P11: Interannual and decadal variability of sea ice concentration, drift, and thickness in the Weddell Sea
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. P. Lemke (AWI/Uni Bremen)
Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. C. Haas (University of Alberta), Dr. Ralph Timmermann (AWI)
Related Partners: Dr. Hartmut Hellmer (AWI), Dr. Sergey Danilov (AWI)
In contrast to its strongly shrinking counterpart in the Arctic, the extent of Antarctic sea ice has been stagnant or even slightly increasing in the last two decades. This calls for an in-depth study of the variability of Antarctic sea ice and the underlying causes.
The Alfred Wegener Institute has gained new insights into the variability of ice thickness and drift from satellite radar measurements of ice types and extensive ice thickness measurements performed during two expeditions to the Weddell Sea. Based on this, the project will revisit older ice thickness and drift data to relate changes in these sea ice properties to the variability of wind and air temperature forcing. This will reveal how large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns like the Southern Annular Mode affect ice thickness and drift in the Weddell Sea, and consequently freshwater fluxes.
The study will use in-situ and satellite data, complemented by the results from a finite-element coupled sea ice-ocean model of the Weddell Sea. The main in-situ data source will be ice thickness profiles from upward-looking sonar (ULS) and airborne electromagnetic profiling (EM) and ice drift data from drifting buoys of the International Program for Antarctic Buoys (IPAB). These will be complemented by new ULS and fixed-wing EM data acquired during the project period. Ice concentration, ice type, and ice drift will be derived from passive microwave and scatterometer satellite data. Model simulations will be used to quantify variability on different time scales.
Working on this topic demands degree in physics, meteorology, or oceanography and background in ocean-ice-atmosphere processes and analysis of 2-or 3-dimensional model or remote sensing data. We also expect some interest in the participation of field work.
For further information or questions please contact:
Prof. Dr. C. Haas ([email protected]) or Dr. R. Timmermann ([email protected])
Related links:
Sea ice research at AWI :
http://www.awi.de/en/research/research_divisions/climate_science/sea_ice_physics
Antarctic Sea Ice Thickness Project:
International Antarctic Buoy Program (IPAB): http://www.ipab.aq
Antarctic Sea Ice PRocesses and Climate : http://www.aspect.aq
National and International Collaborators:
Prof. Dr. Lars Kaleschke (University of Hamburg)
Dr. Georg Heygster (University Bremen)
Dr. Leif Toudal (Danish Meteorological Institute)
Dr. Seymour Laxon (University College London)
Dr. Tony Worby (University of Tasmania)
Please indicate project P11, when applying for this topic.