About the Project
Project Overview
As the Arctic warms due to rising greenhouse gas concentrations, a significant decline in sea ice extent is projected, accompanied by increased Arctic precipitation—particularly in the form of rain during autumn and early winter. These changes are expected to have profound impacts on the structure and thickness of Arctic sea ice.
The Eco-ICE project explores whether interventions that pump seawater onto the ice surface could counteract sea ice decline by encouraging wintertime ice thickening. When seawater is pumped onto sea ice, it infiltrates the snow layer, forming slush that may then freeze, thickening the underlying ice. As highlighted by Pauling and Bitz (2021), this is analogous to rain falling on the snow layer. The response of the sea ice system to such flooding—whether from increasing natural rainfall or intervention—holds important implications for Arctic feedbacks, both physical and ecological.
This PhD project will quantify the role of the timing, location, and nature of snow flooding in influencing Arctic sea ice thickness. Building on recent modelling work (e.g. Pauling and Bitz, 2021), the student will simulate both regional and pan-Arctic flooding scenarios. Particular attention will be given to the sensitivity of different regions, to evaluate whether certain locations—such as those prone to melt pond formation—are especially responsive to autumn thickening. In a wider context these model simulations are meant to improve our understanding of the fate of Arctic sea ice in response to the dominant positive and negative feedback processes.
Key Research Questions
- Where is Arctic sea ice most sensitive to changes in autumn and winter ice growth, and are there “hotspot” regions for thickening, such as where melt-ponds form in summer?
- What are the projected increases in autumn/winter rainfall, and how will they affect regional and Arctic-wide ice thickness?
- What is the relative importance of autumn and winter ice growth versus summer melt in determining long-term ice survival?
- How does the redistribution of artificially thickened ice influence ocean-ice-atmosphere interactions and ecological conditions?
Methods and Approach
The student will use state-of-the-art climate and sea ice modelling tools to assess sensitivity to flooding and rainfall -driven ice thickening:
- Atmosphere-forced Ocean – Sea Ice – Ocean Biogeochemistry Model (NEMO-SI3-MEDUSA) simulations: Historical baseline and targeted sensitivity experiments involving surface flooding with seawater across a range of spatial scales (e.g., 10 m to 100 km), examining effects on ice growth over days to seasons.
- Reduced UK Earth System Model (UKESM2) configurations (including NEMO, SI3, MEDUSA): Coupled experiments for selected cases showing significant impact in 1), to explore feedbacks in a more integrated climate system framework, focussing on seasonal to decadal timescales.
The project will assess whether thickening leads to persistent changes in the sea ice and underlying ocean, with relevance both for climate understanding and climate intervention evaluation. The origin and demise of the sea ice will also be investigated using newly developed water tracers throughout the coupled UKESM (McLaren et al. 2025).
The basic model architecture exists and there is strong support from the supervisors with decades of developing and using these models within the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM), the Met Office and BAS.
Training Opportunities
The student will join the interdisciplinary Eco-ICE team, comprising experts in sea ice, biogeochemistry, and climate modelling and intervention. They will gain hands-on experience with numerical modelling, data analysis, and research communication. Collaboration with groups at BAS-Cambridge, CPOM-Reading, Oxford, the MetOffice-Exeter, and Paris and regular engagement with international modelling efforts will support skill development in sea ice, climate system science and model development.
The PhD student will be partly based at both the British Antarctic Survey and in the Department of Meteorology at University of Reading and will benefit from the Reading PhD induction programme, a collaborative supervisory and monitoring team in a supportive and inclusive research environment.
At BAS the student will join the Earth System Modelling group of 10 working on polar climate and sea ice, which is a part of the large 40 person Ice Dynamics and Paleoclimate Team, both led by Dr Sime. The student will join the CPOM sea ice modelling group led by Prof. Feltham, a collection of 8 researchers working in closely related areas, which is itself a part of the larger Arctic group in the department of some 25 active researchers. There are regular meetings of these groups with the opportunity to present and receive feedback on research.
Student Profile
We welcome applications from candidates with a background in physics, applied mathematics, engineering, physical geography or environmental sciences or computer science. Strong programming skills and a keen interest in climate dynamics are essential. Prior experience with numerical modelling, sea ice, or oceanography is desirable but not required; training will be provided. Applicants are required to have at least a 2:1 in an honours degree from a UK university or equivalent standard from an overseas university.
How to apply
Enquiries in the first instance can be made to the lead supervisors. Formal applications must be submitted through Reading University using the Apply for a programme link and quoting reference number DRC25-09 by 18th July 2025. Applications cannot be accepted outside of this process. We welcome applications from underrepresented and minority groups.
Funding Notes
The studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years at the UKRI 25/26 equivalent for maintenance currently ÂŁ20,780 p.a. and tuition fees at ÂŁ5,006 p.a. Due to the nature of the funding, this opportunity is only open to candidates from the UK/Repulic of Ireland.
References
• Pauling, A.G., & Bitz, C.M. (2021). Arctic Sea Ice Response to Flooding of the Snow Layer in Future Warming Scenarios. Earths Future, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002136
• McLaren, Alison , Sime, Louise , Wilson, Simon, Ridley, Jeff, Gao, Qinggang , Gorguner, Merve, Line, Giorgia, Werner, Martin, Valdes, Paul. (2025) Implementation of Water Tracers in the Met Office Unified Model [EGUsphere preprint]. Geoscientific Model Development. https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2025/egusphere-2024-3824/
