Details of Award

NERC Reference : NER/T/S/2000/00986

Marine geological processes and sediments beneath floating ice shelves in Greenland and Antarctica: investigations using the Autosub AUV.

Principal Investigator:: Professor JA Dowdeswell, University of Cambridge, Scott Polar Research Institute
Co-Investigator:: Professor A Jenkins, Northumbria University, Fac of Engineering and Environment
Co-Investigator:: Dr NC Mitchell, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Co-Investigator:: Professor PW Nienow, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
Grant held at:: University of Cambridge, Scott Polar Research Institute

ENRIs:: Global Change; Environmental Risks and Hazards
Science Topics:: Ocean Circulation; Sediment/Sedimentary Processes; Glacial & Cryospheric Systems; Climate & Climate Change

Abstract:: The cavities beneath floating ice shelves are among the least accessible places on Earth. The development of Autosub is a unique opportunity to undertake a coordinated scientific effort to understand the processes taking place beneath ice shelves, the rates of operation of these processes and the ways in which these systems have changed through time. Scientific targets are large floating glacier tongues fed by extensive ice-sheet drainage basins in North-East Greenland and West Antarctica. Instruments on Autosub will measure ice-shelf base roughness, sea-floor morphology and acoustic stratigraphy, water-column turbidity, suspended-sediment content and salinity. JCR will also make marine-geological measurements of sea-floor sediments (by swath bathymetry, coring, seismics) and of the water column beyond ice-shelf margins. Ice shelf-ocean interactions will also be modelled numerically.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £369,062

Total - T&S	Total - Staff	Total - Other Costs	Total - Indirect Costs	Total - Equipment
£3,485	£76,062	£40,803	£45,800	£202,912

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