Climate Change Impacts on the Antarctic Coastal Ocean Carbon Sink

Project Code: BAKKER_UEA_ARIES27

Climate Change Impacts on the Antarctic Coastal Ocean Carbon Sink

Project Code: BAKKER_UEA_ARIES27

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Dorothee Bakker, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Dr Meredith Meyer, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

Professor Kate Hendry, British Antarctic Survey

Dr Elise Droste, National Oceanography Centre Southampton

Dr Dave Munday, British Antarctic Survey

Dr Hugh Venables, British Antarctic Survey

 

Scientific Background:

Remote Southern Ocean waters take up ten percent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by human activity, effectively slowing down global climate change. Wintertime sea ice cover controls CO2 uptake by Antarctic coastal waters [1]. Recent and ongoing rapid sea ice decline, strong glacial melt and warming raise concerns on how these changes will impact future CO2 uptake by these polar waters.

 

Project Objectives:

In this PhD project you will address these aims:

  • Extend the unique, year-round marine carbonate chemistry timeseries (2010-2020, https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/rats/) in Ryder Bay, Antarctica, forward through a period of rapid sea ice decline,
  • Develop an innovative, idealised ocean-ice model of processes affecting ocean CO2 uptake in Ryder Bay,
  • Investigate the impacts of climate-driven changes in biological productivity and sea ice extent on inorganic carbon cycling and ocean CO2 uptake along the Antarctic Peninsula.

 

Research Methodology:

In this varied project you will carry out carbonate chemistry analyses. You will explore the effects of a shift to a low sea ice regime on ocean CO2 uptake in Ryder Bay, using your data and model experiments. You will identify long-term changes in ocean CO2 uptake and their drivers along the Antarctic Peninsula using your data, a surface ocean CO2 synthesis (www.socat.info), associated ocean CO2 products, satellite and reanalysis products.

 

Training:

You will develop skills in chemical analysis, data processing, visualisation and interpretation using coding (Python or Matlab) and learn to develop an idealised ocean biogeochemical model, while part of UEA’s inspiring Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. You will collaborate with the dynamic POLOMINTS (http://polomints.ac.uk/) science team via your supervisors at the British Antarctic Survey and the National Oceanography Centre. You will present your findings at an international scientific conference and in peer-reviewed publications. While Antarctic fieldwork is not part of this project, there may be opportunities for it.

 

Person Specification:

We seek an enthusiastic, pro-active team player with strong scientific interests and self-motivation, combining an aptitude for practical research with numerical skills. You will have a degree in natural sciences, environmental sciences, physics, or similar subject.

Acceptable first degree subject(s): Natural sciences, environmental sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics or similar numerical subject.

References

  • Droste, E. S., Bakker, D. C. E., Venables, H. J. V., Jones, E. M., Meredith, M. P., Dall’Olmo, G., Hoppema, M., Legge, O. J., Lee, G. A., Queste, B. (2025) Sea ice controls net ocean uptake of carbon dioxide by regulating wintertime stratification. Communications Earth and Environment 6: 457. doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02395-x.
  • Dong, Y., Bakker, D C. E., Bell, T. G., Yang, M., Landschützer, P., Hauck, J., Rödenbeck, C., Kitidis, V., Bushinsky, S. M., and Liss, P. S. (2024) Direct observational evidence of strong CO2 uptake in the Southern Ocean. Science Advances 10, 10 pp. eadn5781, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn5781.
  • Meyer, M. G., Portela, E., Smith, Jt., W. O., Heywood, K. J. (2025) Critical uncoupling between biogeochemical stocks and rates in Ross Sea springtime production-export dynamics. Ocean Science 21 (4): 1223-1236. doi:10.5194/os-21-1223-2025.
  • Venables, H. J. V., Meredith, M. P., Hendry, K. R., Ten Hoopen, P., Peat, H., Chapman, A., Beaumont, J., Piper, R., Miller, A. J., Mann, P., Rossetti, H., Massey, A., Souster, T., Reeves, S., Fenton, M., Heiser, S., Pountney, S., Reed, S., Waring, Z., Clark, M., Bolton, E., Mathews, R., London, H., Clement, A., Stuart, E., Reichardt, A., Brandon, M., Leng, M., Arrowsmith, C., Annett, A., Henley, S. F., & Clarke, A. (2023). Sustained year-round oceanographic measurements from Rothera Research Station, Antarctica, 1997–2017. Scientific Data, 10(1), 265. doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02172-5
  • Hendry, K. R., Briggs, N., Henson, S., Opher, J., Brearley, J. A., Meredith, M. P., ... & Meire, L. (2021). Tracing glacial meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the ocean using gliders. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126(8), e2021JC017274. doi:10.1029/2021JC017274.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2027. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 16 December 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from bespoke training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or immigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential and will be stored on the UEA SharePoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be asked to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. Please see https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information.

Apply Now

Apply now via the University of East Anglia Application Portal