Sophie ten HietbrinkPhD student
About me
I am a PhD student in Geochemistry at Stockholm University working on cryosphere driven submarine groundwater discharge in the Arctic. I hold a bachelor degree in Earth Sciences (Utrecht University) and a master degree in Climate Physics (Utrecht University). During my master I additionally worked as a student lab assistant at the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU) and through my entire studies I was active in various committees. I have experience with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS), Thermal Desorption - Proton Transfer Reaction - Mass Spectrometry (TD-PTR-MS), numerical modelling and shipboard fieldwork.
Research
Current research topics:
- Method development of radiocarbon dating for submarine groundwater: by measuring carbon-13 and carbon-14 isotopes for the different carbon pooles in marine sediments we aim to close the local isotope mass balance whereby submarine groundwater can be accurately dated.
- Identifying the drivers of offshore freshwater discharge in cryosphere influenced regions: by using geochemical tracers and previously discussed dating methods we aim to attribute observed submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the Arctic to its drivers.
- Assessing the implications, extent and timescale of SGD: by deploying a numerical model we aim to simulate the process of SGD along a 2D transect to determine the physical drivers and the spatial and temporal scales on which they act. Moreover, we aim to resolve the impact of SGD on ocean chemistry and the biogeochemical cycling of elements.
Past research topics:
- Isotopic signals in atmospheric molecular hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide and their relation to biomass burning and stratopheric processes: samples from the Atmospheric Tomography Mission were analysed and the distribution of molecular hydrogen in the atmosphere was studied. Moreover, biomass source signatures were determined and spatial differences in the stratospheric aging of air was studied.
- The distribution of nanoplastic in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre (master dissertation): ocean water samples were collected during a 4 week research cruise through the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. The samples were analysed by using Thermal Desorption - Proton Transfer Reaction - Mass Spectrometry and fingerprinting algorithms were used on the resulting mass spectra to detect nanoplastic.
- The impact of global warming on the volume change of glaciers (bachelor dissertation): a glacier model using volume-area scaling was deployed, to assess the ensemble mean metre sea level rise equivalent for different RCP scenarios.
