Greenland’s Past, Our Future
KANG-GLAC studies past and present glacier-ocean changes in southeast Greenland to predict how ice loss will affect ocean circulation, ecosystems and climate.
Irene Malmierca Vallet
TiPES Modeller
In 2008 I completed a Biology degree at Complutense University (Madrid, Spain) specialising in environmental sciences. From 2011 until 2013 I worked in the Climate Change Division of Repsol as an environmental consultant before figuring out that climate modelling was what I truly wanted to do. I have always been fascinated by global environmental change and modelling of the Earth System so undertook a Masters degree in Climate Change Science and Policy in 2014 and obtained a PhD in Physical Geography from the University of Bristol in 2020.
Research interests
My research explores past climate tipping events, using climate models and palaeoclimate data to uncover their mechanisms and apply this knowledge to better project future abrupt climate changes.
I am currently involved in the EU P2F project, investigating Dansgaard–Oeschger events with climate models that spontaneously simulate abrupt climate variability, helping to evaluate model performance and unravel the mechanisms behind past tipping events.
In the KANG-GLAC project, I combine Greenland ice-core isotope records with isotope-enabled climate models and Gaussian process emulation to reconstruct Holocene Greenland Ice Sheet geometry and better constrain its contribution to past sea-level highstands.
My previous research focused on abrupt climate variability and ice–climate interactions using climate models and palaeoclimate data.
In the EU-funded ANTSIE project, I compared Dansgaard–Oeschger–like oscillations in climate models with a novel Antarctic sea-ice proxy derived from snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea) stomach oils.
I also contributed to the EU Tipping Points project, helping to develop a coordinated modelling protocol for Dansgaard–Oeschger events (~60–25 ka), which led to the creation of the SDOO ensemble database for evaluating model performance and abrupt climate change.
Publications from NERC Open Research Archive
2025
Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Diamond, Rachel ORCID record for Diamond, Rachel. Stepanek, Christian ORCID record for Stepanek, Christian. Brierley, Chris ORCID record for Brierley, Chris. Schroeder, David. Kageyama, Masa. Malmierca-Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca-Vallet, Irene. Blockley, Ed ORCID record for Blockley, Ed. West, Alex ORCID record for West, Alex. Feltham, Danny. Ridley, Jeff. Braconnot, Pascale ORCID record for Braconnot, Pascale. Williams, Charles J. R. ORCID record for Williams, Charles J. R.. Shi, Xiaoxu. Otto-Bliesner, Bette L. ORCID record for Otto-Bliesner, Bette L.. Macarewich, Sophia I. Ramos Buarque, Silvana ORCID record for Ramos Buarque, Silvana. Zhang, Qiong ORCID record for Zhang, Qiong. LeGrande, Allegra. Zheng, Weipeng ORCID record for Zheng, Weipeng. Jiang, Dabang ORCID record for Jiang, Dabang. Morozova, Polina. Guo, Chuncheng ORCID record for Guo, Chuncheng. Zhang, Zhongshi. Yeung, Nicholas ORCID record for Yeung, Nicholas. Menviel, Laurie ORCID record for Menviel, Laurie. Narayanasetti, Sandeep. Reeves, Olivia. Pollock, Matthew. Zhao, Anni ORCID record for Zhao, Anni. (2025) A sea ice free Arctic: Assessment Fast Track abrupt-127k experimental protocol and motivation [preprint].
Slattery, John ORCID record for Slattery, John. Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Rehfeld, Kira. Weitzel, Nils. Malmierca-Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca-Vallet, Irene. Zhang, Xu ORCID record for Zhang, Xu. Valdes, Paul J. Muschitiello, Francesco. (2025) A Global Speleothem-Based Assessment of Spontaneous Dansgaard–Oeschger Type Oscillations in Two Isotope-Enabled General Circulation Models.
Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Sivankutty, Rahul. Malmierca-Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca-Vallet, Irene. Goursaud Oger, Sentia. LeGrande, Allegra N. McClymont, Erin L. ORCID record for McClymont, Erin L.. de Boer, Agatha. Cauquoin, Alexandre ORCID record for Cauquoin, Alexandre. Werner, Martin ORCID record for Werner, Martin. (2025) H11 meltwater and standard 127 ka Last Interglacial simulations suggest more modest peak temperatures for both Greenland and Antarctica: a multi-model study of water isotopes.
2024
Malmierca-Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca-Vallet, Irene. Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Valdes, Paul J. Klockmann, Marlene. Vettoretti, Guido. Slattery, John ORCID record for Slattery, John. (2024) The Impact of CO2 and Climate State on Whether Dansgaard–Oeschger Type Oscillations Occur in Climate Models.
2023
Sime, L. ORCID record for Sime, L.. Malmierca, I. ORCID record for Malmierca, I.. Diamond, R. ORCID record for Diamond, R.. Schroeder, D. (2023) Better forecasts of sea ice change? Melt puddles and melt models.
