My main research motivation lies in ice sheets and glaciers and their role in the Earth System. I am particularly interested in fast glacier flow and subglacial conditions, as well as ice mass balance and ice sheet history.
My work is primarily observational and concerned with process studies, with a focus on the application of geophysical methods to understanding the current state of, and change in, the Cryosphere; this work has involved a lot of fieldwork in Antarctica and the Arctic.
Here is a selection of my recent publications:
Brisbourne, A.M., A.M. Smith, E.C. King, K.W. Nicholls, P.R. Holland, K. Makinson, 2014. Seabed topography beneath Larsen C Ice Shelf from seismic soundings, The Cryosphere, doi:10.5194/tc-8-1-2014.
Smith, A.M., T.A. Jordan, F. Ferraccioli, R.G. Bingham, 2013. Influence of subglacial conditions on ice stream dynamics: Seismic and potential field data from Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10:1029/2012JB009582.
Bingham, R.G., F. Ferraccioli, E.C. King, R.D. Larter, H.D. Pritchard, A.M. Smith, D.G. Vaughan, 2012. Inland thinning of West Antarctic Ice Sheet steered along subglacial rifts, Nature, 487, 468-471
Smith, A.M., C.R. Bentley, R.G. Bingham, T.A. Jordan, 2012. Rapid subglacial erosion beneath Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica. Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L12501, doi:10.1029/2012GL051651.
Ross, Siegert, Woodward, Smith, Corr, Bentley, Hindmarsh, King, Rivera, 2011. Holocene stability of the Amundsen-Weddell ice divide, West Antarctica. Geology, 39, 935-938.
Thoma, Grosfeld, Meyer, Smith, Woodward, Ross, 2011. The “tipping” temperature within Subglacial Lake Ellsworth and its implications for lake access. The Cryosphere, 5, 561-567.
Woodward, Smith, Ross, Thoma, Grosfeld, Corr, King, King, Tranter, Siegert, 2010. Location for direct-access to subglacial Lake Ellsworth: An assessment of geophysical data and modelling. Geophys. Res., Lett., 37, L11501, doi10:1029/2010GL042884.
Thoma, Grosfeld, Smith, Mayer, 2010. A comment on the Equation of State and the freezing point equation with respect to subglacial lake modelling. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 294, 80–84, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2010.03.005
Scott, Smith, Bingham, Vaughan, 2010. Crevasses triggered on Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, by drilling through and exceptional melt layer. Annals of Glaciology, 51, 65-70.
Smith, A.M. and Murray, T., 2009. Bedform topography and basal conditions beneath a fast-flowing West Antarctic ice stream. Quat. Sci. Rev., 28, 584-596.
Adalgeirsdottir, G., Smith, A.M., Murray, T., King, M.A., Makinson, K., Nicholls, K.W and Behar, A.E., 2008. Tidal influence on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica: Observations of surface flow and basal processes from closely spaced GPS and passive seismic stations. J. Glaciol., 54, 715-724.
Smith, A. M., Murray, T., Nicholls, K. W., Makinson, K., Adalgeirsdottir, G., Behar, A. E., and Vaughan, D. G.: 2007, Rapid erosion, drumlin formation and changing hydrology beneath Antarctic ice stream, Geology. 35, 127–130.
Peters, L. E., Anandakrishnan, S., Alley, R. B., and Smith, A. M.: 2007, Extensive storage of basal meltwater in the onset region of a major West Antarctic ice stream, Geology, 35, 251-254.
