Tea & Talk with Phoebe Jackson: Antarctic Extremes

Join us at the Polar Museum for a free talk from SPRI PhD student Phoebe Jackson Antarctic Extremes: Rethinking the reputation of atmospheric rivers in Antarctica Phoebe Jackson is a PhD candidate at the Scott Polar Research Institute examining the influence of landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs) on the surface processes of East Antarctic ice shelves. From Phoebe: "This talk will explore the extreme impacts of atmospheric rivers on the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Atmospheric rivers, often referred to as “rivers in the sky”, are systems of intense water vapour transport that under favourable synoptic conditions can be effectively channelled poleward towards Antarctica. Despite being relatively rare over Antarctica, their mixed and compounding impacts mean these extreme events play a large role in shaping Antarctica’s mass balance. From heavy snowfall to heatwaves to ice-shelf collapse, we will unpack how atmospheric rivers today serve to both harm and heal the ice sheet, how these systems are changing under a warming climate, and what the balance between their competing impacts could mean for Antarctica’s future." Tea & Talks are designed for a non-academic audience and offer the chance to learn something new in a friendly environment. Bring along a notepad (or just an open mind) and join us for a cuppa.