University College Dublin

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PhD Scholarship (4 years) - Modelling of peatland surface displacements from InSAR observations

Peatlands are a form of wetland in which waterlogged conditions prevent the decomposition of organic (mainly plant) materials and enable its accumulation. In good condition, peatlands are a natural carbon sink. Some 644 Gigatons of global soil carbon is stored in peat. This is more than in global forest cover, despite peat covering only 3-5 % of the global land area. Unfortunately, human activities have damaged peatlands. In Ireland for example, 82 % of peatlands are degraded, and they annually emit 5-6 Mt of CO₂ nationally (compared to c. 20 Mt of CO₂/yr is emitted by Irish agriculture). The PhD project, funded by Research Ireland, aims to answer questions about how ground surface motions on peatlands relate to ecohydrological parameters, functionality and carbon emissions, under climate changes. The proposed approach is to use numerical modelling of bog surface motions. You will investigate and analyse the relationships between the ecohydrological peat parameters, in particular groundwater levels, and peat surface displacements. Modelling will be constrained by ground motion datasets from SAR/InSAR remote sensing and in-situ measurements, as well as sub-surface information (e.g., groundwater levels, peat density, etc.). This project will provide essential knowledge for establishing baselines for peat parameters using satellite remote sensing, with the ultimate aim for estimating peat carbon emissions.

Desired Qualifications/Skills/Experience

• Master’s degree in Earth Sciences, Physics, Computer Sciences, or other relevant discipline.
• EU citizenship or residency permission.
• Experience with analytical and numerical modelling, and/or SAR/InSAR remote sensing.
• Strong skills in programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Proficiency in written and oral English.
• Strong motivation for research and a keen interest in Earth Sciences.

Please complete this Google Form and attach your cover letter, CV and the contact details for two referees.

Any questions: send an email to: alexis.hrysiewicz@ucd.ie