Smith, A. M.: 2006, Microearthquakes and subglacial conditions, Geophys. Res. Lett. 33, doi:10.1029/2006GL028207
Smith, A., Brisbourne, A., Woodward, J., Ross, N., & Siegert, M. (2025). Subglacial Lake Ellsworth seismic reflection profiles, raw seismic and GPS survey data, 2007/2008 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/f7eda2dc-245e-4704-aef8-4a267190c22a
Agnew, R., Brisbourne, A., & Smith, A. (2025). Seismic reflection and refraction shot gathers from Korff Ice Rise, West Antarctica, 2015 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/e9ed7128-eeed-4478-b308-8d1ea347dfa4
Pritchard, H., Fretwell, P., Fremand, A., Bodart, J., Kirkham, J., Aitken, A., Bamber, J., Bell, R., Bianchi, C., Bingham, R., Blankenship, D., Casassa, G., Catania, G., Christianson, K., Conway, H., Corr, H., Cui, X., Damaske, D., Damn, V., … Zirizzotti, A. (2024). BEDMAP3 – Ice thickness, bed and surface elevation for Antarctica – gridding products (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/2d0e4791-8e20-46a3-80e4-f5f6716025d2
Schlegel, R., Smith, A., Brisbourne, A., Clark, R., & Booth, A. (2024). Basal Elevation and Reflectivity beneath Rutford Ice Stream from ground-based 3D migrated radar data acquired in 2017/18 within two 3x3km2 areas (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/dbf2e081-b332-4d20-b242-2daa5fed25ae
Schlegel, R., Brisbourne, A., Smith, A., & Booth, A. (2024). 3D radar topography, radar-derived bed reflectivity and seismic acoustic impedance of Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, December 2005 to January 2017 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/11e5449d-2de7-40d8-8994-094238808625
Brisbourne, A., Rivera, A., Zamora, R., Napoleoni, F., Smith, A., Ortega, M., & Uribe Parada, J. (2023). Seismic bathymetry surveys of Subglacial Lake CECs, West Antarctica, 2016 and 2022 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/768258e0-8719-446f-b20f-587725d55774
Arenas Pingarron, A., Brisbourne, A., Corr, H., Jordan, T., Robinson, C., Martin, C., Nicholls, K., & Smith, A. (2023). Ice-sounding airborne synthetic aperture radar depth profiles from Recovery Ice Stream 2016/17 and Rutford Ice Stream 2019/20 to test the RGB-Doppler-Decomposition method. (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/40c2f86b-1a02-4106-934a-42769682df66
Arenas Pingarron, A., Corr, H., Jordan, T., Robinson, C., Nicholls, K., & Smith, A. (2023). Airborne synthetic aperture radar ice-sounding depth profiles from Recovery Ice Stream 2016/17, and calibration data from Rothera 2016/17 and 2019/20 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/faac4156-047d-47ba-9e31-1a4f766bfdf8
Kufner, S., Brisbourne, A., Smith, A., Wookey, J., Martin, C., Hudson, T., & Kendall, J. (2022). Shear wave splitting catalogue, Rutford Ice Stream (West Antarctica), November 2018 to February 2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/6fcc17ad-425b-4367-bd23-c4133a38e359
Fretwell, P., Pritchard, H., Fremand, A., Bodart, J., Aitken, A., Bamber, J., Bell, R., Bianchi, C., Bingham, R., Blankenship, D., Casassa, G., Catania, G., Christianson, K., Conway, H., Corr, H., Cui, X., Damaske, D., Damn, V., Drews, R., … Zirizzotti, A. (2022). BEDMAP3 – Ice thickness, bed and surface elevation for Antarctica – standardised shapefiles and geopackages (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/a72a50c6-a829-4e12-9f9a-5a683a1acc4a
Fremand, A., Fretwell, P., Bodart, J., Pritchard, H., Aitken, A., Bamber, J., Bell, R., Bianchi, C., Bingham, R., Blankenship, D., Casassa, G., Catania, G., Christianson, K., Conway, H., Corr, H., Cui, X., Damaske, D., Damn, V., Drews, R., … Zirizzotti, A. (2022). BEDMAP3 – Ice thickness, bed and surface elevation for Antarctica – standardised data points (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/91523ff9-d621-46b3-87f7-ffb6efcd1847
Fretwell, P., Pritchard, H., Vaughan, D., Bamber, J., Barrand, N., Bell, R., Bianchi, C., Bingham, R., Blankenship, D., Casassa, G., Catania, G., Callens, D., Conway, H., Cook, A., Corr, H., Damaske, D., Damn, V., Ferraccioli, F., Forsberg, R., … Bodart, J. (2022). BEDMAP2 – Ice thickness, bed and surface elevation for Antarctica – standardised shapefiles and geopackages (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/0f90d926-99ce-43c9-b536-0c7791d1728b
Fretwell, P., Fremand, A., Bodart, J., Pritchard, H., Vaughan, D., Bamber, J., Barrand, N., Bell, R., Bianchi, C., Bingham, R., Blankenship, D., Casassa, G., Catania, G., Callens, D., Conway, H., Cook, A., Corr, H., Damaske, D., Damn, V., … Zirizzotti, A. (2022). BEDMAP2 – Ice thickness, bed and surface elevation for Antarctica – standardised data points (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/2fd95199-365e-4da1-ae26-3b6d48b3e6ac
Fretwell, P., Pritchard, H., Vaughan, D., Bamber, J., Barrand, N., Bell, R., Bianchi, C., Bingham, R., Blankenship, D., Casassa, G., Catania, G., Callens, D., Conway, H., Cook, A., Corr, H., Damaske, D., Damn, V., Ferraccioli, F., Forsberg, R., … Zirizzotti, A. (2022). BEDMAP2 – Ice thickness, bed and surface elevation for Antarctica – gridding products (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/fa5d606c-dc95-47ee-9016-7a82e446f2f2
