About
Dr James Jordan is a member of the Geography department at Swansea University. His main research goal is using ice-ocean models to determine the future Antarctic contribution to sea level in a warming climate.
Dr Jim Jordan
Lecturer in Geography
Geography
Academic Office - 236
Second Floor
Wallace Building
Singleton Campus
Second Floor
Wallace Building
Singleton Campus
Available For Postgraduate Supervision
Areas Of Expertise
- Ice-ocean interactions
- Coupled ice-ocean modelling
- Ice-shelf calving
- Antarctica
- Glaciology
- Polar Oceanography
- Sea level rise
Career Highlights
Research
James is the lead coordinator of CalvingMIP, a large-scale project involving the cryospheric modelling community seeking to improve the current state of ice shelf calving in numerical models. Past topics of research have included the effect of warm water intrusions on East Antarctic mass balance, developing the coupled ice-ocean component of MITgcm, frazil ice formation in sea water as well as marine ice formation in ice-shelf basal crevasses.
Publications
Research Highlights
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Jordan, J., Miles, B., Gudmundsson, G., Jamieson, S., Jenkins, A., & Stokes, C. (2023). Increased warm water intrusions could cause mass loss in East Antarctica during the next 200 years. Nature Communications, 14(1)
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Miles, B., Stokes, C., Jenkins, A., Jordan, J., Jamieson, S., & Gudmundsson, G. (2023). Slowdown of Shirase Glacier, East Antarctica, caused by strengthening alongshore winds. The Cryosphere, 17(1), 445-456.
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Miles, B., Stokes, C., Jamieson, S., Jordan, J., Gudmundsson, G., & Jenkins, A. (2022). High spatial and temporal variability in Antarctic ice discharge linked to ice shelf buttressing and bed geometry. Scientific Reports, 12(1)
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Jordan, J., Gudmundsson, G., Jenkins, A., Stokes, C., Miles, B., & Jamieson, S. (2022). The sensitivity of Cook Glacier, East Antarctica, to changes in ice-shelf extent and grounding-line position. Journal of Glaciology, 68(269), 473-485.
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Miles, B., Jordan, J., Stokes, C., Jamieson, S., Gudmundsson, G., & Jenkins, A. (2021). Recent acceleration of Denman Glacier (1972–2017), East Antarctica, driven by grounding line retreat and changes in ice tongue configuration. The Cryosphere, 15(2), 663-676.
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Levermann, A., Winkelmann, R., Albrecht, T., Goelzer, H., Golledge, N., Greve, R., Huybrechts, P., Jordan, J., Leguy, G., Martin, D., Morlighem, M., Pattyn, F., Pollard, D., Quiquet, A., Rodehacke, C., Seroussi, H., Sutter, J., Zhang, T., Breedam, J...., & Wal, R. (2020). Projecting Antarctica's contribution to future sea level rise from basal ice shelf melt using linear response functions of 16 ice sheet models (LARMIP-2). Earth System Dynamics, 11(1), 35-76.
All Research
Journal Articles
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Jordan, J., Miles, B., Gudmundsson, G., Jamieson, S., Jenkins, A., & Stokes, C. (2023). Increased warm water intrusions could cause mass loss in East Antarctica during the next 200 years. Nature Communications, 14(1)
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Miles, B., Stokes, C., Jenkins, A., Jordan, J., Jamieson, S., & Gudmundsson, G. (2023). Slowdown of Shirase Glacier, East Antarctica, caused by strengthening alongshore winds. The Cryosphere, 17(1), 445-456.
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Jordan, J., Gudmundsson, G., Jenkins, A., Stokes, C., Miles, B., & Jamieson, S. (2022). The sensitivity of Cook Glacier, East Antarctica, to changes in ice-shelf extent and grounding-line position. Journal of Glaciology, 68(269), 473-485.
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Miles, B., Stokes, C., Jamieson, S., Jordan, J., Gudmundsson, G., & Jenkins, A. (2022). High spatial and temporal variability in Antarctic ice discharge linked to ice shelf buttressing and bed geometry. Scientific Reports, 12(1)
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Miles, B., Jordan, J., Stokes, C., Jamieson, S., Gudmundsson, G., & Jenkins, A. (2021). Recent acceleration of Denman Glacier (1972–2017), East Antarctica, driven by grounding line retreat and changes in ice tongue configuration. The Cryosphere, 15(2), 663-676.
