Dynamics of extreme ice in the coastal arctic cryosphere

北极是地球上变暖最快的地区之一，这对冰冻圈和它所支持的生态系统产生了重大影响。我的研究考察了加拿大北部海岸的“极端”(极其厚实和广袤)的冰层特征。在过去的十年里，这些冰川特征一直在迅速下降。这包括在此期间加拿大30%的冰架破裂，以及数千平方公里的多年陆上海冰的损失。厚冰的清除导致北半球除一个外的所有表层湖泊(漂浮在海岸和冰架之间的一层淡水层)的消失。冰岛从冰架上崩解和漂移，也引起了人们对北极水域石油平台和运输的担忧。我的研究计划将通过使用创新的遥感技术来检查这些极端沿海冰层类型的范围和厚度的变化，这种技术将更好地限制气候和沿海冰冻圈变化之间的关系。我将评估表层湖泊在极端沿海冰的破裂和增长中的作用，并将探索识别和跟踪极端冰特征的新策略，这些特征在北极冰盖内向南漂移。我的项目将在加拿大最北端海岸提供最先进的遥感分析和实地研究方面的研究生培训。这项研究将有助于确定北极正在发生的深刻环境变化的影响。

The Arctic is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth and this is having a substantial impact on the cryosphere and ecosystems that it supports. My research examines 'extreme' (extremely thick and extensive) ice features along the northern coast of Canada. These ice features have been in rapid decline over the last decade. This includes the breakup of >30% of Canada's ice shelves during this period, along with the loss of thousands of square kilometres of multiyear landfast sea ice. The removal of thick ice has resulted in the loss of all but one of the Northern Hemisphere's epishelf lakes (a layer of freshwater that floats on the ocean between the coast and an ice shelf). The calving and drifting of ice islands from the ice shelves has also raised concern for oil platforms and transportation in Arctic waters. My research program will examine changes in extent and thickness of these extreme coastal ice types by employing innovative remote sensing technology that will better constrain the relationship between climate and coastal cryospheric change. I will evaluate the role of epishelf lakes in the break-up and growth of extreme coastal ice and I will explore new strategies for identifying and tracking extreme ice features as they drift southward within Arctic pack ice. My program will provide graduate training in state-of-the-art remote sensing analysis and field research along the northernmost coasts of Canada. This research will help determine the implications of the profound environmental transformation now underway in the Arctic.