Dr Rebecca McGirr

BSc (Adv) (Hons), PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
ANU College of Science

Areas of expertise

  • Geodesy 370603
  • Geodynamics 370604
  • Computational Modelling And Simulation In Earth Sciences 370401
  • Climate Change Processes 370201
  • Earth And Space Science Informatics 370402
  • Physical Oceanography 370803
  • Groundwater Hydrology 370703
  • Surface Water Hydrology 370704

Biography

My current research involves using satellite gravity data to measure the temporal and spatial variations of the solid Earth and it’s fluid envelope. I have expertise in the analysis of space gravity data collected by the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission which was launched in 2002, and it’s successor, the GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission, launched in 2018. I have particular interest in using this data to measure changes in the mass balance of polar ice caps and glaciers, and how their decreasing volume is contributing to global sea level rise.

I completed my PhD in Geodesy at the Research School of Earth Sciences within the Australian National University, awarded in 2022. During my PhD I developed a novel approach to remove thermally induced errors from the key non-gravitational accelerations measured by the accelerometers onboard the GRACE satellites. I also assessed through simulation the impact of varying satellite altitude and ground track coverage on the accuracy of GRACE temporal gravity field models in the presence of instrument noise and forcing model errors.

I completed my Undergraduate Degree with Honours in Geophysics at the University of Sydney in 2018. During my Honours year, I developed a plate tectonic model of Central American Seaway closure and assessed the implications of this event within the context of a shifting global climate.


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Updated:  28 March 2024 / Responsible Officer:  Director (Research Services Division) / Page Contact:  Researchers