Napoleoni, F., Jamieson, S., Ross, N., Bentley, M., Rivera, A., Smith, A., Siegert, M., Paxman, G., Gacitúa, G., Uribe, J., Zamora, R., Brisbourne, A., & Vaughan, D. (2020). Subglacial lakes and hydrology across the Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands, West Antarctica, 1977-2017 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/72f46ad0-063d-49a7-ba89-45edc5d9aac7
Schlegel, R., Brisbourne, A., King, E., Murray, T., & Smith, A. (2020). Radar-derived bed reflectivity of Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, December 2016 to January 2017 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/5f68fce1-863e-4173-acdb-0ed03cca1c95
Jordan, T., Martin, C., Brisbourne, A., Schroeder, D., & Smith, A. (2020). Radar characterization of ice crystal orientation fabric and anisotropic rheology within Rutford Ice Stream, 2017-2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/d5b7e5a1-b04d-48d8-a440-c010658ec146
Ferraccioli, F., Jones, P., & Smith, A. (2020). Processed line aeromagnetic data over Ellsworth Land (2001) (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/2e0ebbc5-1539-4f3c-873d-c62ea354c35c
Jones, P., Ferraccioli, F., & Smith, A. (2020). Processed line aerogravity data over Ellsworth Land region (2001) (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/5de1230c-33f5-4586-821b-e6c40316d6bd
Corr, H., & Smith, A. (2020). Processed bed elevation picks from airborne radar depth sounding across Ellsworth Land (2001) (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/4b2ccda1-91ec-4c57-9ae0-07b9a387f352
Kufner, S., Brisbourne, A., Smith, A., Hudson, T., Murray, T., Schlegel, R., Kendall, J., Anandakrishnan, S., & Lee, I. (2020). Microseismic icequake catalogue, Rutford Ice Stream (West Antarctica), November 2018 to February 2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/b809a040-8305-4bc5-baff-76aa2b823734
Smith, A., Murray, T., & King, M. (2020). Long-duration GPS record from Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, 2004-2007 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/dac20505-a56e-4beb-97ba-077eecd587c0
Smith, A., Woodward, J., & Ross, N. (2020). Ice surface, ice base and lake bed elevation data from seismic data acquired over Subglacial Lake Ellsworth 2007-08 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/01f26c07-ea6c-4d89-893e-d86247874e78
Smith, A., Makinson, K., & Nicholls, K. (2020). Borehole thermometry data from Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, 2007 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/1fd6ab5a-3139-4a12-99d3-2ba0c0213744
Smith, A., Ross, N., & Woodward, J. (2019). Subglacial Lake Ellsworth, 2007/08 shallow ice core for density measurements (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/0aed0330-82f2-4c5c-8c4c-03742653b37e
Hodgson, D., Jordan, T., de Rydt, J., Fretwell, P., Seddon, S., Becker, D., Hogan, K., Smith, A., & Vaughan, D. (2019). Gravity enhanced bathymetric model beneath the Brunt Ice Shelf and Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue (Version 1) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/40bcedbe-fea0-4b41-b2f7-bf2d8494b5ad
Fretwell, P., Hodgson, D., Hogan, K., Smith, J., Hillenbrand, C., Allen, C., Peck, V., Arndt, J., Dorschel, B., Hubscher, C., Smith, A., Larter, R., & Graham, A. (2019). A bathymetric compilation of the Brunt Sub-Iceshelf, Antarctica (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01134
Kingslake, J. (2018). Polarimetric phase sensitive radar data from Korff Ice Rise, West Antarctica, 2014 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/fc7e78d8-ae93-43cc-ade7-181b3af17a3e
Brisbourne, A., & Smith, A. (2018). Multi-azimuth long-offset seismic gathers from Korff Ice Rise, West Antarctica, 2015 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/c563569e-0875-404b-acb2-cd5f9e5c4706
Bougamont, M. (2018). Ice flow model output for Pine Island Glacier (West Antarctica), from numerical inversions of ice surface velocities observed in 1996 and 2014 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/3cf26ab6-7f47-4868-a87d-c62a2eefea1f
Mulvaney, R. (2017). Borehole derived Pine Island Glacier mean annual temperatures – collected 2014-2015 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Polar Data Centre; British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council; Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.. https://doi.org/10.5285/eae547d0-9668-4ba1-9fc4-67929382395f
King, E., Pritchard, H., & Smith, A. (2015). Rutford Ice Stream bed elevation DEM from radar data (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/54757cbe-0b13-4385-8b31-4dfaa1dab55e
GHOST is an ice-based project which will examine the bed beneath the Thwaites Glacier, to assess whether conditions are likely to allow rapid retreat, or if the retreat may slow or stop due to a ridge 70 km inland.
