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Dr Ben Brock

Contact:
b.w.brock@dundee.ac.uk
Tel:+44 (0)1382 385443
Fax:+44 (0)1382 388588
Postal Address:
Geography
School of the Environment
University of Dundee
Perth Rd
Dundee
DD1 4HN

Research

EB_AUTO: A Spreadsheet Energy Balance Model For Glacier and Snow Melt Studies

Research Interests

I am a physical geographer with broad interests in glacier-climate relationships, with a particular focus on:

• remote sensing and numerical melt modelling of snow and ice masses
• (micro)meteorology and water resources in alpine environments
• debris-covered glaciers
• volcano-ice interactions
• the Quaternary evolution of glaciated landscapes

Current Research Projects

Assessing Climate Change and Impacts on the Quantity and Quality of Water

• Funded by the EU 7th Framework Programme

This major international project, involving 35 partner institutions in Europe, Asia and south America, aims to quantify the influence of climate change on river discharge at a range of temporal and spatial scales and to analyse the impacts on society and economy. My role in this project is the development of models of differing levels of sophistication to predict glacier runoff at local and regional scales under climate change scenarios, and involves close collaboration with colleagues at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich. I am also working with colleagues at the Dundee UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science in assessment of different policy options for water resource governance and their relative costs and benefits to society. The University of Dundee hosted the ACQWA AGM in September 2010.

Impacts of Debris Covers on Mountain Glacier Melt Rates

• Funded by the NERC, British Council and Carnegie Trust
• Collaboration with the University of Milan, ARPA Val d'Aosta and Fondazione Montagna Sicura, Courmayeur

Debris covers have been seen to expand across glaciers in many parts of the world in recent decades as a consequence of glacial retreat, but as yet their effects on glacier mass balance are not well understand. This project has two main aims:

• Develop techniques to map patterns of debris-cover thickness across debris-covered glaciers using data from satellites and a thermal imaging camera, in combination with digital elevation models.
• Use meteorological and micrometeorological measurements to develop models to calculate heat fluxes and sub-debris ice melt rates for different debris thicknesses and properties.

Fieldwork has been conducted at Miage glacier, on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc Massif, every summer since 2005 providing excellent opportunities for undergraduate fieldwork and dissertations.

Volcano-ice Interactions in Chile and Iceland

• Funded by the Royal Society and the Chilean National Fund for Science and Technological Development (FONDECYT)
• Collaborative project with Centro de Estudios Científicos, Chile, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University of Innsbruck

We are using a combination of remotely-sensed topographic data (Shuttle Radar and AirSAR), ground-based GPS, ice thickness measurements using radio-echo sounding, and numerical melt modelling to quantify the relative roles of geothermally-enhanced basal melting and climate change in the recent shrinkage of glaciers on active volcanoes in the Chilean Lakes District (38-41° S). Assessment of ice volumes and melt rates is important as eruption-induced floods- (lahars) pose a serious hazard in the region. A novel component of this work has been the use of terrestrial digital photography to generate daily maps of surface albedo for input to a numerical surface melt model of the glacier on Villarrica Volcano. I have also been lucky enough to study glaciers in Iceland affected by the Katla 1918 and Hekla 1947 eruptions.

Evolution of Glaciated Landscapes during the Quaternary

• Funded by the Carnegie Trust
• Collaborative project with Massey University, New Zealand

We have examined the roles of geology (rock mass strength, structure and tectonics) and glacial erosion in the development of glacial valleys and cirques over the Quaternary period. A major advance has been the quantification of the rates of glacial cirque and glacial valley evolution using glacial occupancy periods estimated from offshore oxygen-isotope records and know rates of uplift of mountain ranges in South Island, New Zealand.

Snow Cover in the Scottish Highlands
I have supervised 2 PhD projects investigating the remote sensing and terrain-based modelling of Scottish snow cover.

