Project Info

Constraining West Antarctic Snow Variability with GNSS Reflectometry

Projections of ice sheet mass balance and consequent sea-level rise are complicated by large uncertainties in modeling surface mass balance processes, such as snow accumulation, snow redistribution, melt, and firn compaction. In situ observations for constraining model physics and validating coupled atmosphere-ice sheet models are sparse, especially in Antarctica where surface mass balance amounts to approximately 2600 Gt of mass input per year. With more than 7 mm/yr of sea-level equivalent accumulating as snow fall across Antarctica, surface mass balance variability has the potential to substantially impact the rate of sea-level rise, currently estimated to be ~3 mm/yr. We will use an existing array of 118 long-term global navigation satellite system (GNSS) instruments from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and Ross Ice Shelf to observe net snow accumulation and firn compaction across highly variable surface mass balance regimes.

This project will follow a recent publication looking at a subset of the data we will analyze: Siegfried, M. R., B. Medley, K. Larson, H. A. Fricker and S. Tulaczyk, 2017. Snow accumulation variability on a West Antarctic ice stream observed with GPS reflectometry, 2007–2017, Geophysical Research Letters, 44(15), 7808–7816, doi:10.1002/2017GL074039.

Grand Challenge: Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Student Preparation

Qualifications

Some experience with python, excitement to explore and exercise new datasets

Time Commitment

5-10 hours/week

Skills/Techniques Gained

Students will gain skills in python programming, knowledge of how global navigation satellites systems work, and time series analysis. Depending on the interests of the student, we can also develop skills in working with atmosphere modeling and reanalysis products or novel satellite height observations. The student will also gain experience working within group projects that span institutions (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Colorado Boulder).

Mentoring Plan

I will be the direct mentor in this project, providing the scaffolding for student success. We will meet once a week to discuss research progress and set/reassess short and long goals. The student will present at least once at a lab group meeting, where the whole group will participate in pushing the scientific question forward. The research experience will culminate with a presentation at a scientific glaciology conference. The student will, depending on Their interest, either lead or participate in the scientific publication process as well.