In episode 7 of Polar Diaries, we are joined by Dr. Natalie Robinson. Natalie is a marine physicist with a passion for polar oceanography. Based in New Zealand at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in Wellington as well as at the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington, Natalie’s work dives deep into the icy world of Antarctica.

From large-scale ocean circulation and year-to-year variability to the fascinating small-scale processes at the ice-ocean interface, Natalie’s research is as wide-ranging as it is groundbreaking. She’s played a key role in unraveling the mysteries of how ice shelves and sea ice interact, using cutting edge sub-ice observations to study everything from pressure induced supercooling and multi-phase fluid flow to the drag and roughness at the ice interface and buoyancy-driven convection. Don’t worry if this all sounds quite confusing, Natalie will simplify things and explain everything in more detail during the show.

But Natalie’s work isn’t just about science—it’s about sharing the wonder of it with the world. She’s a big advocate for making science accessible and loves bringing together the humanities and sciences to help people appreciate the beauty of Antarctica and the challenges it faces.

In 2015, Natalie received a $300,000 Fast-Start Marsden grant to investigate a fascinating question: why is Antarctica producing more sea ice even as the ocean warms? Her work focuses on the boundary layer beneath platelet ice, a little known but critical area. Today, she’s also a co-lead on a major Antarctic Science Platform project, studying the links between sea ice and carbon cycle feedbacks.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy your travels to the frozen regions of the world!

Learn more about Natalie and her work:

https://niwa.co.nz/people/natalie-robinson

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https://www.instagram.com/polardiariespodcast/