Next generation projections of sea level contribution and freshwater export from the Greenland Ice Sheet
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Geosciences
Abstract
Loss of ice from glaciers and ice sheets is one of the most obvious consequences of global warming. As the planet warms we can expect increased rates of ice loss, and this ice ultimately ends up in the ocean causing sea level rise. Accurate projections of sea level rise are hugely valuable for societies around the world to make the best decisions on how to adapt to the increased risk of flooding in coastal areas. Ice loss also releases vast quantities of freshwater into the ocean, which has the potential to affect ocean currents, particularly in the North Atlantic where these currents are critical in regulating our climate. Accurate projections of freshwater flux into the North Atlantic from ice loss are therefore hugely important to assess whether the loss of ice will be sufficient to affect large-scale ocean currents, with implications for global climate.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is a vast mass of ice located in the North Atlantic, and is a key current and future source of global sea level rise and freshwater flux into the North Atlantic. Ice in Greenland is lost in two ways: (i) through melting of the ice sheet surface, forming liquid freshwater which flows into the ocean, and (ii) due to the flow of ice into the ocean through vast rivers of ice called tidewater glaciers; these glaciers produce huge icebergs which melt in the ocean. While reasonable confidence exists in our projections of ice sheet surface melting, projections of the flow of ice into the ocean are significantly less advanced.
Projections of the flow of ice into the ocean in Greenland have to date been held back by (i) a lack of understanding of how the flow responds to climate change (though it is thought that recent increases in ice flow are related to warmer ocean temperatures), and (ii) the high computational costs of running models of future ice flow into the ocean. The research proposed in this fellowship will offer novel solutions to these problems, increasing confidence in projections of sea level rise and freshwater flux from the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Specifically, I will develop a simple model for the transport of warm water from the ocean to the edge of the ice sheet, allowing us to quickly quantify the temperature of the ocean water which affects the ice sheet. I will also use datasets of ocean and air temperature and glacier behaviour from the past 100 years to develop simple relationships between glacier retreat and regional climate change. These two key developments will allow me to run computer simulations of the Greenland Ice Sheet which capture the flow of ice into the ocean, and its future evolution in a warming climate. With these computer simulations I will produce projections, with associated uncertainties, of future sea level rise and freshwater export into the North Atlantic from the Greenland Ice Sheet over the coming two centuries.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is a vast mass of ice located in the North Atlantic, and is a key current and future source of global sea level rise and freshwater flux into the North Atlantic. Ice in Greenland is lost in two ways: (i) through melting of the ice sheet surface, forming liquid freshwater which flows into the ocean, and (ii) due to the flow of ice into the ocean through vast rivers of ice called tidewater glaciers; these glaciers produce huge icebergs which melt in the ocean. While reasonable confidence exists in our projections of ice sheet surface melting, projections of the flow of ice into the ocean are significantly less advanced.
Projections of the flow of ice into the ocean in Greenland have to date been held back by (i) a lack of understanding of how the flow responds to climate change (though it is thought that recent increases in ice flow are related to warmer ocean temperatures), and (ii) the high computational costs of running models of future ice flow into the ocean. The research proposed in this fellowship will offer novel solutions to these problems, increasing confidence in projections of sea level rise and freshwater flux from the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Specifically, I will develop a simple model for the transport of warm water from the ocean to the edge of the ice sheet, allowing us to quickly quantify the temperature of the ocean water which affects the ice sheet. I will also use datasets of ocean and air temperature and glacier behaviour from the past 100 years to develop simple relationships between glacier retreat and regional climate change. These two key developments will allow me to run computer simulations of the Greenland Ice Sheet which capture the flow of ice into the ocean, and its future evolution in a warming climate. With these computer simulations I will produce projections, with associated uncertainties, of future sea level rise and freshwater export into the North Atlantic from the Greenland Ice Sheet over the coming two centuries.
Planned Impact
Who will benefit?
