About the Project
Project Overview:
Freshwater has been accumulating in the Arctic Ocean for decades. Its sudden release could disrupt the AMOC and alter global climate. This project will investigate the processes controlling Arctic freshwater release, improving predictions of future changes in North Atlantic circulation and their impacts on European and global weather.
Project Description:
Since the 1990s, freshwater has been accumulating in the Arctic Ocean, driven by strong winds and declining sea ice cover. This build-up plateaued in the late 2000s, raising important questions about whether a large-scale release could occur in the coming years. Such an event would have profound implications, as a sudden freshwater outflow into the North Atlantic could destabilize the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key component of Earth’s climate system. This project aims to determine whether Arctic freshwater can be released in significant quantities and to identify the processes that control its storage, transport, and variability across polar-subpolar latitudes. To achieve this, the research will integrate multiple datasets: (i) oceanographic measurements, including in situ hydrographic and velocity data alongside satellite observations of sea level, currents, temperature, salinity, and steric height; (ii) sea ice properties, such as satellite-derived estimates of volume and motion; and (iii) atmospheric reanalysis products, including winds and surface air temperature. Analytical approaches will include Empirical Orthogonal Functions and Machine Learning, enabling the candidate to investigate the drivers of spatial and temporal variability in freshwater fluxes and their impacts on North Atlantic circulation. The candidate will benefit from multidisciplinary supervision, with expertise in oceanography at the National Oceanography Centre and Harvard University, and sea ice/remote sensing at University College London. The expected outcomes are an improved understanding of the mechanisms controlling freshwater variability in the Arctic–North Atlantic system and the provision of critical knowledge to policymakers developing mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to AMOC change.
This project will be located in Southampton.
Training:
The IGNITE programme provides comprehensive personal and professional development training alongside extensive opportunities for students to expand their multi-disciplinary outlook through interactions with a wide network of academic, research and industrial/policy partners.
The students will receive training in: – Programming in Python and other programming languages; – Oceanographic and remote sensing data processing; – Knowledge and interpretation of dynamical oceanography; – Opportunities for participating in seagoing expeditions; – Potential to analyse realistic ocean model fields; – Presenting research findings at national and international conferences.
Entry Requirements:
A UK bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours or higher in a relevant subject. See international equivalent qualifications on the University’s website: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/international/entry-qualification-equivalencies. English language: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components. We accept other English language tests: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page
How to apply:
All applications to the IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award should be submitted by 11:59pm on Thursday 8th January 2026. Please use the following link to apply for either the full time or part time programme:
We advise you to contact the lead supervisor of a project to discuss the project and check your suitability before submitting an application. You are strongly advised to apply for one project so that you can tailor your application to the project but you can apply for a maximum of two projects. Both UK and international students are eligible to apply for an IGNITE award. However, NERC stipulates that a maximum of 30% of IGNITE studentships (usually 5 studentships per year) can be provided to international applicants so competition for these studentships is very high. We welcome applications from applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds but recognise systemic barriers to entry into postgraduate research for certain groups. To support this, IGNITE has an opt-in guaranteed interview scheme for qualifying UK applicants who self-identify as racially minoritised (i.e., come from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background). Please contact nerc-dla@soton.ac.uk once you have submitted a complete application to opt into this scheme.
IGNITE DLA Webinar
Watch the IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award webinar here. Find out more about the IGNITE DLA programme, the application process and what happens if you are shortlisted for interview.
Funding Notes
The IGNITE Doctoral Landscape Award funds PhD researchers for 3.5 years, full- or part-time. An IGNITE DLA studentship includes a tax-free stipend at the UKRI standard rate (ÂŁ20,780 for the academic year 2025/26). Funding covers Home tuition fees; the difference between Home and International tuition fees will be waived by the University. The IGNITE DLA provides a Research Training Support Grant of ÂŁ2200 per year (ÂŁ7700 across the 3.5 years) to be used on small project costs, conference attendance and individual training needs.
References
Lin, P., Pickart, R.S., Heorton, H. et al. Recent state transition of the Arctic Ocean’s Beaufort Gyre. Nat. Geosci. 16, 485–491 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01184-5 Wang, Q., Danilov, S. & Jung, T. Arctic freshwater anomaly transiting to the North Atlantic delayed within a buffer zone. Nat. Geosci. 17, 1218–1221 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01592-1 Liu, W., Fedorov, A. & Sévellec, F. The mechanisms of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation slowdown induced by Arctic Sea Ice decline. J. Clim. 32, 977–996 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-18-0231.1
