Investigation of Antarctic Ice Melt Variations Using Gravimetry Data and Its Link to Climate Change

• Grant number: 25/00524-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Renata Regina Constantino Barrella
• Grantee: Giovanna Reis Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to investigate anomalies in Earth's gravity field associated with Antarctic ice loss and their relationship with the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) index. The research will explore these phenomena and their implications for the South Atlantic region through a study of teleconnections, a term used to describe how climatic and atmospheric interactions in one region are linked to changes in remote areas of the planet. The methodology will include a linear regression analysis to assess the relationship between Bouguer anomalies and the topography of the Antarctic continent, aiming to identify representative locations of mass changes potentially linked to ice melt. At these sites, data from the GRACE and GRACE-FO missions will be used to analyze temporal variations in the gravity field, as well as observed gravity anomalies and their correlation with the AAO index. Satellite observations from the AVHRR sensor will also be employed to assess interannual variations in sea surface temperature (SST), enabling statistical correlations with interannual variability indices and the identification of teleconnections in the South Atlantic. The expected results aim to enhance the understanding of the interactions between ice melt, the AAO index, and SST in the South Atlantic, contributing to the knowledge of climate change impacts in this critical region.