The academic beneficiaries have been detailed above. Beyond academia, this project will benefit (i) those undertaking international sea level assessments and setting international climate policy, (ii) more local policymakers, (iii) the general public, both adults and younger audiences and (iv) secondary school students and teachers.
How will they benefit?
International sea level assessments and policy
This project will have a direct impact on future IPCC sea level estimates by producing projections of sea level contribution from the Greenland Ice Sheet over the coming centuries. Through quantifying one of the major sources of sea level rise, this project will benefit policy makers around the world who are seeking to make the best decisions to adapt to changing sea level. In particular the focus in this fellowship on producing probability distributions for sea level contribution from Greenland will allow policy makers to quantitatively plan for both medium and worst-case scenarios. I have the research network and involvement in current relevant efforts to ensure my results are communicated to the relevant communities (LoS Straneo, Nowicki).
Similarly, the most recent IPCC assessment report states "There is low confidence in assessing the evolution of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) beyond the 21st century because of the limited number of analyses and equivocal results." This fellowship will deliver projections of future freshwater flux from Greenland - a key input to studies of the future of the AMOC - thus contributing to improved understanding and greater confidence in the conclusions of future IPCC assessment reports on which international policy is based.
Local policymakers
Constraining major sources of global mean sea level is a vital input to more focused assessments of sea level impacts, for example studies projecting local sea level rise (which can differ substantially from the global mean) and those assessing coastal flooding risk in specific communities.
The general public: adults and younger audiences
Climate change is a problem which needs to be tackled by everyone. As a community, therefore, we need to ensure that we raise awareness of both our own research and wider climate issues. Indeed, recent protests calling for action on climate change have shown that there is real public interest in up to date information about how our planet is changing. Through a program of outreach activities tailored to both adults and younger audiences, this fellowship will help to educate the general public on ice sheet instability under climate change.
Secondary school students and teachers
I will work with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society to develop a case study that relates my research to the Curriculum for Excellence and to develop continuing professional development training for secondary school teachers in Scotland. This will help facilitate coverage of ice sheets and climate change in schools, and contribute to ensuring teachers are up to date on the science.
The activities that will help to realise these impacts are detailed in the Pathways to Impact document.
The academic beneficiaries have been detailed above. Beyond academia, this project will benefit (i) those undertaking international sea level assessments and setting international climate policy, (ii) more local policymakers, (iii) the general public, both adults and younger audiences and (iv) secondary school students and teachers.
How will they benefit?
International sea level assessments and policy
This project will have a direct impact on future IPCC sea level estimates by producing projections of sea level contribution from the Greenland Ice Sheet over the coming centuries. Through quantifying one of the major sources of sea level rise, this project will benefit policy makers around the world who are seeking to make the best decisions to adapt to changing sea level. In particular the focus in this fellowship on producing probability distributions for sea level contribution from Greenland will allow policy makers to quantitatively plan for both medium and worst-case scenarios. I have the research network and involvement in current relevant efforts to ensure my results are communicated to the relevant communities (LoS Straneo, Nowicki).
Similarly, the most recent IPCC assessment report states "There is low confidence in assessing the evolution of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) beyond the 21st century because of the limited number of analyses and equivocal results." This fellowship will deliver projections of future freshwater flux from Greenland - a key input to studies of the future of the AMOC - thus contributing to improved understanding and greater confidence in the conclusions of future IPCC assessment reports on which international policy is based.
Local policymakers
Constraining major sources of global mean sea level is a vital input to more focused assessments of sea level impacts, for example studies projecting local sea level rise (which can differ substantially from the global mean) and those assessing coastal flooding risk in specific communities.
The general public: adults and younger audiences
Climate change is a problem which needs to be tackled by everyone. As a community, therefore, we need to ensure that we raise awareness of both our own research and wider climate issues. Indeed, recent protests calling for action on climate change have shown that there is real public interest in up to date information about how our planet is changing. Through a program of outreach activities tailored to both adults and younger audiences, this fellowship will help to educate the general public on ice sheet instability under climate change.
