Polar Blue Carbon Geographic Analyst

British Antarctic Survey are looking for a Geographic Analyst to work on a project which will provide key policy advice on how to best safeguard existing and emerging blue carbon sinks around Antarctica

Background

The Southern Ocean around Antarctica holds an abundant and rich biodiversity, the vast majority of which are endemic species, living on the seabed. This life in Earth’s coldest waters provides powerful ecosystem services (nature’s benefits to society), one of which is climate mitigation by capture and export of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to burial below ocean sediments. This ‘blue carbon’, is held within the bodies of marine organisms, captured by photosynthesis of algae, then stored by a wide variety of long-lived animals in the foodweb and eventually buried in deep water sediments. Unlike carbon sinks elsewhere around the world, those around Antarctica appear to be currently increasing, thus providing a negative (mitigating) feedback on climate change. The proposed project aims to bring together all existing quantitative information on the extent of blue carbon around Antarctica. This data will be checked, standardised and mapped to show the geography of existing knowledge of Anatarctica’s blue carbon Natural Capital.

If you have any questions relating to the post, please contact dbarnes@awi-polarstern.de

Purpose

Polar blue carbon data collation, organisation and mapping, statistical analysis and manuscript drafting (with other grant team members).

Qualification

Relevant biology or environmental degree

Duties

• Search high latitude blue carbon published and grey literature
• Collate, quality asses and convert data to common standard and units
• Map and assess knowledge gaps and hotspots
• Possibly join fieldwork if needed and design gap-filling proposals
• Analysis of polar blue carbon patterns and interpretation with project team
• Write up reports and scientific papers, and present findings with team

Please quote reference for any queries: BAS 22/45
Publication date: 25 March 2022
Closing date for receipt of application forms is: 1 May 2022
Interviews are scheduled to be held on: 10 May 2022

At BAS, our vision is to be a world-leading centre for polar science and operations. Making our vision a reality depends on the excellence and diversity of our staff. We are committed to creating a workplace where all our staff can flourish and succeed. BAS is a Disability Confident employer, we are proud to hold a bronze Athena Swan award and we are a member of enei, the EmployersNetwork for Equality & Inclusion.

We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.