 13, no. 1 (2019): 41-48.
  • 4 Toffoli, A., D. Proment, H. Salman, J. Monbaliu, F. Frascoli, M. Dafilis, E. Stramignoni, Renato Forza, Massimiliano Manfrin, and Miguel Onorato. "Wind generated rogue waves in an annular wave flume." Physical Review Letters 118, no. 14 (2017): 144503.
  • 5 Onorato, Miguel, Davide Proment, Gennady El, Stephane Randoux, and Pierre Suret. "On the origin of heavy-tail statistics in equations of the nonlinear Schrödinger type." Physics Letters A 380, no. 39 (2016): 3173-3177.

Key Information

  • This project has been shortlisted for funding by the ARIES NERC DTP and will start on 1st October 2024. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 10th January 2024.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a NERC studentship, which covers fees, stipend (£18,622 p.a. for 2023/24) and research funding. International applicants are eligible for fully-funded ARIES studentships including fees. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK. We expect to award between 4 and 6 studentships to international candidates in 2024.
  • ARIES students benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis, visa requirements notwithstanding.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential, and will be stored on the UEA sharepoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships, and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES funding is subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. See https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information

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