Research Grants Since 2000

Year	Description/Awarding Body
2009 - 2010	PI. Loan of Leica 1200 GPS systems (2 awards). NERC/GEF £3,300 (in kind)
2008 - 2013	Co-ordinating Partner. ACQWA: Assessing climate change and impacts on the quantity and quality of water. EC 7th Framework Programme EU6.5 million (Dundee EU145k)
2007	PI. Rate and meteorological controls on melt water evaporation from debris-covered glaciers. Carnegie Trust £1,700
2007, 2003, 2000	PI. Overseas conference grant (3 awards). Royal Society £1.600
2007	PI. Airborne remote sensing of debris-covered glaciers in the western Alps (2 awards). NERC/ARSF £20,000 (in kind)
2005	PI. Impact of debris covers on mountain glacier melt rates using satellite and meteorological measurements. NERC £27,100
2005	PI. Understanding and predicting the impact of climate change on the mountain environment. British Council-CRUI Partnership £3,500
2003	PI. Glacier-volcano-climate interactions in southern Chile. Study visit. Royal Society £2,200
2003	PI. Glacier-volcano-climate interactions in southern Chile. Study visit. Royal Society of Edinburgh £2,000
2001	PI. Melt energy variations across alpine glacier margins during glacier retreat. Carnegie Trust £1,200

Collaboration on Projects at Other Institutions

Year	Description/Awarding Body
2009 - 2012	CI with University of Newcastle. Development of water scarcity management strategies through improved understanding of snowmelt runoff mechanisms in the Upper Indus Basin. British Council INSPIRE Strategic Partnership Award £76,860
2009 - 2012	CI with Centro de Estudios Científicos, Chile. Ice-capped volcanoes in southern Chile: glacier impacts of geothermal activity and eruptive events. Support to decision making and adaptive process. Chilean Nat. Fund for Sci. & Tech. Devt. CLP159,218k (£204k approx.)
2005 - 2007	CI with Centro de Estudios Científicos, Chile. Glacier-volcano interactions in Southern Chile: volcanic hazard and climate change implications. Chilean Nat. Fund for Sci. & Tech. Devt. CLP97,625k (£125k approx.)

Recent PhD completions

Lesley Foster, topic 'Remote sensing of debris covered glaciers', awarded in 2010.

Richard Gosling 'The modelling of snow water equivalent distribution in an upland Scottish catchment' awarded in 2005.

Current PhD students

Catriona Fyffe, topic 'Hydrology of debris-covered glaciers'

Background

Academic Background

Year	Degree/University
1992-1996	Ph.D. Geography, University of Cambridge.
1991-1992	M.Sc. Department of Geography, University of Leicester.
1988-1991	B.Sc. Geography, King's College London, University of London.

Appointments

Year	Title/University
2007 -	Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, University of Dundee.
1996 - 2007	Lecturer in Physical Geography, University of Dundee.
1995-1996	Affiliated Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge.

Professional

Professional Memberships

• American Geophysical Union
• Comitato Glaciologico Italiano
• European Geosciences Union
• International Glaciological Society
• Royal Scottish Geographical Society
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Professional Roles

• Editorial board member, Environmental Research Letters
• Associate Editor for Annals of Glaciology Volumes 44 and 48
• Convenor of 'Ice-Volcano Interactions' session at the International Union of Geology and Geophysics (IUGG) General Assembly, Perugia, Italy, July 2007.
• Co-convenor of 'Energy and mass balance of snow and ice' sessions at annual assemblies of the European Geosciences Union.
• Peer reviewer for 19 ISI-listed scientific journals.

Selected Recent Publications

Reid, T.R. and B.W. Brock. 2010. An energy-balance model for debris-covered glaciers including heat conduction through the debris layer. Journal of Glaciology, 56(199), 903-916.

Brock, B.W., C. Mihalcea, M.P. Kirkbride, G. Diolaiuti, M.E. Cutler and C. Smiraglia. 2010. Meteorology and surface energy fluxes in the 2005-2007 ablation seasons at Miage debris-covered glacier, Mont Blanc Massif, Italian Alps. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, D09106, doi:10.1029/2009JD013224

Rivera, A., J.G. Corripio, B. Brock, J. Clavero and J. Wendt. 2008. Monitoring ice-capped active Volcán Villarrica, southern Chile, using terrestrial photography combined with automatic weather stations and global positioning systems. Journal of Glaciology, 54(188), 920-930

Mihalcea, C., B.W. Brock, G. Diolaiuti, C. D'Agata, M. Citterio, M.P. Kirkbride, M.E. Cutler and C. Smiraglia. 2008. Using ASTER satellite and ground-based surface temperature measurements to derive supraglacial debris cover and thickness patterns on Miage glacier (Mont Blanc Massif, Italy). Cold Regions Science and Technology, 52(3), 341-354. doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.03.004.

