Ross A. W. Slater

Ross A. W. Slater

Profile

My research investigates changes in the flow of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS), analysing ice velocity data derived from Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery. By using these satellite observations in conjunction with other environmental data sets I aim to investigate drivers of ice speed variability to help improve our understanding of the processes controlling short- and long-term ice speed change.

Using ‘big data’ particularly interests me. I perform analysis of high-resolution data cubes at a continental scale using the Pangeo software stack and have a strong interest in modern geospatial tools and file formats.

I graduated with an Integrated Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Edinburgh in 2020, where I researched future extreme temperature climatology in CMIP6 model output. Prior to beginning my PhD, I spent a year in the Earth observation sector working as a data scientist.

Research interests

  • Earth observation
  • Synthetic aperture radar
  • Ice sheet remote sensing
  • Antarctic Ice Sheet – climate interactions
  • Geospatial data science
  • Big data processing in the Pangeo ecosystem
  • Data cubes and cloud optimised data formats

Qualifications

  • MPhys (Hons) Physics, University of Edinburgh

Professional memberships

  • European Geosciences Union
  • International Glaciological Society
  • Institute of Physics

Research groups and institutes

  • Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science
  • Physical Climate and Cryosphere