Secondary school students and teachers
I will work with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society to develop a case study that relates my research to the Curriculum for Excellence and to develop continuing professional development training for secondary school teachers in Scotland. This will help facilitate coverage of ice sheets and climate change in schools, and contribute to ensuring teachers are up to date on the science.
The activities that will help to realise these impacts are detailed in the Pathways to Impact document.
Organisations
- University of Edinburgh (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Complutense University of Madrid (Collaboration)
- University of Colorado Boulder (Collaboration)
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF READING (Collaboration)
- University at Buffalo (Collaboration)
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (Collaboration)
- University of Texas at Austin (Collaboration)
- Atmospheric and Environmental Research (Collaboration)
- Oregon State University (Collaboration)
- University of Oregon (Collaboration)
- University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (Collaboration)
- Dartmouth College (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
- NORCE Norwegian Research Center AS (Collaboration)
- Monash University (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Donald Slater (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Cowton T
(2023)
Subglacial-Discharge Plumes Drive Widespread Subsurface Warming in Northwest Greenland's Fjords
in Geophysical Research Letters
Edwards TL
(2021)
Projected land ice contributions to twenty-first-century sea level rise.
in Nature
Hager A
(2024)
Local forcing mechanisms challenge parameterizations of ocean thermal forcing for Greenland tidewater glaciers
in The Cryosphere
Muilwijk M
(2022)
Export of Ice Sheet Meltwater from Upernavik Fjord, West Greenland
in Journal of Physical Oceanography
Oliver H
(2023)
Greenland Subglacial Discharge as a Driver of Hotspots of Increasing Coastal Chlorophyll Since the Early 2000s
in Geophysical Research Letters
Payne A
(2021)
Future Sea Level Change Under Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 and Phase 6 Scenarios From the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets
in Geophysical Research Letters
Sanchez R
(2023)
Delayed Freshwater Export from a Greenland Tidewater Glacial Fjord
in Journal of Physical Oceanography
Slater D
(2022)
Submarine melting of glaciers in Greenland amplified by atmospheric warming
in Nature Geoscience
Slater D
(2021)
Calving Multiplier Effect Controlled by Melt Undercut Geometry
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface
Slater D
(2022)
Characteristic Depths, Fluxes, and Timescales for Greenland's Tidewater Glacier Fjords From Subglacial Discharge-Driven Upwelling During Summer
in Geophysical Research Letters
Title | Outreach video as part of the British Science Festival 2021 |
Description | As part of being the 2021 British Science Festival Award Lecturer for Environmental Science (see Awards & Recognition section), I worked with the British Science Association and Two Cubed Creative to produce a short video on my research and its importance. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | Video has been viewed 230 times on YouTube and is remarked upon by students who have been interested in joining my group. |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntJPQgOKiJ0 |
Description | Citation in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment Report |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in systematic reviews |
URL | https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/ |
Description | Citation in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment Report |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in systematic reviews |
URL | https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/ |
Description | Fjord Dynamics and Modulation of Ice/Ocean Exchange |
Amount | £629,161 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/W00531X/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2022 |
End | 10/2025 |
Description | Will jammed icebergs reduce the sensitivity of the Greenland Ice Sheet to climate change? Entry |
Amount | £97,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2743978 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2022 |
End | 02/2026 |
Title | donaldaslater/fjords_GRL_2022: Slater_GRL_2022 |
Description | Code release on acceptance of paper: "Characteristic depths, fluxes and timescales for Greenland's tidewater glacier fjords from subglacial discharge-driven upwelling during summer", by Slater et al., published in Geophysical Research Letters, 2022. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | I am aware that this dataset is being used by a number of other researchers whose work is currently in progress or preparation for journal submission. |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/6498180 |
Title | donaldaslater/slater_2022_submelt: slater_2022_submelt |
Description | Code for Slater & Straneo 2022, Nature Geoscience, Submarine melting of glaciers in Greenland amplified by atmospheric warming |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This dataset is recently published and at this stage I am aware of one researcher who is using this in their work. |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/7113993 |
Description | Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network |
Organisation | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
