Tamara Pletzer
PhD
Meteorologist and glaciologist
University of Canterbury
Early Career Researcher
Tam is a meteorologist and glaciologist with a research background in atmospheric turbulence and modelling glacial melt. During her PhD, she contributed to Phase 1 of the Antarctic Science Platform by simulating glacial melt events in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) using a fully distributed hydro-meteorological model with an embedded snowpack model.
In the Antarctic Science Platform Phase 2, Tam is investigating the conditions for an ice-free future on Lake Vanda and constraining the water balance in Wright Valley. Understanding future freshwater availability and signposts of change is essential for proactive conservation of the unique microbial MDV ecosystem.