The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration unites global scientists to study Antarctica’s most vulnerable glacier, predict sea-level rise, and inform climate action worldwide.
A project using small explosive charges to measure reflected sound waves, researchers aimed to determine the lake’s water depth and characteristics, providing essential data to guide future drilling operations to access unique records of ice sheet history and potential microbial life.
Studying ice response during past climate changes improves understanding of Antarctic ice sheet dynamics. This knowledge helps predict how ice sheets may behave under future warming scenarios.
BEAMISH drilled through over 2 km of ice on Rutford Ice Stream to discover when the West Antarctic Ice Sheet last collapsed and how water and soft sediments beneath it help the ice flow towards the sea.
Science on the move – the mission to understand the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet
Since Antarctica has no indigenous human populations to give names to landmarks, the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee provides advice on place-naming in the British Antarctic Territory, adhering to international principles and procedures.
A team of scientists and engineers has for the first time successfully drilled over two kilometres through the ice sheet in West Antarctica using hot water. This research will help […]
A UK team of researchers has produced high-resolution maps of the bed beneath a major glacier in West Antarctica, which will help them predict future sea-level rise from this region. […]
Three British Antarctic Survey (BAS) personnel, and one former member of staff, have been awarded the Polar Medal. The announcement was made last week (Friday 20 January 2017) in the […]
Scientists head to Pine Island Glacier for new research season A team of twelve scientists and support staff has arrived on Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica in the second […]
First leg of Antarctic iSTAR mission accomplished A team of British scientists has returned from a gruelling 1500km journey across the ice of West Antarctica after successfully completing the first […]
Focus on Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica Pine Island Glacier, on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is the largest single contributor to sea-level rise in Antarctica. The stability of the […]
Ambitious science mission sets off for Antarctica A team of British scientists is making final preparations for an ambitious Antarctic science mission. They aim to discover what’s causing the recent […]
Icequakes unlock secrets of icestreams Measuring tiny icequakes is helping British Antarctic Survey scientists investigate ice streams despite the challenging environment they have to work in. The work of Emma […]
Hidden rift valley discovered beneath West Antarctica reveals new insight into accelerating ice loss Scientists have discovered a one mile deep rift valley hidden beneath the ice in West Antarctica, […]
The BBC Frozen Planet series, which generated huge public interest in the polar regions, continues to engage large audiences. At the recent Missoula International Wildlife Film Festival in the US, […]
Scientist on BBC Frozen Planet investigates how world’s largest glacier is contributing to sea-level rise A team of scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is to survey the largest glacier […]
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 16 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores autumn in the polar regions. As life cools down in the Antarctic, […]
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 9 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Summer in the Polar Regions. As life thrives in the Antarctic, viewers […]
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 2 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Spring in the Polar Regions and how life begins the race to […]
Series starts Wednesday 26 October, BBC1 at 9.00pm, repeated on Sundays at 4.10pm. Embark on the trip of a lifetime, as the award-winning BBC team behind Planet Earth takes you […]
Drilling into the unknown – the first exploration of a sub-glacial Antarctic lake is a major step closer Scientists have located the ideal drill site for the first ever exploration […]
A four-man science team led by British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Dr Andy Smith has begun exploring an ancient lake hidden deep beneath Antarctica’s ice sheet. The lake – the size […]
Scientists have discovered a warehouse-sized drumlin – a mound of sediment and rock – actively forming and growing under the ice sheet in Antarctica. Its discovery, and the rate at […]