Department | Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I sit on the steering committee of the Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network (GRISO), together with 7 others from the institutions listed above. GRISO is an International network of researchers concerned with the interaction of the Greenland Ice Sheet with the ocean. Together with the other members of the steering committee, I coordinate the activities and communications of the network. This includes the coordination of 5 working groups, representing the network at relevant International events and coordinating with the advisory board. I was co-principal organiser of the GRISO summer school 2022, which took 12 international PhD students & postdocs to Nuuk, Greenland, for a 2-week summer school on processes at the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet. I am also co-principal organiser of the joint ACDC-GRISO summer school 2023, which will take around 18 students to Disko Island, Greenland, for a similar 2-week summer school. |
Collaborator Contribution | My fellow members of the organising committee fulfill a similar role to me - we share out the tasks and responsibilities of running the network. |
Impact | The GRISO summer school took place in summer 2022 and full details are here: griso.ucsd.edu/griso-summer-school-2022. The joint ACDC-GRISO summer school will take place in summer 2023 and full details are here: https://griso.ucsd.edu/acdc-griso-summer-school-2023-past-and-future-changes-in-greenland-climate/ The identity of both summer schools is highly interdisciplinary and they cover glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems and social science. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network |
Organisation | University of Colorado Boulder |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I sit on the steering committee of the Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network (GRISO), together with 7 others from the institutions listed above. GRISO is an International network of researchers concerned with the interaction of the Greenland Ice Sheet with the ocean. Together with the other members of the steering committee, I coordinate the activities and communications of the network. This includes the coordination of 5 working groups, representing the network at relevant International events and coordinating with the advisory board. I was co-principal organiser of the GRISO summer school 2022, which took 12 international PhD students & postdocs to Nuuk, Greenland, for a 2-week summer school on processes at the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet. I am also co-principal organiser of the joint ACDC-GRISO summer school 2023, which will take around 18 students to Disko Island, Greenland, for a similar 2-week summer school. |
Collaborator Contribution | My fellow members of the organising committee fulfill a similar role to me - we share out the tasks and responsibilities of running the network. |
Impact | The GRISO summer school took place in summer 2022 and full details are here: griso.ucsd.edu/griso-summer-school-2022. The joint ACDC-GRISO summer school will take place in summer 2023 and full details are here: https://griso.ucsd.edu/acdc-griso-summer-school-2023-past-and-future-changes-in-greenland-climate/ The identity of both summer schools is highly interdisciplinary and they cover glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems and social science. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network |
Organisation | University of Oregon |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I sit on the steering committee of the Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network (GRISO), together with 7 others from the institutions listed above. GRISO is an International network of researchers concerned with the interaction of the Greenland Ice Sheet with the ocean. Together with the other members of the steering committee, I coordinate the activities and communications of the network. This includes the coordination of 5 working groups, representing the network at relevant International events and coordinating with the advisory board. I was co-principal organiser of the GRISO summer school 2022, which took 12 international PhD students & postdocs to Nuuk, Greenland, for a 2-week summer school on processes at the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet. I am also co-principal organiser of the joint ACDC-GRISO summer school 2023, which will take around 18 students to Disko Island, Greenland, for a similar 2-week summer school. |
Collaborator Contribution | My fellow members of the organising committee fulfill a similar role to me - we share out the tasks and responsibilities of running the network. |
Impact | The GRISO summer school took place in summer 2022 and full details are here: griso.ucsd.edu/griso-summer-school-2022. The joint ACDC-GRISO summer school will take place in summer 2023 and full details are here: https://griso.ucsd.edu/acdc-griso-summer-school-2023-past-and-future-changes-in-greenland-climate/ The identity of both summer schools is highly interdisciplinary and they cover glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems and social science. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network |
Organisation | University of Texas at Austin |
Department | Oden Institue |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I sit on the steering committee of the Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network (GRISO), together with 7 others from the institutions listed above. GRISO is an International network of researchers concerned with the interaction of the Greenland Ice Sheet with the ocean. Together with the other members of the steering committee, I coordinate the activities and communications of the network. This includes the coordination of 5 working groups, representing the network at relevant International events and coordinating with the advisory board. I was co-principal organiser of the GRISO summer school 2022, which took 12 international PhD students & postdocs to Nuuk, Greenland, for a 2-week summer school on processes at the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet. I am also co-principal organiser of the joint ACDC-GRISO summer school 2023, which will take around 18 students to Disko Island, Greenland, for a similar 2-week summer school. |
