UC Spark

Professor Wendy Julia Lawson

Geography; College Office (Science)

Fields of Research

  • Antarctica
  • Glaciology
  • Hydrology

Researcher Summary

My research interests are mainly in glaciology, specifically in contemporary physical glaciological processes, with a timescale of interest focussed on 10-100 years. The key overarching theme of my research is understanding the response of ice masses to changing climatic inputs.

My work covers a wide range of environments, from the mid-latitude temperate glaciology of New Zealand's glaciers, to the polar glaciology of the Antarctic, where I work on outlet glacier behaviour and ice shelf response in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica.

I also have minor research interests in hydrology, especially glacier hydrology, and process and very recent glacial geomorphology.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Publications


  • Riger-Kusk, M., Rack, W. and Lawson, W. (2013) Characteristics of the Darwin-Hatherton glacial system as determined from ground and airborne geophysical surveys. The Cryosphere (Journal Article)
  • Noonan, B., Lawson, W.J., Zawar-Reza, P. and Owens, I. (2013) Climate of the Darwin Hatherton glacial system and the influence of the synoptic state. Dunedin, New Zealand: Snow & Ice Research Group (NZ) Annual Workshop, 11-13 Feb 2013. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Riger-Kusk, M., Lawson, W. and Rack, W. (2013) Dynamics of outlet glaciers in the Transantarctic Mountains: A review. Quaternary Science Reviews (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W. (2012) A New Zealand perspective: Similar but different. Brisbane, Australia: Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information Conference (CRCSI), 8-10 May 2012. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Marsh, O.J., Rack, W., Golledge, N.R. and Lawson, W. (2012) Grounding zone ice thickness from satellite: Inverse modelling of tidal elastic bending. Twizel, New Zealand: Snow & Ice Research Group (NZ) Annual Workshop (SIRG), 13-15 Feb 2012. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Marsh, O.J., Rack, W., Golledge, N.R. and Lawson, W. (2012) Satellite and GNSS identification of tidal flexure and velocity fluctuations in the grounding zone of outlet glaciers in the Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. Vienna, Austria: European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU), 22-27 Apr 2012. In Geophysical Research Abstracts 14 1007. http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2012/EGU2012-1007.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Purdie, H., Lawson, W., Owens, I., Kerr, T. and Hewitt, K. (2012) Secondary accumulation and its impact on glacier mass balance. Twizel, New Zealand: Snow & Ice Research Group (NZ) Annual Workshop (SIRG), 13-15 Feb 2012. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Rack, W., Riger-Kusk, M., Lawson, W. and Anderson, B. (2011) Characteristics of the Darwin-Hatherton Glacial System grounding zone, Antarctica. Melbourne, Australia: XXV International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics General Assembly, 28 Jun-7 Jul 2011. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Purdie, H., Anderson, B., Lawson, W. and Mackintosh, A. (2011) Controls on spatial variability in snow accumulation on glaciers in the Southern Alps, New Zealand; as revealed by crevasse stratigraphy. Hydrological Processes 25(1): 54-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7816. (Journal Article)
  • Anderson, B., Goodsell, B., Owens, I., Willis, I. and Lawson, W. (2011) Diurnal to Decadal Ice Velocity Variations on Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere), South Westland, New Zealand. Melbourne, Australia: IUGG General Assembly, 3 Jul 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Anderson, B.M., Goodsell, B., Owens, I.F., Willis, I.C., Lawson, W.J. and Mackintosh, A.N. (2011) Diurnal to decadal ice velocity variations on Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere), South Westland, New Zealand. Fox Glacier Township, New Zealand: Snow and Ice Research Group (NZ) Annual Workshop (SIRG 2011), 9-11 Feb 2011. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Lawson, W. (2011) Glaciers of New Zealand. In V.P. Singh, P. Singh, and U.K. Haritashya (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers: 775. Heidelberg: Springer. (Chapter in Book)
  • Purdie, H., Mackintosh, A., Lawson, W., Anderson, B., Morgenstern, U., Chinn, T. and Mayewksi, P. (2011) Interannual variability in net accumulation on Tasman Glacier and its relationship with climate. Global and Planetary Change 77(3-4): 142-152. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.04.004. (Journal Article)
