How will Air-Sea Greenhouse Gas Fluxes Respond to Global Change? (SUNTHARALINGAM_UEA_ARIES26)
Key Details
- Application deadline
- 7 January 2026
- Location
- UEA
- Funding type
- Competition funded project (Students worldwide)
- Start date
- 1 October 2026
- Mode of study
- Full or part time
- Programme type
- PhD
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Project description
Primary supervisor - Prof Parv Suntharalingam
The ocean plays a key role in controlling atmospheric greenhouse-gas levels. It removes a significant fraction of anthropogenic carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere, and also emits nitrous-oxide and methane, important greenhouse-gases formed by marine ecosystems. We urgently need to understand the processes regulating these air-sea fluxes, and how they will evolve under future global change. To accurately assess the combined impact of different greenhouse-gases on climate it is important to use models that integrate the underlying carbon and nitrogen cycles, and deliver a consistent greenhouse-gas flux response to global change.
In this project you will work with a team of scientists from the University of East Anglia and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to bring together existing model parameterisations for marine CO2 and N2O and develop an integrated greenhouse-gas ocean biogeochemistry model. You will apply the integrated model to assess the combined oceanic greenhouse-gas response to a range of climate change scenarios, e.g., accounting for the impacts of ocean warming and deoxygenation on marine ecosystems. The overarching aim will be to assess how the impacts of global change will affect the air-sea fluxes of the major greenhouse-gases within a consistent physical and biological model framework.
TRAINING:
This is a collaborative project between UEA, and the British Antarctic Survey and builds on previous research by the supervisory team on ocean biogeochemistry and climate change impacts. You will receive training in ocean circulation and biogeochemistry, numerical modelling, and associated climate data analyses. You will acquire skills in science communication, project management and collaborative research, and will be involved in a project of critical interest to oceanography and climate research communities.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
This project is suited for a candidate with a background in natural sciences, engineering or mathematics, with good numerical and programming skills, and interests in ocean biogeochemistry and global change.
Entry requirements
At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).
Acceptable first degree: Natural sciences, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Environmental Sciences.
Funding
ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential.
Please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk for further information.
References
Tian, H. et al. (including P. Suntharalingam and E, Buitenhuis), Global Nitrous Oxide Budget (1980-2020), Earth System Science Data, 16, 2543–2604, 2024. https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/16/2543/2024/
Tian, H. et al. (including P. Suntharalingam and E, Buitenhuis), ‘A comprehensive quantification of global nitrous oxide sources and sinks’, 2020, Nature. 586, 7828, p. 248–256.
Buitenhuis, E. T., Suntharalingam, P. & Le Quéré, C., ‘Constraints on global oceanic emissions of N2O from observations and models’, 2018, Biogeosciences. 15, 7, p. 2161-2175.
Takano, Y., et al. (including P. Suntharalingam and E, Buitenhuis), ‘Simulations of ocean deoxygenation in the historical era: insights from forced and coupled models’,. 2023, Frontiers in Marine Science, 10. 21 pp. 10.3389/fmars.2023.1139917
Suntharalingam, P., Buitenhuis, E., Le Quéré, C et al., ‘Quantifying the Impact of Anthropogenic Nitrogen Deposition on Oceanic Nitrous Oxide’, 2012, Geophysical Research Letters. 39, 7, L07605.