Dr Matthew Peacey

I am a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Himalayan field glaciology, employed on the “Losing their Cool” NERC funded project. Losing their Cool seeks to investigate firn and ice conditions in the Western Cwm of Mount Everest, Nepal via a series of field campaigns and numerical modelling. I am also working as part of the NERC funded SLIDE Project (Subglacial Lakes at Isunguata Sermia – Dynamics & Evolution).

I hold a master’s and PhD in Glaciology from Aberystwyth University - my PhD research focused on the role of glacier structures in the degradation of debris-covered glaciers via combination of geophysics and remote sensing. My current research is focused on investigation of ice and firn conditions in high mountains, glacier-lake dam development in Nepal and investigation of active subglacial lakes in West Greenland. 

My research focuses on the collection of field observations from glaciated environments to understand glacier hydrology and ice dynamics. My current research is focused on three areas: 1) Ice dynamics of high-mountain glaciers via the installation of thermistor strings, automatic weather stations and Optical Televiewing (OPTV) of boreholes. 2) Investigation of subglacial lakes via deployment of novel wireless sensors (Cryoegg) and geophysical investigation (ice penetrating radar and active seismics). 3) Glacier lake-dam development via remote sensing of historical and contemporary imagery. I have successfully planned and conducted research for myself and teams of researchers in the Swiss Alps, the Himalaya, the Andes, Greenland and throughout the UK. My most recent work included an expedition to Everest to instrument the Western Cwm at ~6,700 m.a.s.l.