Primary supervisor: Professor Jan Kaiser

Background and objectives

Global warming has led to a significant decline in polar sea ice over the past 45 years. Large parts of the ocean, which had been covered by sea ice for several years in the summer, are now open, releasing elementary particles through waves and bursting bubbles. Gas exchange is also significantly faster, and algal blooms increase the production of gases and aerosol particles. Emitted gases and molecules are important for atmospheric chemistry and climate.

So-called “ozone depletion events” (ODEs) are frequent springtime phenomena in the polar lower atmosphere. During ODEs, bromide is released from sea ice and organohalogens from algae in the form of bromine radicals (Br) that rapidly react with tropospheric ozone (O3), a process known as bromine explosion. This often leads to the complete destruction of O3. Although bromine explosions have been studied for more than three decades, the exact details of their initiation and the nature of reactive bromine sources remain unclear.

Frost blooms on sea ice and precipitation of a certain mineral (ectite) are possible major factors. The UEA Roland von Glasow Air, Sea and Ice Chamber (RvG-ASIC) will be used to simulate these processes under controlled conditions and for the first time to show their importance and responses to climate change (e.g., melting sea ice exposes more brine channels and salty surfaces, promoting bromine activation).

Knock

State-of-the-art methods and instruments will be used to measure concentrations and fluxes of gases and particles over snow and ice at the RvG-ASIC facility. In addition, there is the possibility of deploying the devices during the polar field campaign. You will interpret your observations using a numerical model to quantitatively understand laboratory experiments and compare them with existing or new field observations, with the aim of improving global chemistry and climate models.

an exercise

You will be part of a dynamic research team at UEA (COAS), the British Antarctic Survey (AIC) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (ITI), working on a wide range of environmental topics in the polar regions. You will be trained in relevant instruments, sampling techniques, modeling and field work. You will attend an atmospheric science summer school and receive support to publish results in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.

Person specifications

An enthusiastic individual with good experimental and numerical skills.

Entry requirements

At least a UK BA (Hons) equivalency of 2:1. English language requirements (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Acceptable first degree:

• chemistry
• Physics
• Environmental sciences
• Earth sciences
• engineering
• Physical geography
• or related topic

Start date: 1^street October 2026

Finance

ARIES Scholarships are governed by UKRITerms and Conditions. Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded scholarship, which covers fees, a maintenance stipend (£20,780 per annum for 2025/26) and a Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG). A limited number of scholarships are available to international applicants, with the difference between ‘national’ and ‘international’ fees waived by the registered university. However, please note that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with moving to and living in the UK, such as visa costs or additional health fees.