Maloy Kumar Devnath successfully defends his PhD Proposal

Maloy Kumar Devnath, iHARP Research Assistant, successfully defended his PhD Proposal on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Join iHARP in congratulating Maloy on his successful PhD proposal defense.

Deciphering the Polar Puzzle: Exploring the Relationship Between Sea Ice Retreat and Ice Sheet Melting in the Antarctic

Dr. Vandana P. Janeja, Chair/Advisor (UMBC)
Dr. Sudip Chakraborty, Co-Advisor (UMBC)
Dr. James Foulds (UMBC)
Dr. Md Osman Gani (UMBC)
Dr. Aneesh Subramanian (University of Colorado Boulder)

The dynamics of the Antarctic region which holds 90% of the Earth’s ice volume, particularly the interplay between sea ice retreat and land ice or ice sheets melting, demand rigorous scientific examination due to the alarming changes observed in recent decades. Antarctica’s ice mass has been diminishing rapidly, with an estimated average loss of approximately ∼ 146 billion tons annually since 2002. The reduction in sea ice extent raises critical questions about its repercussions on ice sheet melting, as sea ice provides a protective barrier separating ice sheets from warm ocean currents and wave action. While Antarctic sea ice was expanding until 2015, recent trends show a dramatic reversal with record low extents in February 2023. Understanding the relationship between sea ice changes and ice sheet dynamics is pivotal for deciphering the broader implications of global sea-level rise, a pressing concern for coastal communities, ecosystems, and policymakers. To address this, this thesis employs machine learning algorithms and remote sensing techniques to analyze temporal and spatial variations in the polar climate system. This research aims to develop innovative machine learning algorithms to detect anomalous melt events, variations in melt onset and duration, and quantify the feature similarity and associations between sea ice retreat and land ice or ice sheet melting, particularly in regions experiencing anomalous melts with earlier retreat and late accumulation periods. This thesis specifically aims to:

1. Understand how anomalous melt events and variations in melt onset and melting period length impact the dynamics of sea ice retreat.
2. Assess the significance of anomalous melt events compared to steady-state conditions in influencing sea ice retreat.
3. Quantify feature similarity and associations (co-occurrence) between sea ice retreat and land ice or ice sheet melting in regions experiencing anomalous
melts, with particular attention to earlier retreat and late accumulation periods.

By addressing these questions, this thesis contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interactions between sea ice retreat and ice sheet melting in the Antarctic region and their broader implications for global sea-level rise.