From Oceans to Clouds: Is the Antarctic ocean microlayer a source of cloud forming particles?

From Oceans to Clouds: Is the Antarctic ocean microlayer a source of cloud forming particles?

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Floortje van den Heuvel, British Antarctic Survey

Professor Mark Fitzsimons, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth

Dr Markus Frey, Atmosphere, Ice and Climate team, British Antarctic Survey

Dr Freya Squires, Atmosphere, Ice and Climate team, British Antarctic Survey

 

Scientific Background

Clouds can have a warming or cooling effect on the Planet depending on their phase. Clouds water droplets and ice crystals form on a subset of aerosol which can act either as a cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) or as an ice nucleating particle (INP). Ice clouds tend to have shorter lifetimes and a lower albedo (reflecting less solar energy back into space) than clouds which contain large numbers of water droplets. It is therefore critically important to understand the sources of CCN and INP, and how these sources might change, to make future climate predictions. Because of its remoteness, sources of cloud nuclei in Antarctica are predominantly of natural origin, including sea spray, sea ice, blowing snow, dusts, biological etc.. However, these natural sources are themselves also subject to climate change. The research question for this project is: What effect will reduced sea ice and expanding (and warmer) open oceans around Antarctica have on the CCN and INP concentrations, and ultimately on clouds?

 

Research Methodology

You will be working at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) embedded in the Atmosphere, Ice and Climate (AIC) team where you will combine aircraft vertical profiles with aerosol measurements from Rothera station to study sea surface aerosol emissions and new particle formation processes; and their ability to affect cloud formation aloft. You will be performing lab-based experiments on physical samples of sea water and ice (collected during previous campaigns) in the aerosol and trace gas lab at BAS and at the biogeochemistry research centre at the University of Plymouth (UoP). There might also be opportunities to carry out polar field work at a research station or on board a research vessel.

 

Training

We will train you to become an expert in atmospheric measurement techniques and involve you in field work planning and in our team meetings. You will be part of the vibrant BAS PhD cohort and be able to benefit from training opportunities at BAS, the UoP or summer/winter schools.

 

Person Specification

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a background in chemistry, physics, atmospheric/marine sciences or equivalent, and with experience in (or a desire to learn) programming.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Environmental Science, Oceanography, Marine Science, Geography, Meteorology or similar.

Project code: VANDENHEUVEL_BAS_ARIES26

References

  • Brean, James, Beddows, David C. S., Asmi, Eija, Virkkula, Aki, Quéléver, Lauriane L. J., Sipilä, Mikko, Van Den Heuvel, Floortje, Lachlan-Cope, Thomas , Jones, Anna , Frey, Markus , Lupi, Angelo, Park, Jiyeon, Yoon, Young Jun, Weller, Rolf, Marincovich, Giselle L., Mulena, Gabriela C., Harrison, Roy M., Dall’Osto, Manue. (2025) Multiple eco-regions contribute to the seasonal cycle of Antarctic aerosol size distributions. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 25 (). pp. 10.5194/acp-25-1145-2025
  • Dall’Osto, M., Ovadnevaite, J., Paglione, M., Fitzsimons, M. F. et al. Antarctic sea ice region as a source of biogenic organic nitrogen in aerosols. Sci Rep 7, 6047 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06188-x
  • Daniel Kenneth Edward Smith, Ian Renfrew, Floortje van den Heuvel, et al. The Impact of Mixed-Phase Cloud Processes on Simulating Southern Ocean Clouds and their Radiative Effect. ESS Open Archive . June 19, 2025.
  • Ickes, L., Porter, G. C. E., Wagner, R., Adams, M. P., Bierbauer, S., Bertram, A. K., Bilde, M., Christiansen, S., Ekman, A. M. L., Gorokhova, E., Höhler, K., Kiselev, A. A., Leck, C., Möhler, O., Murray, B. J., Schiebel, T., Ullrich, R., and Salter, M. E.: The ice-nucleating activity of Arctic sea surface microlayer samples and marine algal cultures, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 11089–11117, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-11089-2020, 2020.
  • Park, J., Kang, H., Gim, Y., Jang, E., Park, K.-T., Park, S., Jung, C. H., Ceburnis, D., O'Dowd, C., and Yoon, Y. J.: New particle formation leads to enhanced cloud condensation nuclei concentrations on the Antarctic Peninsula, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13625–13646, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13625-2023, 2023.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2026. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 7 January 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26) 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  University of Plymouth ARIES Doctoral Training