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Narelle van der Wel (Baker) B.A., B.Sc. (Hons.)

PhD Student

Narelle's research is based on the development and testing of a subglacial hydrological model for the West Antarctic ice streams.

Biography

Narelle studied both human and physical geography at the University of Western Australia from 1999-2001. It was here, in the most unlikely of places, that she developed an interest in glaciology, particularly in relation to the sensitivity of ice masses to climate change. She then returned to her native New Zealand and furthered her studies in glaciology, atmospheric science, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), completing a B.Sc. with First Class Honours at the University of Canterbury in 2004.

In late 2004 Narelle was selected to participate in the Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies (GCAS) summer school program run by Gateway Antarctica at the University of Canterbury. This included a field work component in Antarctica, which served to further promote her interest in polar regions.

In 2005 Narelle was awarded a 2005-06 Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Fellowship to undertake six months research on ice sheet modelling at the Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol. This completed, she took up a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Special Prince of Wales' Scholarship and a Trinity College Overseas Research Studentship to enable her to undertake her PhD at Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge beginning April 2006.

Qualifications

Ph.D. Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge (Trinity College), UK (2006 - present).
Karthaus Summer School 2007: Glaciers in the Climate System (11-22 September 2007)
Geophysical and Environmental Fluid Dynamics Summer School, Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Cambridge, UK (10-23 September 2006).
Grad. Cert. in Antarctic Studies, University of Canterbury, NZ (2005)
B.Sc. (Hons.) (First class) in Geography, University of Canterbury, NZ (2004).
Grad. Dip. in Science (Geography), University of Canterbury, NZ (2003).
B.A. in Geography, Political Science and Italian, University of Western Australia, Australia (2001).

Research

Broad research interests

Behaviour and history of past and present ice sheets
Subglacial processes and the flow of ice
Numerical modelling of ice dynamics and hydrological processes
Remote sensing of the cryosphere
The role of the cryosphere in Earth's climate system

Specific research themes

Subglacial processes and their control on glacier motion
Fast glacier-flow and its influence on the mass balance of ice masses
Movement of and ponding of water beneath polar ice sheets

Publications

Selected publications

Baker, N. P. M, (2004). Satellite Remote Sensing of Sea Ice: A Synthetic Aperture Radar Classification of Coastal Ross Sea Regions, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1999-2004, B.Sc. (Hons.) Thesis, University of Canterbury.

Teaching

Supervisor and Demonstrator, Geography Department, University of Cambridge (2006-ongoing), Geography Tripos Part IA (Environmental Processes, Environmental Change through Time, Spatial Data (GIS/Remote Sensing), Part IB (Earth Observation, Glacial Processes, Landforms and Sediment, Glacier Modelling, Part II (Glacial Environments).
Supervisor, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol (2005-6), Physical Geography (glaciology, hydrology, atmosphere).
Demonstrator, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol (2005-6), Satellite Remote Sensing.
Teaching Assistant, School of Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington (2005), Antarctic Studies.
Demonstrator, Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Weather Systems, Environmental Hazards and Management.

External activities

Council Member: Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) (2007-ongoing).
Treasurer: Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) (2007-2008).
Funding Coordinator: UK Polar Network (2007-2008).
Member: International Glaciological Society (2007-ongoing).
Organiser: Global Land Ice Measurement from Space (GLIMS)/ Snow and Ice Research Group (SIRG) (NZ) Workshop, February 2006. Twizel, NZ.
Organiser: Global Land Ice Measurement from Space (GLIMS) Workshop, August 2006. Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, UK.