Keith Makinson, Author at British Antarctic Survey

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Keith Makinson

Oceanographer

I am a polar scientist and drilling engineer in the Shelf Seas oceanography group at BAS, and a visiting professor at the China University of Geosciences (Beijing). My research interests are within the fields of polar oceanography and glaciology. These include the measurement and modelling of sub-ice shelf ocean circulation, numerical modelling of ice-ocean interactions, and sub-ice shelf ocean mixing, particularly the influence of tides in these environments. As an engineer, I lead the UK’s hot water drilling national capability, which designs, develops, maintains, and operates the BAS deep hot-water drills used to provide subglacial access holes through ice shelves and ice sheets ranging in thickness from a few 100’s of metres to over 2 km.

A fuller publication list, with .pdf’s, can be found here and citation details at Google Scholar.

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2025

Anselin, J. . Nicholls, K.W. . Holland, P.R. . Taylor, J.R. Østerhus, S. Makinson, K. . (2025) Basal melt rate variability and tidal current vertical structure from observations beneath Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Davis, Peter E.D. . Nicholls, Keith W. . Holland, David M. Schmidt, Britney E. Washam, Peter. Fernández Castro, Bieito. Riverman, Kiya L. Smith, James A. . Anker, Paul G.D. . Mullen, Andrew D. Dichek, Daniel. Clyne, Elisabeth. Makinson, Keith . (2025) Lateral Fluxes Drive Basal Melting Beneath Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf, West Antarctica.

2023

Schmidt, B. E. Washam, P. Davis, P.E.D. . Nicholls, K.W. . Holland, D.M. Lawrence, J.D. Riverman, K.L. Smith, J.A. . Spears, A. Dichek, D.J.G. Mullen, A. D. Clyne, E. Yeager, B. Anker, P. . Meister, M.R. Hurwitz, B.C. Quartini, E.S. Bryson, F. E. Basinski-Ferris, A. Thomas, C. Wake, J. Vaughan, D.G. . Anandakrishnan, S. Rignot, E. Paden, J. Makinson, K. . (2023) Heterogeneous melting near the Thwaites Glacier grounding line.

Davis, Peter E.D. . Nicholls, Keith W. . Holland, David M. Schmidt, Britney E. Washam, Peter. Riverman, Kiya L. Arthern, Robert J. . Vaňková, Irena . Eayrs, Clare. Smith, James A. . Anker, Paul G.D. . Mullen, Andrew D. Dichek, Daniel. Lawrence, Justin D. Meister, Matthew M. Clyne, Elisabeth. Basinski-Ferris, Aurora. Rignot, Eric. Queste, Bastien Y. Boehme, Lars. Heywood, Karen J. Anadakrishnan, Sridhar. Makinson, Keith . (2023) Suppressed basal melting in the eastern Thwaites Glacier grounding zone.

2022

Nicholls, K.W. . Makinson, K. . Editors: Hall, J (2022) A “light-weight” hot-water drill for use on Ronne Ice Shelf.

2021

Makinson, Keith . Anker, Paul G.D. . Garcés, Jonathan. Goodger, David J. Polfrey, Scott. Rix, Julius . Silva, Alejandro. Smith, Andrew M. . Uribe, José A. Zamora, Rodrigo. (2021) Development of a clean hot water drill to access Subglacial Lake CECs, West Antarctica.

Smith, J.A. . Hillenbrand, C.-D. . Subt, C. Rosenheim, B.E. Frederichs, T. Ehrmann, W. Andersen, T.J. Wacker, L. Makinson, K. . Anker, P. . Venables, E.J. Nicholls, K.W. . (2021) History of Larsen C Ice Shelf reconstructed from sub-ice shelf and offshore sediments.

McAfee, Carson W.I. . Rix, Julius . Quirk, Sean J. . Anker, Paul G.D. . Brisbourne, Alex M. . Makinson, Keith . (2021) Non-contact measurement system for hot water drilled ice boreholes.

Anker, Paul G.D. . Makinson, Keith . Nicholls, Keith W. . Smith, Andrew M. . (2021) The BEAMISH hot water drill system and its use on the Rutford Ice Stream, Antarctica.

Smith, A.M. . Anker, P.G.D. . Nicholls, K.W. . Makinson, K. . Murray, T. Rios-Costas, S. Brisbourne, A.M. . Hodgson, D.A. . Schlegel, R. Anandkrishnan, S. (2021) Ice stream subglacial access for ice sheet history and fast ice flow: The BEAMISH Project on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica and initial results on basal conditions.

Makinson, Keith . Ashurst, Daniel. Anker, Paul G.D. . Smith, James A. . Hodgson, Dominic . Davis, Peter E.D. . Smith, Andrew M. . (2021) A new percussion hammer mechanism for a borehole deployable subglacial sediment corer.

