Martin Forbes
PhD
Glaciology
Otago Polytechnic
Martin is a mechanical engineer turned glaciologist with a background in ice deformation and fracture. He studies how Antarctic ice shelves deform, with a particular focus on how and why rifts propagate.
In the Antarctic Science Platform, Martin is investigating what controls rift propagation and ice-shelf deformation in high strain-rate areas using numerical models informed by satellite and field data, including new in-situ stress measurements. Laboratory experiments of natural and synthetic ice help test these models and validate new sensors. This work helps us understand how ice-shelf rifts and shear margins respond to a changing environment and what that means for ice-shelf stability.