Louise Sime

Earth system dynamics during current and past warm climates.

Research Area

I am an earth system modeller and climate scientist. I develop numerical methods to enable us to use ice core measurements to improve our models and understanding of climate change. I have many international and inter-disciplinary collaborations, which help us develop a clearer understanding of key climate and earth system dynamics during past and current warm climates.

I lead the 40-person Ice Dynamics and Paleoclimate, and Earth System Modelling, Team – alongside ESM components of a variety of international projects including EU-P2F, EU-TiPES, EU-ANTSIE, EU-DEEPICE, SWAIS2C and various others. Our ongoing work includes:

• Developing the UKESM model to include key ice core species.
• Leading projects like SURFEIT, which studies surface fluxes in Antarctica.
• Leading the CMIP7 FastTrack protocol for modelling Arctic sea ice loss.
• Research on the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and Antarctic sea ice.

My team and I aim to provide an excellent research environment, including twice-weekly meetings with all PhD students and PDRAs. This helps ensure excellent prospects for PhD candidates’ development and future career. Please also see https://www.bas.ac.uk/profile/lsim/ 

Project Interests

Interglacial Climate Dynamics: Develop numerical methods to enhance the UKESM. Focus on simulating climate conditions during interglacial periods, improve our understanding of warm climates, ice dynamics, and their global impacts. Test against ice cores.

FastTrack for Abrupt Climate Change: Lead a comprehensive study which analyses the forthcoming CMIP7 FastTrack protocol model output. Better understand past abrupt sea ice loss. Enhance forecasts of future abrupt sea ice loss and associated climate change.

Warm climate ice sheet stability: Build on current interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly EU-P2F and NERC-SWAIS2C, and examine the past stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Leverage international expertise to advance knowledge of climate/ice resilience.