2020

Albert, Mary R. Slawny, Kristina R. Boeckmann, Grant V. Gibson, Chris J. Johnson, Jay A. Makinson, Keith . Rix, Julius . Editors: Bar-Cohen, Yoseph. Zacny, Kris (2020) Recent innovations in drilling in ice.

Vankova, Irena . Nicholls, Keith W. . Corr, Hugh F.J. Makinson, Keith . Brennan, Paul V. (2020) Observations of tidal melt and vertical strain at the Filchner‐Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

2018

Makinson, Keith . Editors: Nuttall, Mark. Christensen, Torben R. Siegert, Martin (2018) Subglacial access and investigation.

Nicholls, Keith W. . Makinson, Keith . Robinson, A. V. (2018) Ocean circulation beneath the Ronne ice shelf.

Nicholls, Keith W. . Makinson, Keith . Robinson, A.V. (2018) Direct oceanographic observations from under the Rutford flowline, Ronne Ice Shelf.

Robinson, A.V. Makinson, Keith . (2018) Preliminary results from how water drilling and oceanographic measurements under Ronne Ice Shelf.

2017

Rosier, Sebastian H.R. . Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar . King, Matt A. Nicholls, Keith W. . Makinson, Keith . Corr, Hugh F.J. (2017) Strong tidal variations in ice flow observed across the entire Ronne Ice Shelf and adjoining ice streams.

Robinson, Allan. Makinson, Keith . Nicholls, Keith . (2017) The oceanic environment beneath the northwest Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Robinson, Allan. Makinson, Keith . (2017) Ocean circulation beneath Ronne Ice Shelf.

Makinson, Keith . Editors: Watanabe, O (2017) BAS hot water drilling on Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Makinson, Keith . (2017) The BAS hot water drill.

2016

Nicholls, K.W. . Makinson, K. . Johnson, M.R. (2016) New oceanographic data from beneath Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

2015

Makinson, Keith . Pearce, David. Hodgson, Dominic . Bentley, Michael. Smith, Andrew . Tranter, Martyn. Rose, Mike. Ross, Neil. Mowlem, Matthew. Parnell, John. Siegert, Martin. (2015) Clean subglacial access: prospects for future deep hot-water drilling.

Hodgson, Dominic A. . Bentley, Michael J. Smith, James A. . Klepacki, Julian. Makinson, Keith . Smith, Andrew M. . Saw, Kevin. Scherer, Reed. Powell, Ross. Tulaczyk, Slawek. Rose, Mike. Pearce, David. Mowlem, Matt. Keen, Peter. Siegert, Martin J. (2015) Technologies for retrieving sediment cores in Antarctic subglacial settings.

2014

Makinson, Keith . Anker, Paul G.D. . (2014) The BAS ice shelf hot water drill: design, methods and tools.

Venables, Emily. Nicholls, Keith . Wolk, Fabian. Makinson, Keith . Anker, Paul . (2014) Measuring turbulent dissipation rates beneath an Antarctic ice shelf.

Darelius, E. Makinson, K. . Daae, K. Fer, I. Holland, P.R. . Nicholls, K.W. . (2014) Hydrography and circulation in the Filchner Depression, Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Siegert, Martin J. Makinson, Keith . Blake, David. Mowlem, Matt. Ross, Neil. (2014) An assessment of deep hot-water drilling as a means to undertake direct measurement and sampling of Antarctic subglacial lakes: experience and lessons learned from the Lake Ellsworth field season 2012/13.

2013

Nicholls, K.W. . Makinson, K. . Editors: Jacobs, S.S. Weiss, R.F (2013) Ocean circulation beneath the western Ronne Ice Shelf, as derived from in situ measurements of water currents and properties.

Makinson, Keith . Nicholls, Keith W. . (2013) Modeling tidal currents beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf and on the adjacent continental shelf: Their effect on mixing and transport.

Brisbourne, Alex . Smith, Andy . King, Edward . Nicholls, Keith . Holland, Paul . Makinson, Keith . (2013) Seabed topography beneath Larsen C Ice Shelf from seismic soundings.

Brito, Mario P. Griffiths, Gwyn. Mowlem, Matthew. Makinson, Keith . (2013) Estimating and managing blowout risk during access to subglacial Antarctic lakes.

2012

Brito, M.P. Makinson, K. . Tait, A. Hill, C. Griffiths, G. (2012) Reliability Case Notes No. 7. Risk assessment of the hot-water drilling system for accessing subglacial Lake Ellsworth.

Nicholls, K.W. . Corr, H.F.J. Makinson, K. . Pudsey, C.J. (2012) Rock debris in an Antarctic ice shelf.

