From adam.hartland at waikato.ac.nz Mon Jan 10 10:38:50 2022 From: adam.hartland at waikato.ac.nz (Adam Hartland) Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:38:50 +1300 Subject: [Aqualist] PhD in reconstructing Climate Extremes using speleothems In-Reply-To: 10544899a3dca0d1246a3837b25be104@mail.gmail.com References: b74047e93af82891f8169d9dbb7cbbdb@mail.gmail.com 10544899a3dca0d1246a3837b25be104@mail.gmail.com Message-ID: <934d45c92da4c64ceacb7a2764ec13ee@mail.gmail.com> ** Call for applications ** Fully-funded PhD in New Zealand ** *Flooding and rainfall histories reconstructed from speleothem magnetism and three-dimensional modelling of cave systems* *Description* Most studies addressing the changing climate focus on average temperature variations. However, the extent to which climate change alters local short-term rainfall patterns, including extreme weather events, is equally important for societal resilience and adaptation to anthropogenic climate change. Unfortunately, environmental archives and proxies of this information are underdeveloped and underexploited, limiting our understanding of natural rainfall variability and complicating predictions of inevitable future changes in rainfall. This PhD project aims to reconstruct past flooding events in Aotearoa New Zealand over the Holocene and last glacial period using speleothem magnetism, 3D modelling, and isotope studies. Magnetic particles deposited on speleothems from cave passages flooded by subterranean streams can be quantified and correlated to flooding intensity. Using precise 3D structure from motion (SfM) models, we aim to constrain stream level during historic flooding events, thereby quantifying the magnitude of paleo-floods. Calcium isotope analysis will provide information on the amount of water infiltrated from the surface. Combined, these methods will deliver unprecedented information on the magnitude and extent of past rainfall, droughts and floods in New Zealand. As part of this project, the PhD student will execute a combination of field work, experimental carbonate precipitation, and SfM modelling in collaboration with a well-rounded supervisory team. Work for this project will be carried out in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, the University of Copenhagen and Melbourne University. Given the availability of preliminary data for this project, there is scope for the candidate to lead the way in shaping the remainder of the thesis. *Prior experience* Prior experience in any of the following fields: isotope (or other) geochemistry, geology, geochronology, or mineral magnetism is highly valued. As part of your application package, kindly include: 1. CV (including 2-3 referee information) 2. Cover Letter (this can include: a description of why you want to undertake a PhD; how your previous experiences have prepared you for the research project that you are applying for; what your passions are within or outside of academia) Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Kindly email your application to: *adam.hartland at waikato.ac.nz* Ng? mihi, Adam *Associate Professor Adam Hartland* Rutherford Discovery Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences Te W?nanga P?taiao - Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science Environmental Research Institute | Te Aka M?tuatua - School of Science Ph: +64 7 837 9390 | Mobile: +64 21 104 5067 *www.wegeochem.com* [image: University of Waikato] *The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient specified in message only, unless otherwise stated.*