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Scott Polar Research Institute - Physical Sciences Seminar
Seminars on polar physical sciences are held at the Scott Polar Research Institute during the Michaelmas, Lent and Easter terms. The seminars typically take place on Wednesdays between 16.30 and 17.30 and are held in the main lecture room, which can be accessed via the polar museum. Doors are open to public and all are welcome.
View the archive of previous seminars.
- # Wednesday 27th February 2013, 4.30pm - Dr Kathryn Rose, British Antarctic Survey
- Early East Antarctic Ice Sheet Growth Recorded in the Landscape of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains
- Venue: Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre
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The Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains are regarded as a key nucleation site for the Antarctic ice sheet and, as such, may retain a unique long-term record of pre-glacial and early glacial landscape evolution. Here, we use a range of morphometric analyses to constrain the nature of early glaciation and subsequent ice sheet evolution in the interior of East Antarctica, using a new digital elevation model of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, derived from an extensive airborne radar survey. We find that an inherited fluvial landscape confirms the existence of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains prior to the onset of glaciation at the Eocene-Oligocene climate boundary (ca. 34 Ma). Features characteristic of glaciation, at a range of scales, are evident across the mountains. High elevation alpine valley heads, akin to cirques, identified along the mountain ridge, are interpreted as evidence for early phases of glaciation in East Antarctica. The equilibrium line altitudes associated with these features, combined with information from fossil plant assemblages, suggests that they formed at, or prior to, 34 Ma. It cannot be ruled out that they may have been eroded by ephemeral ice between the Late Cretaceous and the Eocene (100-34 Ma). Hanging valleys, overdeepenings, truncated spurs and steep-sided, linear valley networks are indicative of a more widespread alpine glaciation in this region. These features represent ice growth at the latest 33.7 Ma and provide a minimum estimate for the scale of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet between ca. 34-14 Ma, when dynamic fluctuations in ice extent are recorded at the coast of Antarctica. The implications are that the early East Antarctic Ice Sheet grew rapidly and developed a cold-based core that preserved the alpine landscape. The patterns of landscape evolution identified provide the earliest evidence for the development of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and can be used to test coupled ice-climate evolution models.
- # Wednesday 13th March 2013, 4.30pm - Dr Eero Rinne, Finnish Meteorological Institute
- Sea Ice Research at Finnish Meteorological Institute – from Ice Charts to Climate Studies
- Venue: Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre
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Every Finnish harbor gets ice blocked even during a mild winter. Thus understanding sea ice is extremely important and there is a call for high quality sea ice research. The sea ice research group at Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) conducts research on remote sensing and forecast models for sea ice, and develops charting methods and ice forecasts. Our core objective is to produce reliable and user relevant information on sea ice. The end users range from those involved in winter navigation and offshore activities to policymakers and the general public in ice-covered sea regions.
For ice charting, we use earth observation data obtained from current EO satellites as well as develop new methods for future satellites. I will present some of our currently operational products, such as Baltic Sea ice charts and forecasts. I will also introduce novel sea ice thickness retrieval methods combining data from satellite synthetic aperture radar, passive microwave and optical sensors and ice models. I will also give a short overview of model development concerning sea ice dynamics – particularly from the viewpoint of ice compression felt by a ship navigating through ice.
FMI is also involved in reanalysis of long satellite data series. As part of the European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative we will reprocess the radar altimeter measurements from ERS-1, ERS-2 and EnviSAT satellites. We will build an “Essential Climate Variable” product of sea ice thickness covering the Arctic and spanning the winters 1993 – 2012. I will present the algorithms used in altimeter sea ice thickness retrieval, introduce our prototype sea ice thickness processor and finally seek answers to some open questions concerning the sea ice thickness retrieval.
- # Wednesday 24th April 2013, 4.30pm - Dr Neil Ross, Newcastle University
- Title to be confirmed
- Venue: Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre
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Abstract not available
- # Wednesday 8th May 2013, 4.30pm - Dr Camilla Andresen, GEUS
- Title to be confirmed
- Venue: Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre
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Abstract not available
- # Wednesday 22nd May 2013, 4.30pm - Dr Jonathan Carrivick, Leeds University
- Title to be confirmed
- Venue: Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre
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Abstract not available
- # Wednesday 5th June 2013, 4.30pm - Dr Suzanne Bevan, Swansea University
- Title to be confirmed
- Venue: Scott Polar Research Institute, main lecture theatre
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Abstract not available