The ocean that surrounds Antarctica is changing rapidly; the water is warming, ocean currents are changing, and sea ice coverage has dropped dramatically. Sea ice coverage during last three summers was the lowest on record since observations began in the late 1970s. In 2023 an area of sea ice the size of Western Australia was missing. If it weren’t for 2023, winter 2024 would have smashed the record for lowest sea ice coverage. Understanding the causes behind these rapid changes is crucial to predicting what will happen in the future.
Ed’s research examines the connections between the Southern Ocean and the thin layer of sea ice that floats on it. He combines mathematics, giant computer models, and ocean observations to improve our understanding of the fundamental dynamics of the Southern Ocean. In recent years Antarctic Sea ice has undergone a regime shift, and his research contributes to our understanding of this rapidly evolving, and absolutely crucial, component of the global climate system.