Staff Profile

I am a physical geographer with a broad research interest in reconstructing the past extent and behaviour of ice sheets. I use geophysical techniques to analyse the internal stratigraphy and structure of ice sheets in order to understand temporal and spatial ice sheet evolution and ice dynamics.

Interests: Glacier Geophysics; Antarctic Glacial History; Basal properties of glaciers and ice sheets; Ice fabric; Subglacial lakes and hydrology; Quaternary Environments

2024-present Lecturer in Physical Geography, Newcastle University

2020-2024 PhD Physical Geography, Newcastle University

2019-2020 MSc Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Reconstruction, Northumbria University

2016-2019 BSc (Hons) Geography, Northumbria University

Research Projects

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research AntArchitecture Action Group

The goal of the AntArchitecture Action Group is to develop a continent‐wide, age‐depth model of Antarctica’s ice using the internal layers and surfaces imaged by radar‐sounding. The product underpins a wider goal to determine the stability of the Antarctic Ice Sheets over past glacial cycles. The initial aim of the group is to bring together key datasets on the internal layering of Antarctic Ice Sheets. Internal architecture describes the 3‐D internal structure of the ice imaged by multiple radar‐sounding surveys undertaken across Antarctica over the last five decades. This project is a cross-disciplinary effort with a team consisting of researchers from over 40 institutions.

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research RINGS Action Group

I am a member of the RINGS action group which aims to (1) clarify the current knowledge gaps at the ice-sheet margin and assess the impacts of new data filling these knowledge gaps, and (2) develop a set of protocols to systematically collect, analyse, and share comprehensive airborne geophysical data. The group will work for two years closely with relevant groups to generate novel synergies addressing highly societally-relevant sea-level questions.

British North Greenland Expedition Archive

In collaboration with Newcastle University's Special Collections & Archives, and funded through the Robinson Bequest Bursary, this project involved exploring over 700 transcripts which contain the detailed radio transmissions of day-to-day stories and science told by the members of the British North Greenland Expedition (BNGE) 1952-1954. The transcripts are available to explore through the Special Collections & Archives website or through blog posts.

Stage 1:

GEO1026: Becoming a Geographer

Stage 2:

GEO2127: Doing Physical Geography Research: Theory and Practice

GEO2136: Global Environmental Change

GEO2233: Humans vs Nature: Netherlands residential fieldtrip 

Stage 3:

GEO3099: Dissertations

GEO3147: Palaeoclimates

• Articles

  • Sanderson RJ, Winter K, Callard SL, Napoleoni F, Ross N, Jordan TA, Bingham RG. Englacial Architecture of Lambert Glacier, East Antarctica. The Cryosphere 2023, 17(11), 4853–4871.
  • Sanderson RJ, Ross N, Winter K, Bingham RG, Callard SL, Jordan TA, Young DA. Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history. Journal of Glaciology 2024, Epub ahead of print.
  • Livingstone SJ, Li Y, Rutishauser A, Sanderson RJ, Winter K, Mikucki JA, Björnsson H, Bowling JS, Chu W, Dow CF, Fricker HA, McMillan M, Ng FSL, Ross N, Siegert MJ, Siegfried M, Sole AJ. Subglacial lakes and their changing role in a warming climate. Nature Reviews. Earth & Environment 2022, 3, 106-124.

• Research Dataset/Database

  • Sanderson R, Winter K, Callard L, Napoleoni F, Ross N, Jordan TA, Bingham RG. Internal Layer Continuity Index returns and englacial reflectors from Lambert Glacier, East Antarctica. 2023. Newcastle University.