Collaborator Contribution | My fellow members of the organising committee fulfill a similar role to me - we share out the tasks and responsibilities of running the network. |
Impact | The GRISO summer school took place in summer 2022 and full details are here: griso.ucsd.edu/griso-summer-school-2022. The joint ACDC-GRISO summer school will take place in summer 2023 and full details are here: https://griso.ucsd.edu/acdc-griso-summer-school-2023-past-and-future-changes-in-greenland-climate/ The identity of both summer schools is highly interdisciplinary and they cover glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems and social science. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability |
Organisation | Complutense University of Madrid |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a collaborator on the Norwegian-funded project Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability (GREASE), led by PI Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. My role is to provide an improved calving parameterisation for simulations of the response of the Greenland Ice sheet to climate. |
Collaborator Contribution | The main collaborator is the team of Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. They will be responsible for designing and running the Greenland Ice sheet simulations that form the main part of the project. The other collaborators largely provide oversight and more general guidance. |
Impact | The main outcomes so far are (A) a week-long visit by me to Bergen in November 2021 to advance my role in the project. This was funded by the GREASE project and during the week I gave a seminar in Bergen and discussed my part of the project with the PI Heiko Goelzer. (B) A return week-long visit in March 2023 by Heiko Goelzer to Edinburgh to further progress the implementation of the calving law in the ice sheet model. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability |
Organisation | NORCE Norwegian Research Center AS |
Country | Norway |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a collaborator on the Norwegian-funded project Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability (GREASE), led by PI Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. My role is to provide an improved calving parameterisation for simulations of the response of the Greenland Ice sheet to climate. |
Collaborator Contribution | The main collaborator is the team of Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. They will be responsible for designing and running the Greenland Ice sheet simulations that form the main part of the project. The other collaborators largely provide oversight and more general guidance. |
Impact | The main outcomes so far are (A) a week-long visit by me to Bergen in November 2021 to advance my role in the project. This was funded by the GREASE project and during the week I gave a seminar in Bergen and discussed my part of the project with the PI Heiko Goelzer. (B) A return week-long visit in March 2023 by Heiko Goelzer to Edinburgh to further progress the implementation of the calving law in the ice sheet model. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability |
Organisation | University at Buffalo |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a collaborator on the Norwegian-funded project Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability (GREASE), led by PI Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. My role is to provide an improved calving parameterisation for simulations of the response of the Greenland Ice sheet to climate. |
Collaborator Contribution | The main collaborator is the team of Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. They will be responsible for designing and running the Greenland Ice sheet simulations that form the main part of the project. The other collaborators largely provide oversight and more general guidance. |
Impact | The main outcomes so far are (A) a week-long visit by me to Bergen in November 2021 to advance my role in the project. This was funded by the GREASE project and during the week I gave a seminar in Bergen and discussed my part of the project with the PI Heiko Goelzer. (B) A return week-long visit in March 2023 by Heiko Goelzer to Edinburgh to further progress the implementation of the calving law in the ice sheet model. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability |
Organisation | University of Reading |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a collaborator on the Norwegian-funded project Greenland Ice sheet evolution and stability (GREASE), led by PI Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. My role is to provide an improved calving parameterisation for simulations of the response of the Greenland Ice sheet to climate. |
Collaborator Contribution | The main collaborator is the team of Heiko Goelzer at NORCE. They will be responsible for designing and running the Greenland Ice sheet simulations that form the main part of the project. The other collaborators largely provide oversight and more general guidance. |
Impact | The main outcomes so far are (A) a week-long visit by me to Bergen in November 2021 to advance my role in the project. This was funded by the GREASE project and during the week I gave a seminar in Bergen and discussed my part of the project with the PI Heiko Goelzer. (B) A return week-long visit in March 2023 by Heiko Goelzer to Edinburgh to further progress the implementation of the calving law in the ice sheet model. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Joint Commission on Ice-Ocean interactions |
