Geography student secures $150K NASA grant for ice sheet meltwater research

Mahsa Bahrami , a doctoral student in Penn State’s Department of Geography, has been awarded a NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) grant to fund her research on meltwater lakes at the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet. The award, totaling $150,000, will support Bahrami's research over the next three years, starting in January 2025.

Of the 434 proposals submitted to NASA's Earth Science Division, only 57 were selected for funding. Bahrami's proposal, titled "DeepLakes: Observing and Predicting Antarctic Supraglacial Lakes Through Deep Learning Architectures," aims to improve understanding of how these lakes influence ice sheet dynamics and contribute to global sea level rise.

"I cannot express the feelings I had when I learned my proposal was selected," Bahrami said. "It was a mix of joy, excitement, appreciation and gratitude, along with a sense of relief and motivation. This award will support my research by covering my stipend, tuition fees and travel to attend conferences and workshops. Access to NASA's high-end computing resources will be important for processing the large satellite datasets and running deep learning models necessary for my project.”

Supraglacial lakes form from melting of snow and ice at the surface of ice sheets and glaciers. Ice shelves, which hold back Antarctica’s ice, are known to be impacted by melting at their surfaces, Bahrami said. Her research will use advanced computational approaches and extensive satellite datasets to create a comprehensive record of supraglacial lakes in Antarctica.

"The Antarctic ice sheet is incredibly important when it comes to understanding global sea levels..."

"The Antarctic ice sheet is incredibly important when it comes to understanding global sea levels," Bahrami said. "If the entire ice sheet were to melt, it would raise global sea levels by 57 meters, yet it represents the most significant uncertainty in projections of future sea levels. Contributing to a great deal to this uncertainty is the stability of ice shelves. When meltwater from supraglacial lakes and streams enter existing cracks on ice shelves, it can deepen these fractures, potentially leading to the ice shelf’s breakup. My project seeks to address this uncertainty by improving our understanding of supraglacial lakes over the recent past and future ."

By leveraging advanced computational techniques, Bahrami aims to develop novel observations of these meltwater lakes today and improve predictions of how they might evolve under changing climatic conditions, ultimately contributing to more accurate projections of sea level rise.

"My research aims to provide a better understanding of the dynamics and future trajectories of supraglacial lakes..."

"My research aims to provide a better understanding of the dynamics and future trajectories of supraglacial lakes," Bahrami said. "By creating a comprehensive dataset of these lakes and predicting their long-term evolution, I hope to contribute to more accurate sea level rise projections, which are crucial for developing adaptive strategies for coastal communities around the world."

Luke Trusel, assistant professor of geography and Bahrami's adviser, expressed his pride in her achievement.

"I’m so incredibly happy for Mahsa," Trusel said. "Mahsa’s research will provide critical insights into one of the most pressing challenges of our time — how Antarctica will respond to a warming climate — and this award is a deserved recognition of her potential to drive future innovations in cryospheric science. She’s an incredibly talented and motivated researcher, and I’m thrilled to be working with her on this project over the next few years."

Bahrami credited her success to the support she has received from Trusel and the Penn State Department of Geography.

"I am very lucky to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Trusel," she said. "His inspiring work and constant encouragement have motivated me greatly, and receiving the NASA FINESST award would not have been possible without his support and guidance. Additionally, the department's support has significantly contributed to my professional and academic growth by funding my travels to the annual American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting as well as to the International Summer School in Glaciology."

Looking ahead, Bahrami said she aspires to join a NASA research laboratory and continue cryospheric science, focusing on ice sheet surface hydrology. Understanding how the Antarctic ice sheet will respond to rising global temperatures is a critical challenge, given its central role in regulating global sea level change, she said.

“My long-term goal is to be part of NASA's efforts in this critical area of research,” Bahrami said.

Story published at 美国宾夕法尼亚州立大学 News.

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Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences