Dr Frazer Christie

Frazer Christie is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, where he researches the key ice, ocean and atmosphere interactions driving contemporary glacier and ice-sheet change across the polar regions.

Academic interests

Frazer Christie’s academic interests include: 

• Satellite remote sensing and geophysics
• Recent cryospheric change as observed over the satellite era (~1960-present)
• Ice sheet-ocean-atmosphere interactions
• Ice sheet mass balance.

Degrees obtained

• MA, University of Aberdeen.
• PhD, University of Edinburgh.

Awards and prizes

• Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment & Society (SAGES) award for best publication in field of Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate sciences, 2017/2018. 
• Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment & Society (SAGES) award for best publication in field of Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate sciences, 2016/2017. 
• Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Silver Medal, 2014. Awarded to the highest achieving Honours Geography student in each of the Scottish Universities. 

Biography

Frazer Christie is a glacial geophysicist with expertise in remote sensing. Specifically, his research aims to unravel the key ice, ocean and atmosphere interactions responsible for controlling the pronounced deterioration of the world’s ice sheets and glaciers since the beginning of the observational era (c. 1960). To do this, Frazer utilises a suite of cutting-edge satellite and airborne geophysical imaging techniques, ocean and atmosphere model outputs and data collected in the field (on ice or by boat). His current research is supported by The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. At Cambridge, in addition to supporting Part 1A teaching at Jesus College, he contributes to the MPhil in Polar Studies degree programme offered by the Scott Polar Research Institute, and lectures on topics pertaining to the remote sensing of the cryosphere. 

Frazer gained his MA (First Class Hons) degree in Geography from University of Aberdeen in 2014 and, following a brief interlude in industry, later obtained the PhD degree in Atmospheric and Environmental Science from the University of Edinburgh in 2018.

Frazer is a Fellow of The Geological Society of London, has recently published research in a selection of world-leading journals including Science and Geophysical Research Letters, and frequently acts as a reviewer for these journals and more. His work has also recently been cited in several high-profile Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) publications including, most notably, the IPCC’s ‘Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis’ (The Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report).

In early 2019, he and fellow Jesuan Prof Julian Dowdeswell embarked on the international ‘Weddell Sea Expedition’ to study the glaciology, oceanography and marine geology of Larsen C Ice Shelf and its environs. More information about the expedition can be found in this BBC interview with Prof. Dowdeswell.

Other interests

Hillwalking, travel, rugby.