The Centre for Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS), School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, organized the UoH Golden Jubilee Alumni Talk on 18 February 2025. CEOAS alumnus Dr. Feba Francis (Ph.D., UoH, 2021), currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium, delivered a talk on “Wind Nudging Experiments to Simulate the 1970s Drop in Sea Ice Extent in the Southern Ocean” at the Padmashri B. P. Radhakrishna Conference Hall, CEOAS.
In her talk, Dr. Feba introduced key concepts of sea ice dynamics, covering its formation, deformation, and melting processes. She explained the critical role of sea ice in the Earth’s radiation budget, highlighting its function as a reflective surface that regulates heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. She also underscored the significance of Southern Ocean Sea ice in shaping global climate patterns, particularly through its influence on the meridional overturning circulation, which governs the transport of heat and carbon across the world’s oceans.
The ongoing decline in Antarctic Sea ice presents serious challenges, disrupting ocean circulation, weather patterns, and marine ecosystems. To better understand the decline in Antarctic Sea ice observed in the early 1970s, she is analysing the impact of ERA5 wind stresses through a nudging approach.
The event was coordinated by Prof. Ashok Karumuri and Dr. G. Kishore Kumar (Alumni Cell SPOC, CEOAS). Faculty members and students actively participated, engaging in discussions with the speaker.