Organisation | Monash University |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I sit on the steering committee of the Joint Commission on Ice-Ocean interactions (JCIOI), a working group of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). My role is as vice chair. |
Collaborator Contribution | Similar to me - the steering committee members all equally contribute to the working group. |
Impact | So far we have agreed the personnel and terms of reference for the working group. We organised an online workshop that took place over 3 days in October 2022. The workshop aimed to summarise the current state of the art in ice-ocean science and to identify key knowledge gaps and problems areas for future research focus. We had 8 invited speakers who are the leaders in their fields to summarise the state of the science, and followed this with structured discussion sessions. The workshop was attended by over 100 international researchers. From this workshop we are preparing a white paper that will summarise the key learnings and knowledge gaps. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Joint Commission on Ice-Ocean interactions |
Organisation | University of Liverpool |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I sit on the steering committee of the Joint Commission on Ice-Ocean interactions (JCIOI), a working group of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). My role is as vice chair. |
Collaborator Contribution | Similar to me - the steering committee members all equally contribute to the working group. |
Impact | So far we have agreed the personnel and terms of reference for the working group. We organised an online workshop that took place over 3 days in October 2022. The workshop aimed to summarise the current state of the art in ice-ocean science and to identify key knowledge gaps and problems areas for future research focus. We had 8 invited speakers who are the leaders in their fields to summarise the state of the science, and followed this with structured discussion sessions. The workshop was attended by over 100 international researchers. From this workshop we are preparing a white paper that will summarise the key learnings and knowledge gaps. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Participation in US NSF Navigating the New Arctic Award |
Organisation | Atmospheric and Environmental Research |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I played a significant role in the funding application that was ultimately funded under the US National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Program. The project is titled "Global changes, local impacts: Study of glacial fjords, ecosystems and communities in Greenland" with award number NSF 2127241. My role in the project is to provide datasets and expertise on ice-ocean interactions. I will also participate in fieldwork in SE Greenland in summer 2023. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators bring similar attributes to me but from different disciplines. The project is highly interdisciplinary (glaciers, oceans, ecosystems, fisheries, communities) and requires many different skill sets brought by a large team of collaborators. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems, fisheries and social science. There is fieldwork taking place in summer 2023 and so far one published output: Straneo et al 2022, An interdisciplinary perspective on Greenland's changing coastal margins, Oceanography, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2022.128 (also reported in the publications section). |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Participation in US NSF Navigating the New Arctic Award |
Organisation | Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences |
Country | United States |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | I played a significant role in the funding application that was ultimately funded under the US National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Program. The project is titled "Global changes, local impacts: Study of glacial fjords, ecosystems and communities in Greenland" with award number NSF 2127241. My role in the project is to provide datasets and expertise on ice-ocean interactions. I will also participate in fieldwork in SE Greenland in summer 2023. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators bring similar attributes to me but from different disciplines. The project is highly interdisciplinary (glaciers, oceans, ecosystems, fisheries, communities) and requires many different skill sets brought by a large team of collaborators. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems, fisheries and social science. There is fieldwork taking place in summer 2023 and so far one published output: Straneo et al 2022, An interdisciplinary perspective on Greenland's changing coastal margins, Oceanography, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2022.128 (also reported in the publications section). |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Participation in US NSF Navigating the New Arctic Award |