Nicholls, K.W. . Østerhus, S. Makinson, K. . Johnson, M.R. (2012) Oceanographic conditions south of Berkner Island, beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Årthun, Marius. Nicholls, Keith W. . Makinson, Keith . Fedak, Michael A. Boehme, Lars. (2012) Seasonal inflow of warm water onto the southern Weddell Sea continental shelf, Antarctica.

Nicholls, Keith W. . Makinson, Keith . Venables, Emily J. (2012) Ocean circulation beneath Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctica from in situ observations.

Makinson, Keith . King, Matt A. Nicholls, Keith W. . Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar . (2012) Diurnal and semidiurnal tide-induced lateral movement of Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Doake, C.S.M. Corr, H.F.J. Jenkins, A. . Makinson, K. . Nicholls, K.W. . Nath, C. Smith, A.M. . Vaughan, D.G. . Editors: Alley, R.B. Bindschadler, R.A (2012) Rutford Ice Stream, Antarctica.

Makinson, Keith . (2012) Tidal vertical mixing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf.

Makinson, Keith . (2012) Future hot water drilling on Rutford Ice Stream 2004/05.

Fer, Ilker. Makinson, Keith . Nicholls, Keith W. . (2012) Observations of Thermohaline Convection adjacent to Brunt Ice Shelf.

Makinson, Keith . Schröder, Michael. Østerhus, Svein. (2012) Seasonal stratification and tidal current profiles along Ronne Ice Front.

Makinson, Keith . (2012) Modeling tidal current profiles and vertical mixing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Ross, N. Siegert, M.J. Rivera, A. Bentley, M.J. Blake, David. Capper, Linda. Clarke, Rachel. Cockell, C.S. Corr, Hugh. Harris, W. Hill, Christopher. Hindmarsh, Richard . Hodgson, Dominic . King, Edward . Lamb, H. Maher, B. Makinson, Keith . Mowlem, M. Parnell, J. Pearce, David . Priscu, J. Smith, Andy . Tait, Andrew. Tranter, M. Wadham, J.L. Whalley, W.B. Woodward, J. Editors: Siegert, Martin J. Kennicutt, Mahlon C., II. Bindschadler, Robert A (2012) Ellsworth Subglacial Lake, West Antarctica: A review of its history and recent field campaigns.

Mowlem, M. Tsaloglou, M-N. Waugh, E. Floquet, C.F.A. Saw, K. Fowler, L. Brown, R. Pearce, D. . Wyatt, J. Beaton, A.D. Brito, M.P. Hodgson, D. . Griffiths, G. Bentley, M. Blake, D. Campbell, H. Capper, L. Clarke, R. Cockell, C. Corr, H. Harris, W. Hill, C. Hindmarsh, R. . King, E. . Lamb, H. Maher, B. Makinson, K. . Parnell, J. Priscu, J. Rivera, A. Ross, N. Siegert, M.J. Smith, A. . Tait, A. Tranter, M. Wadham, J. Whalley, B. Woodward, J. Editors: Siegert, Martin J. Kennicutt, Mahlon C., II. Bindschadler, Robert A (2012) Probe technology for the direct measurement and sampling of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake.

Nicholls, Keith . Makinson, Keith . Østerhus, Svein. (2012) Ronne inflow experiment – fieldwork.

Nicholls, Keith W. . Makinson, Keith . Østerhus, Svein. (2012) Circulation and water masses beneath the northern Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Makinson, Keith . Schröder, Michael. (2012) Ocean processes and seasonal flow along Ronne Ice Front.

2011

Makinson, Keith . Holland, Paul R. . Jenkins, Adrian . Nicholls, Keith W. . Holland, David M. (2011) Influence of tides on melting and freezing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

King, Matt A. Makinson, Keith . Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar . (2011) Nonlinear interaction between ocean tides and the Larsen C Ice Shelf system.

Siegert, M.J. Behar, A. Bentley, M. Blake, D. Bowden, S. Christoffersen, P. Cockell, C. Corr, H. Cullen, D.C. Edwards, H. Ellery, A. Ellis-Evans, C. Griffiths, G. Hindmarsh, R. . Hodgson, D.A. . King, E. . Lamb, H. Lane, L. Makinson, K. . Mowlem, M. Parnell, J. Pearce, D.A. . Priscu, J. Rivera, A. Sephton, M.A. Sims, M.R. Smith, A.M. . Tranter, M. Wadham, J.L. Wilson, G. Woodward, J. (2011) Exploration of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake: a concept paper on the development, organisation and execution of an experiment to explore, measure and sample the environment of a West Antarctic subglacial lake.

Timmermann, R. Le Brocq, A. Deen, T. Domack, E. Dutrieux, P. . Galton-Fenzi, B. Hellmer, H. Humbert, A. Jansen, D. Jenkins, A. . Lambrecht, A. Makinson, K. . Niederjasper, F. Nitsche, F. Nøst, O.A. Smedsrud, L.H. Smith, W.H.F. (2011) A consistent data set of Antarctic ice sheet topography, cavity geometry, and global bathymetry.