2022
Malmierca-Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca-Vallet, Irene. Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. community members, the D-O. (2022) Dansgaard–Oeschger events in climate models: review and baseline Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS3) protocol.
Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Sivankutty, Rahul. Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca Vallet, Irene. de Boer, Agatha M. Sicard, Marie. (2022) Summer surface air temperature proxies point to near-sea-ice-free conditions in the Arctic at 127 ka.
2021
Broadman, Ellie. Kaufman, Darrell S. Henderson, Andrew C.G. Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca Vallet, Irene. Leng, Melanie J. ORCID record for Leng, Melanie J.. Lacey, Jack H. (2021) Coupled impacts of sea ice variability and North Pacific atmospheric circulation on Holocene hydroclimate in Arctic Alaska..
2020
Guarino, Maria Vittoria ORCID record for Guarino, Maria Vittoria. Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Schröeder, David. Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca Vallet, Irene. Rosenblum, Erica. Ringer, Mark. Ridley, Jeff. Feltham, Danny. Bitz, Cecilia. Steig, Eric J. Wolff, Eric. Stroeve, Julienne. Sellar, Alistair. (2020) Sea-ice-free Arctic during the Last Interglacial supports fast future loss.
Domingo, Dario. Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca Vallet, Irene. Sime, Louise ORCID record for Sime, Louise. Voss, Jochen. Capron, Emilie. (2020) Using ice cores and Gaussian process emulation to recover changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet during the last interglacial.
Malmierca-Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca-Vallet, Irene. Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Valdes, Paul J. Tindall, Julia C. (2020) Sea ice feedbacks influence the isotopic signature of Greenland ice sheet elevation changes: Last interglacial HadCM3 simulations.
Kageyama, Masa. Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Sicard, Marie. Guarino, Maria Vittoria ORCID record for Guarino, Maria Vittoria. de Vernal, Anne. Schroeder, David. Stein, Ruediger. Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca Vallet, Irene. Abe-Ouchi, Ayako. Bitz, Cecilia. Braconnot, Pascale. Brady, Esther. Chamberlain, Matthew A. Feltham, Danny. Guo, Chuncheng. Lohmann, Gerrit. Meissner, Katrin. Menviel, Laurie. Morozova, Polina. Nisancioglu, Kerim H. Otto-Bliesner, Bette. O'ishi, Ryouta. Sherriff-Tadano, Sam. Stroeve, Julienne. Shi, Xiaoxu. Sun, Bo. Volodin, Evgeny. Yeung, Nicholas. Zhang, Qiong. Zhang, Zhongshi. Ziehn, Tilo. (2020) A multi-model CMIP6-PMIP4 study of Arctic sea ice at 127ka: Sea ice data compilation and model differences.
Williams, Charles J.R. Guarino, Maria Vittoria ORCID record for Guarino, Maria Vittoria. Capron, Emilie. Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca Vallet, Irene. Singarayer, Joy S. Sime, Louise ORCID record for Sime, Louise. Lunt, Daniel J. Valdes, Paul J. (2020) CMIP6/PMIP4 simulations of the mid-Holocene and Last Interglacial using HadGEM3: comparison to the pre-industrial era, previous model versions and proxy data.
2018
Malmierca Vallet, Irene ORCID record for Malmierca Vallet, Irene. Sime, Louise C. ORCID record for Sime, Louise C.. Tindall, Julia C. Capron, Emilie ORCID record for Capron, Emilie. Valdes, Paul J. Vinther, Bo M. (2018) Simulating the Last Interglacial Greenland stable water isotope peak: the role of Arctic sea ice changes.
Malmierca Vallet, I., Sime, L., Valdes, P., Klockmann, M., Vettoretti, G., & Slattery, J. (2024). HadCM3 model outputs: Spontaneous Dansgaard-Oeschger type oscillations (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/92b07757-3897-4a26-b93d-c508ffe93846
Guarino, M., & Sime, L. (2022). Last Interglacial summer air temperature observations for the Arctic (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/9ab58d27-596a-472c-a13e-2dcd68612082
Guarino, M., & Sime, L. (2021). HadCM3 and HadGEM3 LIG model outputs: A sea ice-free Arctic (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/9b138820-eec3-43ae-a49b-068a9f5931a4
Sime, L., Malmierca Vallet, I., Domingo, D., & Voss, J. (2019). Surface elevation of 69 Greenland Ice Sheet morphologies and associated δ18O anomalies (with respect to Pre-industrial) simulated by HadCM3 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01283
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Read more of: Greenland’s Past, Our Future
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Modelling Greenland’s abrupt ancient warming
Read more of: Modelling Greenland’s abrupt ancient warmingSDOO project investigates abrupt climate warming episodes recorded in Greenland ice cores, known as Dansgaard-Oeschger events, where temperatures rose by 10-15°C within a decade during the last glacial period.
I am currently involved in the EU P2F project investigating Dansgaard–Oeschger events with climate models that spontaneously simulate abrupt climate variability, helping to evaluate model performance and unravel the mechanisms behind past tipping events.