Organisation | Dartmouth College |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I played a significant role in the funding application that was ultimately funded under the US National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Program. The project is titled "Global changes, local impacts: Study of glacial fjords, ecosystems and communities in Greenland" with award number NSF 2127241. My role in the project is to provide datasets and expertise on ice-ocean interactions. I will also participate in fieldwork in SE Greenland in summer 2023. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators bring similar attributes to me but from different disciplines. The project is highly interdisciplinary (glaciers, oceans, ecosystems, fisheries, communities) and requires many different skill sets brought by a large team of collaborators. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems, fisheries and social science. There is fieldwork taking place in summer 2023 and so far one published output: Straneo et al 2022, An interdisciplinary perspective on Greenland's changing coastal margins, Oceanography, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2022.128 (also reported in the publications section). |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Participation in US NSF Navigating the New Arctic Award |
Organisation | Greenland Institute of Natural Resources |
Country | Greenland |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I played a significant role in the funding application that was ultimately funded under the US National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Program. The project is titled "Global changes, local impacts: Study of glacial fjords, ecosystems and communities in Greenland" with award number NSF 2127241. My role in the project is to provide datasets and expertise on ice-ocean interactions. I will also participate in fieldwork in SE Greenland in summer 2023. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators bring similar attributes to me but from different disciplines. The project is highly interdisciplinary (glaciers, oceans, ecosystems, fisheries, communities) and requires many different skill sets brought by a large team of collaborators. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems, fisheries and social science. There is fieldwork taking place in summer 2023 and so far one published output: Straneo et al 2022, An interdisciplinary perspective on Greenland's changing coastal margins, Oceanography, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2022.128 (also reported in the publications section). |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Participation in US NSF Navigating the New Arctic Award |
Organisation | Oregon State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I played a significant role in the funding application that was ultimately funded under the US National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Program. The project is titled "Global changes, local impacts: Study of glacial fjords, ecosystems and communities in Greenland" with award number NSF 2127241. My role in the project is to provide datasets and expertise on ice-ocean interactions. I will also participate in fieldwork in SE Greenland in summer 2023. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators bring similar attributes to me but from different disciplines. The project is highly interdisciplinary (glaciers, oceans, ecosystems, fisheries, communities) and requires many different skill sets brought by a large team of collaborators. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems, fisheries and social science. There is fieldwork taking place in summer 2023 and so far one published output: Straneo et al 2022, An interdisciplinary perspective on Greenland's changing coastal margins, Oceanography, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2022.128 (also reported in the publications section). |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Participation in US NSF Navigating the New Arctic Award |
Organisation | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
Department | Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I played a significant role in the funding application that was ultimately funded under the US National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Program. The project is titled "Global changes, local impacts: Study of glacial fjords, ecosystems and communities in Greenland" with award number NSF 2127241. My role in the project is to provide datasets and expertise on ice-ocean interactions. I will also participate in fieldwork in SE Greenland in summer 2023. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators bring similar attributes to me but from different disciplines. The project is highly interdisciplinary (glaciers, oceans, ecosystems, fisheries, communities) and requires many different skill sets brought by a large team of collaborators. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems, fisheries and social science. There is fieldwork taking place in summer 2023 and so far one published output: Straneo et al 2022, An interdisciplinary perspective on Greenland's changing coastal margins, Oceanography, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2022.128 (also reported in the publications section). |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Participation in US NSF Navigating the New Arctic Award |