Brook, M.S., M.P. Kirkbride and B.W. Brock. 2008 Temporal constraints on glacial valley cross-profile evolution: Two Thumb Range, central Southern Alps, New Zealand. Geomorphology, 94, 24-34. Doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.02.036.

Brock, B.W., A. Rivera, G. Casassa, F. Bown and C. Acuña. 2007. The surface energy balance of an active ice-covered volcano: Volcán Villarrica, southern Chile. Annals of Glaciology, 45, 104-114

Brock, B.W., I.C. Willis, and M.J. Sharp. 2006. Measurement and parameterisation of surface roughness variations at Haut Glacier d'Arolla. Journal of Glaciology, 52(177), 281-297.

Brook, M.S., M.P. Kirkbride and B.W. Brock. 2006. A quantified timescale for glacial valley evolution in alpine mountains. Geology, 34(8), 637-640, doi: 10.1130/G22700.1.

Brook, M.S., M.P. Kirkbride and B.W. Brock. 2006. Cirque development in a steadily uplifting range: rates of erosion and long-term morphometric change in alpine cirques in the Ben Ohau Range, New Zealand. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 1167-1175, doi: 10.1002/esp.1327.

Rivera, A, F. Bown, R. Mella, J. Wendt, G. Casassa, C. Acuña, E. Rignot, J. Clavero and B. Brock. 2006. Ice volumetric changes on active volcanoes in Southern Chile. Annals of Glaciology, 43, 111-122.

Brook, M.S. and B.W. Brock. 2005. Valley morphology and glaciation in the Tararua Range, North Island, New Zealand. 48(4), 717-724. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.

Pellicciotti, F., B. Brock, U. Strasser, P. Burlando, M. Funk and J. Corripio. 2005. A new temperature index glacier melt model incorporating albedo: development and testing for Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. Journal of Glaciology, 51(175), 573-587.

Brock, B.W. 2004. An analysis of short-term albedo variations at Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. Geografiska Annaler, 86A, 53-65.

Brook, M.S., M.P. Kirkbride, and B.W. Brock. 2004. Rock strength and development of glacial valley morphology in the Scottish Highlands and Northwest Iceland. Geografiska Annaler, 86A, 225-234.

Strasser, U., J. Corripio, F. Pellicciotti, P. Burlando, B. Brock and M. Funk. 2004. Spatial and temporal variability of meteorological variables at Haut Glacier d'Arolla (Switzerland) during the ablation season 2001: measurements and simulations. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109 (D03103), doi: 10.1029/2003JD003973.

Brook, M.S., B.W. Brock and M.P. Kirkbride. 2003. Glacial outlet valley size-drainage area relationships: some considerations. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 28, 645-653.

Gosling, R.D., A.R. Black and B.W. Brock. 2002. High Snow Melt Rates in the Cairngorms, N.E. Scotland. Proceedings of the 8^th National Hydrology Symposium. University of Birmingham. 8-11th September 2002, 91-96.

Willis, I.C., N.S. Arnold and B.W. Brock. 2002. Modelling energy balance, melt and runoff in a small supraglacial catchment. Hydrological Processes, 16(14), 2721-2749.

Brock, B.W., I.C. Willis and M.J. Sharp. 2000. Measurement and parameterisation of albedo variations at Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. Journal of Glaciology, 46(155), 675-688.

Brock, B.W., I.C. Willis, M.J. Sharp and N.S. Arnold. 2000. Modelling seasonal and spatial variations in the surface energy balance of Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. Annals of Glaciology, 31, 53-62.

Brock, B.W. and N.S. Arnold. 2000. A spreadsheet-based (Microsoft Excel) point surface energy balance model for glacier and snow melt studies. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 25, 649-658.

Thomson, M.H., M.P. Kirkbride and B.W. Brock. 2000. Twentieth century surface elevation change of the Miage Glacier, Italian Alps. In Nakawo, M., C.F. Raymond and A. Fountain, eds. Debris-covered glaciers. Proceedings of the international workshop on debris-covered glaciers, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., 13-15 September, 2000. I.A.H.S. Publication No. 264 (ISSN 0144-7815), 219-225.

Knap, W.H., B.W. Brock, J. Oerlemans and I.C. Willis. 1999. Comparison of Landsat-TM derived and ground-based albedo of Haut Glacier d'Arolla. International Journal of Remote Sensing., 20(17), 3293-3310.