2010

Adalgeirsdóttir, G. Smith, Andy M. . Murray, T. King, M.A. Makinson, Keith . Nicholls, Keith W. . Behar, A.E. (2010) Tidal influence on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica: observations of surface flow and basal processes from closely-spaced GPS and passive seismic stations.

Nicholls, Keith W. . Østerhus, Svein. Makinson, Keith . Gammelsrød, Tor. Fahrbach, Eberhard. (2010) Ice-ocean processes over the continental shelf of the southern Weddell Sea, Antarctica: a review.

Thoma, Malte. Grosfeld, Klaus. Makinson, Keith . Lange, Manfred A. (2010) Modelling the impact of ocean warming on melting and water masses of ice shelves in the Eastern Weddell Sea.

Makinson, K. . Nicholls, K.W. . Abrahamsen, E.P. . (2010) Oceanographic processes near the Filchner Sill – plans for fieldwork in 2007.

2007

Smith, A.M. . Murray, T. Nicholls, K.W. . Makinson, K. . Adalgeirsdottir, G. Behar, A. Vaughan, D.G. . (2007) Rapid erosion, drumlin formation, and changing hydrology beneath an Antarctic ice stream.

Makinson, Keith . Schroder, Michael. Osterhus, Svein. (2007) Effect of critical latitude and seasonal stratification on tidal current profiles along Ronne Ice Front, Antarctica.

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., 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

PRESCIENT

PRESCIENT supports long-term, strategically important measurements and capabilities for the wider science community.

Read more of: PRESCIENT
Melting at Thwaites Grounding Zone and its Control on Sea Level

MELT is an ice-based project that will use autonomous sensors to monitor the ice column and ocean beneath the ice shelf in the critical area of the grounding line (the point where the glacier goes afloat to become ice shelf).

Read more of: Melting at Thwaites Grounding Zone and its Control on Sea Level
International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration

The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration unites global scientists to study Antarctica’s most vulnerable glacier, predict sea-level rise, and inform climate action worldwide.

Read more of: International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration
BEAMISH: Basal Conditions on Rutford Ice Stream

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.

Read more of: BEAMISH: Basal Conditions on Rutford Ice Stream

Fimbulisen Ice-shelf Observatory (FIO), part of the Troll Observing Network (TONe): A collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI). https://www.npolar.no/en/tone/

Development of technologies for geophysical survey and hot water drilling of the sub-glacial lakes below Antarctic David glacier: A cooperation with the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). https://www.kopri.re.kr/eng/html/rsch/020102.html?mode=V&mng_no=143

LIONESS/TG (Land-Ice/Ocean Network Exploration with Semiautonomous System: Thwaites Glacier): A collaboration with the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). https://www.kopri.re.kr/eng/html/rsch/02010301.html?mode=V&mng_no=162

Drilling Subglacial Lake CECs in Antarctica: A collaborative partnership with Chilean scientists from the Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs). https://nerc.ukri.org/research/funded/programmes/subglacial-cecs/

Filchner Ice Shelf System (FISS), Antarctica. https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/fiss/

Update from Thwaites Glacier: when science doesn’t go your way

Researchers from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and South Korea (KOPRI) have concluded a highly ambitious field operation at Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica.

Read more of: Update from Thwaites Glacier: when science doesn’t go your way
Scientists’ drilling mission on remote and inaccessible glacier

A team of researchers from the UK and Korea has reached the most inaccessible and least-understood part of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica where they will drill through the glacier to directly observe how warm ocean water is melting it from below.

Read more of: Scientists’ drilling mission on remote and inaccessible glacier
Scientists reconstruct past history of largest ice shelf on Antarctic Peninsula

For the first time, geological records have been used to reconstruct the history of Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica. The ice shelf is the largest remaining remnant of a […]

Read more of: Scientists reconstruct past history of largest ice shelf on Antarctic Peninsula
Scientists drill to record depths in West Antarctica

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 […]

Read more of: Scientists drill to record depths in West Antarctica
Hot Water Drilling

Accessing below glaciers

Read more of: Hot Water Drilling

Chair (2022-present), External Scientific Advisory Board for Neumayer Station III and Kohnen Station, AWI, Germany
Member (2019), IceCube Enhanced Hot Water Drill (EHWD) upgrade Drill Advisory Panel (DAP), Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, USA
Chair (2018-present), U. S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) Technical Assistance Board
Member (2011-2018), U. S. Ice Drilling Design and Operations (IDDO) Technical Advisory Board
Member (2009-2013), Direct measurement and sampling of Subglacial Lake Ellsworth (SLE) steering committe
Member (2009-2012), Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling (WISSARD) Science Advisory Board

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Polar Oceans team

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