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Levermann, A., Winkelmann, R., Albrecht, T., Goelzer, H., Golledge, N., Greve, R., Huybrechts, P., Jordan, J., Leguy, G., Martin, D., Morlighem, M., Pattyn, F., Pollard, D., Quiquet, A., Rodehacke, C., Seroussi, H., Sutter, J., Zhang, T., Breedam, J...., & Wal, R. (2020). Projecting Antarctica's contribution to future sea level rise from basal ice shelf melt using linear response functions of 16 ice sheet models (LARMIP-2). Earth System Dynamics, 11(1), 35-76.
Taught Modules
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GEG132 Introduction to Earth Systems
This module forms an essential foundation for more advanced study of physical geography and environmental sciences. It introduces the four main Earth systems: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere. It provides a sound understanding of the processes within each system, and the interactions between them. The geosphere section introduces topics like the origin of Earth, plate tectonics and describes the distribution of different rock types and processes occurring in the geosphere. The biosphere section deals mainly with flows of energy and nutrients between Earth systems. The atmosphere section deals with flows of energy and moisture and their role in controlling climate over both space and time. The hydrosphere section focuses on the concepts of the hydrological cycle and the main processes associated with the water fluxes. In addition, the main properties and functions of soil, and the formation of different soil types worldwide are introduced. At the end of the module the changes in climate in the past, current and future, proxies of climate change are included.
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GEG135 Sustainability and the Climate Emergency
This module is an introduction to global environmental change and explores aspects of the issue of sustainability as it affects everyday lives. The challenge of sustainability is significant and the lectures will provide you with the information needed to engage with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
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GEG277 Geographical Methods and Data Analysis
This core 20-credit module introduces a variety of physical and human geography methods, along with data analysis. The module builds upon student knowledge and covers research design, data collection and data analysis. Students are introduced to a range of lab and field techniques in physical and / or human geography along with statistical analysis. They gain experience in describing, interpreting and presenting the results.
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GEG278 Dissertation Preparation Skills
This module builds upon student knowledge of social research methods and environmental methods (delivered in GEG277) through to the formulation of a dissertation proposal. The module focuses on key dissertation planning and preparation skills.
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GEG331 Dissertation Report: Geography
The dissertation is an original, substantive and independent research project in an aspect of Geography. The dissertation research project is based on 20 - 25 days of primary research (e.g fieldwork, lab work, archive work) and several months of analysis and write-up. The end result must be less than 10,000 words of text. The dissertation offers you the chance to follow your personal interests and to demonstrate your capabilities as a Geographer. During the course of your dissertation, you will be supported by a peer-led discussion group and a staff supervisor. Lectures and guidance are delivered via this module and peer and staff led Dissertation Support Groups are delivered via GEG332. Participating in Dissertation Support Groups is vital, and is assessed and, in these groups, students will provide constructive criticism to fellow students undertaking related research projects, learning from their research problems and subsequent solutions. This support and supervision is delivered through GEG332, which is a co- requisite.
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GEG332 Dissertation Support: Geography
This module provides structured, student-led peer-group support and academic staff group supervision for students undertaking the 30-credit 'Dissertation Report: Geography' module. This support and supervision is assessed through the submission of the Dissertation Outline and the Dissertation Support Group Reflection and Attendance Log. Working within a supervised Student Peer Group, students have the opportunity to provide constructive criticism to fellow students undertaking related research projects, learning from their research problems and subsequent solutions. Group sessions are the main support provision as student¿s work through their Dissertation. This module complements the 'Dissertation Report: Geography' module, which is a co-requisite.
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GEG347 Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
This module provides a introduction to meteorology, weather, and atmospheric science. It covers both the study of weather and the underlying physical concepts. There are three major themes. The first part of the module concentrates on weather observation and forecasting applied the British Isles. The second part deals with the basic physics of the atmosphere, covering the motion and thermodynamics of air. The last part applied these concepts to weather phenomena, from the small scale: cloud and fog, thunderstorms and tornadoes; to the large scale: mid-latitude cyclones, tropical cyclones, monsoons, and the global circulation. The nature of meteorology means that this course involves ideas from physics with associated calculations, which are assessed. The majority of the physics and calculations correspond to roughly GCSE level, though with applications that may be new, and with a few more advanced concepts developed. Assessed calculations are based on GCSE Mathematics, but students with A-level Mathematics will be familiar with some additional concepts that they are free to use in their answers.
Career History
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Geography Lecturer, Swansea University
2023 - Present
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Université Libre De Bruxelles
2021 - 2023
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Northumbria University
2018 - 2021
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Cambridge
2017 - 2018
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, British Antarctic Survey
2015 - 2017
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PhD – Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London and British Antarctic Survey
2011 - 2014
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Environmental Consultant, INTERTEK-METOC
2010 - 2011
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MSc – Applied Physical Oceanography, University of Bangor
2009 - 2010
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BSc – Physics, University of Bristol
2006 - 2009