Quantify trends and variability in Southern Ocean heat flux, using an observation driven reconstruction from a fast nonlinear model

About the research project

Background

Southern Ocean currents are barriers to the oceanic transport of heat towards Antarctica. These barriers break down at key locations along their circumpolar path around Antarctica where poleward heat transport is enhanced. This research builds on observational evidence that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) has only a handful of regions of strong poleward eddy heat flux (Foppert et al. 2017) that are crucial for balancing the heat loss to the atmosphere around Antarctica. South of Tasmania, near the Southeast Indian Ridge and Macquarie Ridge, is one such region where standing meanders in the ACC enable strong cross-frontal transfer of heat and other properties (Meijer et al. 2022, Meijer et al. 2025)  

Our team has obtained funding from the Australian Research Council for new observations in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Antarctic Slope Current in the Australian Antarctic territory. We will combine these with existing observations from our earlier fieldwork and other publicly available data. The project incorporates companion high-resolution numerical modeling (Kiss et al. 2019) contributing to the Consortium for Ocean Sea-Ice Modelling Australia (COSIMA) effort and fast and friendly observation driven simulations with Oceananigans.jl/ ClimaOcean.jl.  

Methods

In the ACC, there are several heat flux hotspots (ie. South East Indian Ridge/ Macquariue Ridge, Drake Passage and Kerguelen Plateau), with increased meander and eddy activity. We can assess the variability at the surface via satellite but it is rare to have measurements of the deep ocean. Surface meanders create asymmetry in the flow field due to ageostrophic velocities, creating divergence and upwelling or downwelling. These ageostrophic velocities, seemingly uniform with depth, create deep eddies that we suspect are responsible for heat transport across the ACC. With this insight, we will develop a dynamic framework on top of the background state of the Southern Ocean from historical observations. The dynamical framework will consist of the fast and friendly ClimaOcean.jl model that will calculate ageostrophic velocities and the so-called thermal wind imbalance that we think are important for cross frontal heat transport. We refer to this data product as SOUTHFRONT (Southern Ocean UndersTanding of Heat Fluxes: a Reconstruction from Observations and Non-linear Theory). With SOUTHFRONT we would be able to make daily depth-dependent predictions of heat fluxes across the ACC, in contrast to the current ‘eddy heat flux’ estimates that rely heavily on statistical smoothing and depth-integrated approaches. 

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Jan Jaap Meijer

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• This is a highly quantitative investigation, requiring an excellent knowledge of fundamental maths and physics, good understanding of meteorology and/ or physical oceanography, especially geophysical fluid dynamics and strong data analysis, programming (e.g. Python, Julia) and computational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication in English is an essential.

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• completion of a Honours or Master's degree with a substantial research component
• fundamental knowledge of maths and physics 
• excellent oral and written communication in English 
• strong data analysis skills 
• good programming and computational skills (preferably Python) 

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• understanding of meteorology and/ or physical oceanography
• knowledge of geophysical fluid dynamics
• skills in the programming language Julia

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Jan Jaap Meijer to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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