  • Purdie, H., Mackintosh, A., Lawson, W. and Anderson, B. (2011) Synoptic Influences on Snow Accumulation on Glaciers East and West of a Topographic Divide: Southern Alps, New Zealand. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 43(1): 82-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-43.1.82. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W. and Elliott, C. (2010) Mass Balance-Climate Relationships for New Zealand's Index Glaciers: A Statistical Modelling Approach. Queenstown, New Zealand: New Zealand Snow and Ice Reserach Group Annual Conference (SIRG 2010), 3-5 Feb 2010. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Zawar-Reza, P., George, S., Storey, B. and Lawson, W. (2010) Summertime boundary layer winds over the Darwin-Hatherton glacial system, Antarctica: Observed features and numerical analysis. Antarctic Science 22(Special Issue 6, The Latitudinal Gradient Project): 619-632. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954102010000817. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W., McWilliams, Z., Riger-Kusk, M. and Rack, W. (2010) Surface structure of the Darwin and Hatherton Glaciers, Antarctica. Queenstown, New Zealand: New Zealand Snow and Ice Reserach Group Annual Conference (SIRG 2010), 3-5 Feb 2010. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Riger-Kusk, M., Lawson, W., Rack, W., Anderson, B. and Storey, B. (2009) Results from a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey of the Darwin-Hatherton Glacial System, Antarctica. Auckland, New Zealand: Annual Antarctic Conference 2009, 1-3 Jul 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Willis, I., Lawson, W., Owens, I., Jacobel, B. and Autridge, J. (2009) Subglacial drainage system structure and morphology of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand. Hydrological Processes 23(3): 384-396. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7146. (Journal Article)
  • Anderson, B., Lawson, W. and Owens, I. (2008) Response of Franz Josef Glacier Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere to climate change. Global and Planetary Change 63(1): 23-30. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W. (2007) Dog sleds to satellites: Antarctica glaciology in practice. Canterbury Museum: Public Lecture Series, 3 Oct 2007. (Oral Presentation)
  • Lawson, W. (2007) Glaciology in Antarctica from Starting Blocks to Centre Stage. Wellington, New Zealand: Antarctica: 50 Years on The Ice, 2-6 Jul 2007. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Copland, L., Lawson, W. and Goodsell, B. (2006) A century of change at the McMurdo Ice Shelf. Cambridge, UK: International Symposium on Cryospheric Indicators of Climate Change, 21-25 Aug 2006. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Glasser, N.F., Goodsell, B., Copland, L. and Lawson, W. (2006) Debris characteristics and ice-shelf dynamics in the ablation region of the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology 52(177): 223-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756506781828692. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W. (2006) Environmental conditions, ice facies and glacier behaviour. In P.G. Knight (Ed.), Glacier Science and Environmental Change: 319-326. Oxford: Blackwell. (Chapter in Book)
  • Willis, I., Owens, I., Lawson, W. and Clendon, P. (2006) Mass balance of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand, revealed by geodetic methods. Cambridge, UK: International Symposium on Cryospheric Indicators of Climate Change, 21-25 Aug 2006. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Anderson, B., Lawson, W., Owens, I. and Goodsell, B. (2006) Past and future mass balance of 'Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere' Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand. Journal of Glaciology 52(179): 597-607. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756506781828449. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W., Copland, L., Goodsell, B. and Clendon, P. (2005) 100 years of change at the McMurdo Ice Shelf. Hari Hari, New Zealand: NZ Snow and Ice Research Group Conference, 15-17 Jan 2005. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Copland, L., Lawson, W. and Clendon, P. (2005) A 100 year record of change at the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Beijing, China: Climate and Cryosphere (CliC): First Science Conference, 11-15 Apr 2005. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Lawson, W. (2005) Ross Dependencies. In World Book Encyclopedia Chicago: World Book Inc. (Other)
  • Clendon, P. and Lawson, W. (2005) Surface energetics of ablating ice on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Beijing, China: Climate and Cryosphere (CliC): First Science Conference, 11-15 Apr 2005. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Clendon, P., Lawson, W. and Spronken-Smith, R. (2005) Surface energetics of ablating ice on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Hari Hari, New Zealand: NZ Snow and Ice Research Group Conference, 15-17 Jan 2005. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Lawson, W. (2005) Vinson Massif. In World Book Encyclopedia Chicago: World Book Inc. (Other)
