Andrés Daniel Castillo Llarena

The purpose of my PhD project is to reconstruct the deglaciation history of northern Europe and Patagonia by coupling separate models developed by research groups at the University of Bremen and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU. This requires consideration of the numerical ice sheet model through the last glacial cycle of both formerly glaciated zones mentioned. As one of the supervisors of my doctoral thesis, I had the opportunity of collaborating with Prof. Rogozhina and her team during my research stay, with the aim of learning from their expertise in glaciers and climate-related topics.

Prof. Irina Rogozhina and her team work on bridging the different components of the earth system along different time scales, combining a multidisciplinary approach to study the past and future evolution of different ice masses, using in-situ measurements, remote sensing, and numerical techniques. My main activities during my research stay were modeling the Patagonian ice sheet (PIS) at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), analyzing the performance of different paleoclimatic models to understand their strengths and weaknesses in building up the PIS in a realistic manner. Additionally, I set up and ran experiments to reproduce the geometry and leads and lags of the Eurasian ice sheet complex (EISC) at the LGM. To assess the performance of different climate models in the correct build-up of the different sectors along EISC, sensitivity experiments were performed.

I also performed numerical simulations of the glaciers in the Altai Mountains at the LGM, which were compared against empirically derived geological reconstructions based on cosmogenic nuclide exposure data, landforms, and sediments. Furthermore, I contributed to setting up numerical simulations to model the present-day state of the Hardangerjøkulen Ice Cap, Southern Norway, using numerical techniques in combination with in-situ observations and satellite images. I co-supervised a master thesis in Natural Resources Management titled “Learning from the catastrophic 1979-flood in Jostedalen in Norway. Bridging past and future across Jostedalsbreen with high-resolution hydrological modelling” by Afrida Binth Iqbal. I also attended the course “GEOG3528 Earth Surface Evolution: observational evidence and numerical modelling”.

Working with Prof. Rogozhina and her team was an incredible opportunity for me to learn from experts in the field and engage in interesting discussions regarding ongoing and future research topics, as well as potential post-docs. This experience has undoubtedly boosted my confidence to work and collaborate with colleagues in new groups and atmospheres. I am incredibly grateful to Prof. Rogozhina’s team and the Department of Geography (NTNU) for their hospitality during my time there.

In conclusion, my research stay with Prof. Rogozhina and her team has been an enriching experience. I had the opportunity to work on diverse projects related to glaciology and climate modeling, improving my skills and gaining knowledge in the field. Moreover, collaborating with the team and discussing ongoing and future research topics has expanded my horizons and inspired new ideas for my own research. I am grateful for the hospitality and support provided by Prof. Rogozhina's team and the Department of Geography at NTNU, and for the financial support provided by GLOMAR and ANID Chilean Scholarship for Doctoral Studies. I am confident that this experience will contribute to the success of my PhD project and my future research endeavors.