Prof Doug I Benn
Professor of Environmental Change
Research areas
1. Iceberg calving
Monitoring and modelling iceberg calving processes, including development and implementation of physically based 'calving laws' for ice sheet models (Benn et al., 2007a, b; Mottram and Benn, 2009; Nick et al., 2010; Luckman et al., 2015; Åström et al., 2013; Medrzycka et al., 2016; Benn et al., 2017a, b; How et al., 2017, 2019; Todd et al., 2018, in review; Vallot et al., 2018, 2019; Schild et al, 2018; Benn and Åström, 2018; Åström and Benn, 2019; Bevan et al., in review). The NERC-funded projects CALISMO and DOMINOS are yielding the next generation of calving models for Greenland and Antarctica, respectively, to reduce uncertainty in the ice sheet contribution to 21st C sea level rise.
2. NSF/NERC International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration
Unstable retreat of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica, could raise mean global sea level by up to 1m in the 21st C under a high carbon scenario. DOMINOS is one of eight projects making up the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, which aims to reduce uncertainties over projected rates of sea level rise in response to alternative carbon futures. DOMINOS focuses on key processes of ice shelf disintegration and calving, which could possibly initiate collapse within a few decades. The prospect of rapid sea level rise has major implications for planning adaptation and risk management strategies worldwide. Results from DOMINOS will provide input for IPCC AR6, and are being disseminated via the GeoBus project, print and online media.
3. Glacier surges
Development of the first general theory of glacier surging, which can explain the full spectrum of glacier dynamic behaviour in a single framework (Benn et al., 2019a). The theory is based on the enthalpy budget of glacier systems and their interactions with local climates, and predicts that climate change can trigger step changes in glacier dynamics. The theory has been successfully tested against global-scale statistical data (Sevestre and Benn, 2015), and observations from individual glaciers (Sevestre et al., 2015, 2018; Benn et al., 2019b).
4. Glacio-speleology
Application of glacio-speleology (ice caving) to glaciological problems, including making the first systematic investigations of internal glacial drainage systems in Svalbard and the Himalaya (Gulley and Benn, 2007; Gulley et al., 2009a, b; Benn et al. 2009a, b). Our ability to directly access and study glacial drainage systems has yielded a new understanding of water flow through glaciers, and its implications for glacier dynamics (Gulley et al., 2012, 2013; Makoff et al., 2017; Temminghof et al., 2018; Hansen et al., in review).
5. Response of high mountain glaciers to climate change
Using field, remote sensing, and speleological data, we have shown how climate change triggers a complex cascade of effects in Himalayan glaciers, including increased melting, decreased flow velocity and stagnation, and retention of meltwater (Benn et al., 2001, 2012, 2017; Thompson et al., 2012; 2016). Together with detailed geophysical studies of moraine dam stability, this work provides a rational basis for prediction of outburst flood hazard risks in high mountain regions (Mertes et al., 2016; Benn et al., 2017; Thompson et al., 2017).
6. Snowball Earth
An international team led by Ian Fairchild (University of Birmingham) demonstrated that orbital cycles exerted a key control on ice-sheet dynamics during Neoproterozoic panglaciations (Benn et al., 2015). This reconciles long-standing discrepancies between Snowball Earth theory and the geological record, and has set a new agenda for Neoproterozoic studies (Fairchild et al., 2016; Fleming et al., 2016; Hoffman et al., 2017). I continue to collaborate with Ian Fairchild, Tony Spencer and others on the Neoproterozoic Port Askaig Formation in Scotland.
PhD supervision
- Oliver Hall
- Ben Davison
Selected publications
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A cross-validated three-dimensional model of an englacial and subglacial drainage system in a High-Arctic glacier
Hansen, L. U., Piotrowski, J. A., Benn, D. & Sevestre, H., Apr 2020, In : Journal of Glaciology. 66, 256, p. 278-290 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Fjords as Aquatic Critical Zones (ACZs)
Bianchi, T., Arndt, S., Austin, W., Benn, D. I., Bertrand, S., Cui, X., Faust, J., Koziorowska-Makuch, K., Moy, C., Savage, C., Smeaton, C., Smith, R. & Syvitski, J., Apr 2020, In : Earth Science Reviews. 203, 103145.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Numerical modeling shows increased fracturing due to melt-undercutting prior to major calving at Bowdoin Glacier
van Dongen, E. C. H., Åström, J. A., Jouvet, G., Todd, J., Benn, D. I. & Funk, M., 14 Jul 2020, In : Frontiers in Earth Science. 8, 253.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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PyTrx: a python-based monoscopic terrestrial photogrammetry toolset for glaciology
How, P., Hulton, N. R. J., Buie, L. & Benn, D. I., 13 Feb 2020, In : Frontiers in Earth Science. 8, 17 p., 21.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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A general theory of glacier surges
Benn, D. I., Fowler, A., Hewitt, I. & Sevestre, H., Oct 2019, In : Journal of Glaciology. 65, 253, p. 701-716 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Automatic detection of calving events from time-lapse imagery at Tunabreen, Svalbard
Vallot, D., Adinugroho, S., Strand, R., How, P., Pettersson, R., Benn, D. & Hulton, N. R. J., 29 Mar 2019, In : Geoscientific Instrumentation Methods and Data Systems. 8, 1, p. 113-127 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Calving controlled by melt-under-cutting: detailed calving styles revealed through time-lapse observations
How, P., Schild, K. M., Benn, D. I., Noormets, R., Kirchner, N., Luckman, A., Vallot, D., Hulton, N. R. J. & Borstad, C., 30 Jan 2019, In : Annals of Glaciology. First View, 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Effective rheology across the fragmentation transition for sea ice and ice shelves
Åström, J. A. & Benn, D. I., 20 Nov 2019, In : Geophysical Research Letters. Early ViewResearch output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Impact of warming shelf waters on ice mélange and terminus retreat at a large SE Greenland glacier
Bevan, S., Luckman, A., Benn, D. I., Cowton, T. & Todd, J., 5 Sep 2019, In : The Cryosphere. 13, p. 2303-2315 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Mass and enthalpy budget evolution during the surge of a polythermal glacier: a test of theory
Benn, D. I., Jones, R. L., Luckman, A., Fürst, J. J., Hewitt, I. & Sommer, C., Oct 2019, In : Journal of Glaciology. 65, 253, p. 717-731 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article