Organisation | University of Oregon |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I played a significant role in the funding application that was ultimately funded under the US National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Program. The project is titled "Global changes, local impacts: Study of glacial fjords, ecosystems and communities in Greenland" with award number NSF 2127241. My role in the project is to provide datasets and expertise on ice-ocean interactions. I will also participate in fieldwork in SE Greenland in summer 2023. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators bring similar attributes to me but from different disciplines. The project is highly interdisciplinary (glaciers, oceans, ecosystems, fisheries, communities) and requires many different skill sets brought by a large team of collaborators. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems, fisheries and social science. There is fieldwork taking place in summer 2023 and so far one published output: Straneo et al 2022, An interdisciplinary perspective on Greenland's changing coastal margins, Oceanography, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2022.128 (also reported in the publications section). |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | British Science Festival 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I spoke at the British Science Festival in Chelmsford in September 2021. The format was a 1-on-1 interview in front of an audience consisting of the general public. I spoke about my research and its importance. This generated discussion among interested members of the general public after the talk, and my talk was referenced in an article in the Financial Times. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://britishsciencefestival.org/are-polar-ice-sheets-on-the-rocks/ |
Description | Joint Commission on Ice Ocean Interactions: Online workshop on ice-ocean interaction |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As part of my role as vice chair of the Joint Commission on Ice Ocean Interactions, I (together with the other commission members) organised an online workshop that took place over 3 days in October 2022. The workshop aimed to summarise the current state of the art in ice-ocean science and to identify key knowledge gaps and problems areas for future research focus. We had 8 invited speakers who are the leaders in their fields to summarise the state of the science, and followed this with structured discussion sessions. The workshop was attended by over 100 international researchers. From this workshop we are preparing a white paper that will summarise the key learnings and knowledge gaps, including in the research area covered by my NERC fellowship. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-K08KQA86pNh5oLHNZU0Hw |
Description | Organisation and leading of an interdisciplinary summer school in Greenland, 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was co-principal organiser and lecturer of the Greenland Ice Sheet Ocean Network (GRISO) summer school 2022, which took 12 international PhD students & postdocs to Nuuk, Greenland, for a 2-week summer school on processes at the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Together with fellow lecturers, we covered science topics such as glaciology, oceanography, ecosystems and social science. The students also visited field sites, saw glacial fjords and interacted with local researchers. The students reported learning about the science, about how to ethically conduct science in Greenland, and that the summer school had given them a strong early career network. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://griso.ucsd.edu/griso-summer-school-2022/ |
Description | Press release associated with high profile paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | This was a press release by the University of Edinburgh associated with the publication of a first author paper in Nature Geoscience: Submarine melting of glaciers in Greenland amplified by atmospheric warming. The press release is here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2022/vast-ice-sheet-facing-climate-fight-on-two-fronts. The press release led to 220 pieces of individual media, including UK newspapers such as The Independent, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Herald, The Metro, The Scotsman, and also international outlets such as Bloomberg and Scientific American. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Press release for British Science Festival Award Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | As part of my participation in the British Science Festival 2021, the University of Edinburgh made a press release announcing my participation |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/news/school?item=1527 |
Description | Press release for the start of my research fellowship |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The University of Edinburgh press office released a press release to advertise the start of my NERC Independent Research Fellowship. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/news/school?item=1516 |
Description | Research seminar at the University of Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a research seminar within the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh in November 2021. I received feedback and questions on my work and informed other researchers of my findings. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Seminar at the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a research seminar at the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway in November 2021. I received feedback and questions on my work and informed other researchers of my findings. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Seminar at the University of St Andrews |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a research seminar at the University of St Andrews in October 2021. I received feedback and questions on my work and informed other researchers of my findings. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Talk at art exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Upright Gallery in Edinburgh had a launch event for an exhibition featuring two artists whose art centered on the themes of ice and climate change. I spoke at the launch event to provide the physical science context for their work. The audience reported feeling engaged and informed by the talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://vimeo.com/647361758?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=67944672 |