• E-mail: sc690@cam.ac.uk
• Tel: 01223 336574
• Fax: 01223 336549
• Address: SPRI or Department of Geography
  Scott Polar Research Institute
  University of Cambridge
  Lensfield Road
  Cambridge
  CB2 1ER
  UK
  or
  Department of Geography
  University of Cambridge
  Downing Place
  Cambridge
  CB2 3EN
• Personal website:
  https://aiyahelcarda.wordpress.com

Supervised by: Prof Poul Christoffersen

Current and recent research projects:

• RESPONDER: Resolving subglacial properties, hydrological networks and dynamic evolution of ice flow on the Greenland Ice Sheet

Jump to information on:

• Biography
• Research
• Publications
• Teaching
• External activities

Samuel Cook MA (Cantab.) MPhil

PhD Candidate, Polar Studies

My PhD project aims to develop a fully-coupled model of a tidewater glacier, using the open-source, 3D, Full-Stokes glacial flow model, Elmer/Ice, including calving, linked to a subglacial hydrology model (GlaDS) and a plume model.

Biography

Career

• 2013-2015. Graduate Business Analyst, EDF Energy.

Qualifications

• 2016- PhD in Polar Studies. Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge (Selwyn College), UK. Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council
• 2015-2016. MPhil (Distinction) in Polar Studies. Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge (Selwyn College), UK. Thesis: Blink and You'll Miss It: An Investigation Into Glacier Surging on Flade Isblink. Partly funded by the Newton Trust.
• 2010-2013. MA (Cantab.) (1^st class) in Geography. University of Cambridge (Selwyn College), UK. Thesis on proglacial hydrology of Storglaciaren, Sweden.

Awards and grants

• PhD Studentship (2016), Cambridge Earth System Science Doctoral Training Partnership, National Environmental Research Council, ~£86,000.
• Newton College Master's Studentship (2015), Cambridge Trust, ~£12,000.
• Lyttelton Scholarship (2011-2013), Selwyn College, £50.

Research

My research focusses on modelling tidewater glaciers using the 3D, Full-Stokes Elmer/Ice suite of software. The initial step is to implement a subglacial hydrology model (GlaDS) within Elmer/Ice, before linking this to the existing calving code within Elmer/Ice. I will then use GlaDS to drive a plume model at the calving front to better model glacier flow and melt. Once this is achieved, the ultimate objective is to compare the distribution of calving events modelled with those recorded in radar interferometry data as a way of validating the combined model. The model will be initially applied to Store Glacier, a tidewater outlet glacier in Western Greenland.

Publications

• Cook, S. J., Christoffersen, P., Todd, J., Slater, D., and Chauché, N.: Coupled modelling of subglacial hydrology and calving-front melting at Store Glacier, West Greenland , The Cryosphere, 14, 905–924, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-905-2020, 2020.

Conference contributions

• Cook, S.J., Christoffersen, P., Todd, J. and Palmer, S.J. (2017). Cold basal conditions during surges control flow of fringing Arctic ice caps in Greenland. Geophysical Research Abstracts (European Geosciences Union General Assembly), 19, abstract no. EGU2017-816.
• Cook, S.J., Christoffersen, P. and Todd, J. (2018). Modelling subglacial hydrology and its effect on calving at a large Greenland outlet glacier. Geophysical Research Abstracts (European Geosciences Union General Assembly), 20, abstract no. EGU2018-442.
• Cook, S.J., Christoffersen, P. and Todd, J. (2018). Modelling subglacial hydrology at a large Greenland outlet glacier. Oral presentation at IGS British Branch meeting 2018.
• Cook, S.J., Christoffersen, P., Todd, J., Slater, D. and Chauché, N. (2019). Integrated investigation of subglacial hydrology and convective plume melting using a 3D full-Stokes model of Store Glacier, west Greenland. Geophysical Research Abstracts (European Geosciences Union General Assembly), 21, abstract no. EGU2019-13978.
• Cook, S.J., Christoffersen, P. Todd, J., Slater, D., Chauché, N. and Truffer, M. (2019). Validating a fully-coupled model of calving, subglacial hydrology, proglacial plumes and ice flow at Store Glacier, west Greenland, using high-resolution radar interferometry. Oral presentation at IGS British Branch meeting 2019.
• Cook, S.J., Christoffersen, P. Todd, J., Slater, D., Chauché, N. and Truffer, M. (2019). Validating a fully-coupled model of calving, subglacial hydrology, proglacial plumes and ice flow at Store Glacier, west Greenland, using high-resolution radar interferometry. Oral presentation at AGU Fall meeting 2019.

Teaching

• IA Cryosphere supervisor (2017- )
• IA Quaternary supervisor (2017-)
• IB Glacial Processes supervisor (2017- )
• IB Glacial Processes demonstrator (2018- )
• IB Glacial Processes lecturer (2019)

External activities

• Young Member then Postgraduate Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (2008-)
• Various outreach activities at the Scott Polar Research Institute, including Twilight and Festival of Science (2015-)
• Personal website at https://aiyahelcarda.wordpress.com/