  • Anderson, B., Hindmarsh, R. and Lawson, W. (2004) A modelling study of the response of the Hatherton Glacier to Ross Ice Sheet grounding line retreat. Global and Planetary Change 42(1-4): 143-153. (Journal Article)
  • McKinzey, K., Lawson, W. and Kelly, D. (2004) A new Little Ice Age chronology of the Franz Josef Glacier, Westland, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 34(4): 381-394. (Journal Article)
  • Foght, J., Aislabie, J., Turner, S., Brown, C., Ryburn, J., Saul, D. and Lawson, W. (2004) Culturable bacteria in subglacial sediments and ice from two Southern Hemisphere glaciers. Microbial Ecology 47: 329-340. (Journal Article)
  • Goodsell, B., Anderson, B. and Lawson, W. (2004) Supraglacial routing of subglacial water at Franz Josef Glacier, South Westland, New Zealand. Journal of Glaciology 49(166): 469-470. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W. and Elliott, C. (2003) Strain-rate effects on the strength of debris-laden glacier ice. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 46: 323-330. (Journal Article)
  • Goodsell, B., Anderson, B. and Lawson, W. (2003) Supraglacoial routing of subglacial water at Franz Josef Glacier, South Westland. New Zealand Journal of Glaciology 49(166): 469-470. (Journal Article)
  • Hindmarsh, R.C., Anderson, B.M., Arthern, R.J., Kluiving, S.J., Lawson, W.J., Le Meur, E. and Van der Wateren, D. (2002) Measuring and modelling the Holocene Retreat of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Eos Transactions AGU 83(19) (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W.J. (2001) Antarctica. Worldbook Encyclopedia (Chapter in Book)
  • Lawson, W. and Fitzsimons, S. (2001) Glaciers and the environment. In Andrew Sturman and Rachel Spronken-Smith (Ed.), The physical environment: a New Zealand perspective: 269-289. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. (Chapter in Book)
  • Lawson, W., Sharp, M. and Hambrey, M. (2000) Deformation histories and structural assemblages of glacier ice in a non-steady flow regime. Geological Society Special Publication 176: 85--96. (Journal Article)
  • Smart, C.C., Owens, I.F., Lawson, W. and Morris, A.L. (2000) Exceptional ablation arising from rainfall-induced slushflows: Brewster Glacier, New Zealand. Hydrological Processes 14: 1045-52. (Journal Article)
  • Hambrey, M.J. and Lawson, W. (2000) Structural style and deformation fields in glaciers: a review. Geological Society Special Publication 176: 59--83. (Journal Article)
  • Fitzharris, B., Lawson, W. and Owens, I.F. (1999) Research on glaciers and snow in New Zealand. Progress in Physical Geography 23(4): 469-500. (Journal Article)
  • Davey, F. and Lawson, W. (1997) Antarctic knowledge base review: earth sciences.. Christchurch: Antarctic Science Beyond 2000 Workshop, 1997. 41-44. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Lawson, W.J. (1997) Spatial, temporal and kinematic characteristics of surges of Variegated Glacier, Alaska. Annals of Glaciology 24: 95--101. (Journal Article)
  • Arnold, N.S., Willis, I.C., Sharp, M.J., Richards, K.S. and Lawson, W.J. (1996) A distributed surface energy-balance model for a small valley glacier. I. Development and testing for the Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Valais, Switzerland. Journal of Glaciology 42(140): 77-89. (Journal Article)
  • Richards, K.S., Sharp, M.J., Arnold, N., Gurnell, A., Clark, M., Tranter, M., Nienow, P., Brown, G., Willis, I. and Lawson, W. (1996) An integrated approach to modelling hydrology and water quality in glacierized catchments. Hydrological Processes 10(4): 479-508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199604). (Journal Article)
  • Hubbard, B.P., Sharp, M.J. and Lawson, W.J. (1996) On the sedimentological character of Alpine basal ice facies. Annals of Glaciology 22: 187-193. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W.J. (1996) Structural evolution of Variegated Glacier, Alaska, USA., since 1948. Journal of Glaciology 42(141): 261-270. (Journal Article)
  • Lawson, W.J. (1996) The relative strengths of debris-laden basal ice and clean glacier ice: Some evidence from Taylor Glacier, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology 23: 270-276. (Journal Article)
  • Sharp, M., Richards, K.S., Willis, I., Arnold, N., Nienow, P., Lawson, W. and Tison, J-L. (1993) Geometry, bed topography and drainage system of the Haat Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 18(6): 557-571. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290180608. (Journal Article)