Research interests
I am broadly interested in processes driving the retreat of marine-terminating glaciers. At Rutgers, I work with Rebecca Jackson and the Polar Coastal Dynamics group to investigate ice-ocean interaction in proglacial fjords lining the coast of Kalaallit Nunaat [Greenland], using numerical models. Fjord conditions and fjord-scale circulation modulate submarine melt rates at glacier termini, as well as the final properties of glacially-modified water entering the continental shelf ocean. At present, the impacts of fjords’ exchange flow on both glaciers and the ocean remain poorly constrained, and represent an important gap in our ability to model changes in both systems. I am a huge proponent of community science and the co-production of knowledge pertaining to environment, though a newcomer to both.
Short history
I finished my BSc with the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago in 2019, where I was fortunate to be able to explore my interest in the changing cryosphere through the complimentary lenses of geophysics, sociology, and art. In 2017, I worked under the Juneau Icefield Research Program conducting passive seismology fieldwork across Taku Glacier, and it was this field experience that really solidified my existing interest in the dynamics of marine-terminating glaciers. When I’m not in the office, you can find me running, climbing, foraging, and dumpster diving around town. I love being outside, and I love finding little treasures.
Have any burning questions about glaciers, interdisciplinary research, or where to find the best trash? Feel free to reach out at sigrun@marine.rutgers.edu.
Education
2019, BSc, Geophysical Science; Environmental Science, University of Chicago
2021 – Present, PhD Student, Graduate Program in Oceanography, Rutgers University