Project description
Anisotropic ice-sheet model to reduce uncertainty in sea-level rise
While the Antarctic ice sheet is crucial to sea-level projections, current models overlook its anisotropy, which affects its viscosity and sliding behaviour. Advances in radar technology can help to resolve these modelling challenges. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NumAniso project will enhance anisotropic models by incorporating numerical stabilisation techniques and radar data refinement. This will enable more accurate simulations in areas with fast-flowing and floating ice, where existing models struggle with stability. The project will develop a more precise ice-sheet model to reduce uncertainty in sea-level rise. Leveraging the British Antarctic Survey’s network of experts, the researcher will navigate the challenges of anisotropic ice-flow modelling, becoming an expert in the field.
Objective
The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest source of uncertainty in sea-level projections, highlighting the need for significant improvements in model physics, including the internal friction of ice, known as its viscosity. Large-scale ice-sheet models currently misrepresent the viscosity of ice by neglecting key physical properties, which can significantly affect ice-sheet simulations. Similar to how cards in a deck can easily slip against each other in one direction compared to trying to split the deck in another direction, ice slips up to 60 times more easily in one direction due to its crystal structure. Despite this substantial difference, large-scale ice-sheet models do not account for this direction-dependent sliding, known as anisotropy. Although extensive literature on the implementation of anisotropy in ice-flow models exists, development and widespread application has been delayed by numerical issues and a lack of observational data. However, recent advances in radar technology, capable of measuring ice crystal structure have shifted the focus towards resolving the remaining numerical issues associated with anisotropic ice-flow modelling. This project builds on existing anisotropic models by implementing numerical stabilisation schemes and using radar data to constrain the model, enabling simulations of areas where current anisotropic models face numerical instability, particularly in fast-flowing and floating ice. A long-term impact is to reduce sea-level rise uncertainty by providing an ice-sheet model that is physically more accurate and numerically stable. The project will benefit from BAS’s strong network of ice-sheet modelling experts, providing the necessary support to effectively tackle the complexity of anisotropic ice-flow modelling. Building on expertise in Numerical Mathematics, Scientific Computing and Geophysics, the project will position the researcher as an emergent expert in anisotropic ice-flow and next-generation forecast modelling.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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SN2 1FL SWINDON
United Kingdom
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