A postdoctoral appointment is available at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to investigate differential vertical and horizontal motions of the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS) from the analysis of geodetic GPS data. A 13-station geodetic GPS array was installed on the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS) during Oct.-Nov. 2015 to make in situ 1 Hz observations of both lateral and vertical ice shelf motions. The GPS stations were co-located with previously deployed broadband seismic stations in an array oriented roughly orthogonal to the shelf front, with coverage extending 415 km southward from the shelf front towards the grounding zone. The goals of this experiment are to investigate spatial variability of vertical and horizontal motions of the RIS due to tidal and gravity wave-coupled flexural wave energy propagating across the RIS, atmospheric forcing, and deviations from steady horizontal ice flow––including episodic rift motions which may be observable by co-located seismic instruments. One year of continuous broadband seismometer data spanning Nov. 2014 to Nov. 2015 has been recovered from the 34-station seismic array (https://scripps.ucsd.edu/centers/iceshelfvibes/, see also noiselab.ucsd.edu) with recovery of GPS data and the subsequent year of seismic data during the 2016 field season. Additional information about potential RIS research topics can be obtained upon request or by visiting the project website.

Experience with dual-frequency GPS/GNSS post-processing using DGPS is useful, as is a strong background in statistical methods and time series analysis. Some background in seismology, continuum mechanics, and/or fluid dynamics would be beneficial.

Starting date is negotiable, but ideally the candidate could start immediately. The position is for one year, with a second year subject to performance.  Applications should be sent electronically (application letter, CV) copied both to Peter Bromirski (pbromirski@ucsd.edu) and Peter Gerstoft  (gerstoft@ucsd.edu).