Dr Stephen Hunter

Profile

I completed an MPhys (Hons) in Physics and Space Science at the University of Southampton and developed a strong interest in computational physics and its applications. I then did a PhD in the modelling of Late Cretaceous climates and ice sheets at the British Antarctic Survey and the University of Leeds. The main goal of this work was to determine whether eustatic sea-level changes during the Latest Cretaceous had glacial origins. I then conducted postdoctoral research investigating the evolution of submarine methane hydrates during the Late Quaternary and within scenarios of future climate change. I am currently a Research Fellow focused on the modelling of Phanerozoic and Neoproterozoic climates and have worked on projects focused on Phanerozoic climate, ocean, and tidal modelling; Jurassic-Cretaceous ocean circulation and biogeography; Miocene-Pliocene Arctic sea ice dynamics and monsoon systems; and the Pliocene climate (PlioMIP2).  

Research interests

My research interests are in the evaluation of climate models and the modelling and interactions of different earth-system components in palaeo and future contexts. I am experienced in the modelling of the atmosphere-ocean climate system, ice-sheets, vegetation, and methane hydrates. I work across multiple disciplines and have contributed modelling in the studies of macroevolutionary dynamics, palaeoclimatic impacts of volcanoes, and the generation of new palaeogeographic frameworks. I have a strong software engineering background developing software for data mining and statistical analysis, palaeogeographic plate rotations, model integration and coupling, data-model evaluations, algorithm development and GIS software development.

Qualifications

• PhD, Modelling Antarctic Ice Sheets Under Greenhouse Earth Conditions
• MPhys, Physics with Space Science

Research groups and institutes

• Earth Surface Science Institute
• Palaeo@Leeds