Antarctic estuaries: What role does precipitation play in the freshwater budget and the circulation of the Southern Ocean?

About the research project

Freshwater in the Southern Ocean (SO) is a critical part of the natural system; it drives important current systems, overturning circulation, and nutrient supply. Much of the imbalance is thought to come from the acceleration Antarctic Ice Sheet mass loss; the Amundsen Sea for example, receives almost 60% of mass loss from West Antarctica. But a recent freshwater budget for the Amundsen revealed that nearly half of freshwater inputs to the Amundsen Sea are from precipitation – snow and rain. To understand how atmospheric warming, more frequent cyclone activity and water vapor transport will affect the Southern Ocean, we must first comprehend precipitation’s role in Southern Ocean dynamics.

The Antarctic continent is classified as a desert; in some places annual precipitation minus evaporation (P-E) is only 3 mm yr^-1 (Fountain et al. 2010), but parts of the Antarctic coast are much wetter. There is also evidence for increasing P-E and frequency of rain and surface melt-triggering events like atmospheric rivers, which can produce liquid runoff now or in the future. Because the accumulation estimates are always land-based, the amount of runoff is poorly constrained, and sea ice may intercept and transport precipitation over the ocean, these studies do not necessarily inform on the inventory of precipitation in the Antarctic seas. All of this points to the need to develop a better dynamical understanding of precipitation in the Southern Ocean. 

What is the dynamical role of precipitation in the ocean and is it unique from glacial melt? Around Antarctica, ERA-5 reanalysis shows major regional differences in precipitation. For example, average P-E is 7x larger along the Antarctic Peninsula and Adelie Land, as contrasted with the low P-E regions of the coastal Weddell and Ross shelves (Wilson et al. 2026). These important regional differences reflect the atmospheric conditions driving precipitation, but oceanic precipitation inputs are also tightly coupled to the sea ice cycle. Wilson et al. (2026) revealed one aspect of this coupling by showing that interannual P-E changes have contributed to changes in ocean heat ventilation and ultimately large sea ice declines in the Weddell and East Antarctic seas.

This project will use reanalysis weather data, sea ice remote sensing and eddy-permitting regional models to explore how precipitation compared with sea ice and glacial melt can accumulate and stratify the ocean, interacting with the current systems and overturning circulation.

Primary supervisor

Meet Associate Professor Maxim Nikurashin

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:

• An Honours or Masters degree with a substantial research component in geophysics or a related field

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:

•    Honours or Masters degree with a substantial research component in geoscience, engineering or a related field.
•    fundamental knowledge of maths and physics
•    good understanding of physical oceanography and/or hydrodynamics
•    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:

•    knowledge of geophysical fluid dynamics
•    experience with remote sensing data and high-performance computing
•    experience or coursework in hydrology and atmospheric science

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Associate Professor Maxim Nikurashin 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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