Arctic Ocean circulation in a changing climate, CASE project with Cefas

Arctic Ocean circulation in a changing climate, CASE project with Cefas

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Xiaoming Zhai, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

Professor Ian Renfrew, School of Environmental Sciences, UEA

Dr Matthew Thomas, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)

 

Scientific Background

The Arctic Ocean has undergone rapid changes in recent decades, with far-reaching impacts on both the Arctic region’s environment and the global climate system. An increased intrusion of the warm, saline Atlantic Water has led to the so-called the Atlantification of the Arctic Ocean. The continued decline in sea ice extent has exposed larger areas of the ocean surface to direct solar radiation and wind forcing. These changes are profoundly altering the Arctic Ocean circulation, modifying freshwater and heat storage and export, and potentially intensifying upper ocean mixing processes. However, major gaps in our understanding remain due to challenges in observing and modelling the Arctic Ocean.

 

Research Methodology

The aim of this project is to investigate the Arctic Ocean’s circulation in a changing climate using both the state-of-the-art Arctic and Subpolar Gyre State Estimate (ASTE) and high-resolution ocean modelling. Specifically, you can:

  • Examine the pathways and fate of the Atlantic Water that enters the Arctic Ocean through virtual particle tracking and heat budget analysis.
  • Study how sea ice losses influence ocean-atmosphere-ice exchanges, and how these changes, in turn, affect the Arctic gyre circulation, freshwater storage and release, and the properties of Arctic outflow to the Atlantic.
  • Assess the impact of enhanced cyclone activity and reduced sea ice cover on the generation of wind-induced internal waves, and investigate their contribution to vertical mixing and the ventilation of warm Atlantic Water.

 

Training

You will join a productive team of ocean modellers and polar climate scientists at UEA and Cefas (the CASE partner). The project will provide you with a thorough training in polar oceanography, air-sea interaction and advanced ocean/sea-ice modelling techniques. You will gain valuable practical experience from CASE work with Cefas. There will be opportunities to attend summer schools. You will present your work at national and international conferences. There may also be opportunities to undertake polar fieldwork to gain an appreciation of observational data.

 

Person Specification

We seek an enthusiastic candidate with strong scientific interests and self-motivation. They will have a degree in physics, mathematics, oceanography, meteorology, or a related science with good computing and numerical skills.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Physics, mathematics, oceanography, meteorology, or similar science.

Project code: ZHAI_UEA_ARIES26_CASE

All ARIES CASE studentships include a three to 18-month placement with the non-academic CASE partner during their period of study. The placement offers experience designed to enhance professional development.

References

  • Thomas, L.N. and Zhai X. (2021) The lifecycle of surface-generated near-inertial waves. Chapter 5 in Ocean Mixing – Drivers, Mechanisms and Impacts edited by M. Meredith and A. Naveira Garabato, Elsevier.
  • Årthun, M., Brakstad, A., Dörr, J., Johnson, H.L., Mans, C., Semper, S. and Våge, K. (2025) Atlantification drives recent strengthening of the Arctic overturning circulation. Science Advances, 11(28), p.eadu1794.
  • Moore, G. W. K., Våge, K., Renfrew, I. A., and Pickart, R. S. (2022) Sea-ice retreat suggests re-organization of water mass transformation in the Nordic and Barents Seas. Nature Communications, 13(1), 67.
  • Lique, C. and Thomas, M.D. (2018) Latitudinal shift of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation source regions under a warming climate. Nature Climate Change 8, 1013–1020.
  • Dong, J., X. Zhai, D.P. Stevens and I.A. Renfrew (2025) Ocean heat transport along the Norwegian Atlantic current and the role of eddies, Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans, e2025JC022960.

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 the  University of East Anglia Application Portal