Dr Felix Ng

DPhil

School of Geography and Planning

Reader in Theoretical Glaciology

Felix Ng profile photo
Profile picture of Felix Ng profile photo
f.ng@sheffield.ac.uk
Geography and Planning Building

Full contact details

Dr Felix Ng
School of Geography and Planning
Geography and Planning Building
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND
Profile

Felix graduated from Engineering Science at the University of Oxford in 1994. Changing field to applied mathematics afterwards, he moved to the Mathematical Institute at Oxford to conduct doctoral research, gaining his DPhil in mathematical glaciology in 1998.

Felix then held a Junior Research Fellowship at St. John's College, University of Oxford from 1998 to 2002. He spent 2001 visiting the University of Washington in Seattle as Royal-Society Fulbright Research Fellow. There, he developed strong interests in Antarctic glaciology, a subject which he continues to research today.

From 2003 to 2005, Felix was Leavitt Research Fellow in Geosciences at MIT. At one of his projects there, he worked with  to study the polar caps on Mars.

He joined the University of Sheffield in 2005 and is currently Reader in Theoretical Glaciology. In the department/school, he has performed key administrative roles including Exams Officer, Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes, and Director of Undergraduate Recruitment. He teaches numerous undergraduate/masters modules and has been long-term module convenor of the final-year research dissertations in our undergraduate programmes.

In 2017, Felix visited the University of Otago, New Zealand as William Evans Visiting Fellow to collaborate with glaciologists and ice physicists there.

He was awarded the Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship in the 2017-18 academic year to conduct research on the tributarisation of ice-stream networks.

Felix won the  with a stunning image created from his research findings on Antarctic ice streams (see this ). The Croucher Foundation has since produced an .

Felix is committed to nurturing new generations of glaciologists. During his career, he has trained numerous PhD and MSc graduates, who go on to make important contributions to the field (see lists below). 

From 20082023, Felix was Programme Director of MSc(Res) Polar and Alpine Change at the University, a role about which he was very passionate and where he imparted a great deal of energy. Under his leadership, the MSc transformed into the leading research masters in glaciology in the country.

From 20102015, Felix was invited lecturer on the , Italy. Together with , he co-edited the a research-level text covering the lectured subjects at the summer school. 

From 2023 to 2025 he was Director of the  (Ice and Climate Researchers at Sheffield) within the School.

He served as a Scientific Editor of Geology in 2005-2007. Since 2015 he has been an Associate Editor of . He was a panelist on the proposal review panel of the joint US NSF UK NERC research programme (20182026) in West Antarctica. He regularly reviews research papers and grants for journals and funding bodies.

Felix has research collaborators in many countries. Fieldwork and visits with them have taken him to West Antarctica, Iceland, the Tian Shan, the Alps, the Rockies, and Svalbard.

Research interests

I am fascinated by how things work in the cryosphere, from the scale of ice crystals to that of glaciers and ice sheets. I am interested in discovering the mechanisms behind observed behaviour. Finding and explaining the unexplained  deriving new insights and interpretations along the way excites me. 

I believe that a proper understanding of glaciological phenomena requires strong foundation from the underlying physics (and chemistry). My work is dedicated to deepening this foundation. My hallmark is the formulation of mathematical theories to explain, quantify and interpret observations. For this, I use the tools of applied mathematics, specifically mathematical modelling however, note my primary focus on building new models, rather than using models. At the same time, I work very closely with data. Therefore, in much that I do, I collaborate with the observational/field glaciologists and data scientists at the forefront of their subjects. This way I make new friends and learn new subjects from them traversing the breadth of the discipline all the time. This is indeed a great part of the fun!

My research interests span these topics:

  • Mathematical modelling of interactions between glaciers and ice sheets and the environment
  • Ice-core science: post-depositional evolution of climate signals
  • Ice-stream dynamics and organisation
  • Internal (radar) architecture of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
  • Subglacial drainage systems
  • Glacier hydrology and dynamics: j繹kulhlaups & glacier surges
  • Glacial geomorphology (landform origin and use in reconstructions)
  • Crystal-scale interactions: grain growth & grain-size statistical mechanics
  • Marss cryosphere: polar caps & mid-latitude glacial deposits and history.

The discoveries in  have propelled me far into ice-core science over the last few years. Multiple lines are being explored with colleagues from the Univ. of Florence, Univ. of Cambridge, and Univ. of Washington to study the alteration of climate signals in ice-core records, which complements ongoing international efforts in retrieving the oldest ice from Antarctica (e.g. see ).

I am interested in supervising PhD students who wish to study the cryosphere by combining mathematical modelling and observational data.

Current PhD student:  (thesis subject: Concentric Crater Fills on Mars); joint supervision with Rob Bryant and Frances Butcher

My past PhD students include  (Vice Chancellor Research Fellow, Aberystwyth Univ.),  (Associate Professor, Columbia Univ.), Becky Coles,  (Reader, Manchester Metropolitan Univ.).

Publications

Edited books

  • Fowler A & Ng F (Ed.) (2021) . Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Journal articles

  • Bingham RG, Bodart J, Cavitte M, Chung A, Sanderson R, Sutter J, Eisen O, Karlsson N, MacGregor J, Ross N , Young D et al (2025) . The Cryosphere, 19(10), 4611-4655.
  • Bowling JS, McMillan M, Leeson AA, Livingstone SJ, Sole AJ, Ng FSL, Karlsson NB, Nienow P, Boxall K, No禱l B , van den Broeke MR et al (2025) . Nature Geoscience, 18, 740-746.
  • Fowler AC & Ng FSL (2025) . Annals of Glaciology, 66.
  • Ng F (2024) . The Cryosphere, 18(10), 4645-4669.
  • Ng FSL (2023) . The Cryosphere, 17(7), 3063-3082.
  • Woodley SZ, Butcher FEG, Fawdon P, Clark CD, Ng FSL, Davis JM & Gallagher C (2022) . Icarus, 386.
  • Livingstone SJ, Li Y, Rutishauser A, Sanderson RJ, Winter K, Mikucki JA, Bj繹rnsson H, Bowling JS, Chu W, Dow C , Fricker HA et al (2022) . Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 3(2), 106-124.
  • Livingstone S, Bj繹rnsson H, Bowling J, Chu W, Dow C, Fricker H, Li Y, McMillan M, Mikucki J, Ng F , Ross N et al (2021) .
  • Curry CS, Rowan AV & Ng FSL (2021) .
  • Ng FSL (2021) . The Cryosphere, 15, 1787-1810.
  • Bartlett OT, Ng FSL & Rowan AV (2021) . EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, 46(3), 525-539.
  • Hepburn AJ, Ng FSL, Holt TO & Hubbard B (2020) . Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 125(11).
  • Livingstone SJ, Lewington ELM, Clark CD, Storrar RD, Sole AJ, McMartin I, Dewald N & Ng F (2020) . The Cryosphere, 14(6), 1989-2004.
  • Hepburn AJ, Ng FSL, Livingstone SJ, Holt TO & Hubbard B (2020) . Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 125(2).
  • Hepburn AJ, Holt T, Hubbard B & Ng F (2019) . Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems, 8(2), 293-313.
  • Lewington E, Livingstone S, Sole A, Clark C & Ng F (2019) . Geomorphology, 339, 70-86.
  • Ng FSL & Hughes ALC (2019) . Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 44(4), 861-876.
  • Ng FSL, Igneczi A, Sole AJ & Livingstone SJ (2018) . Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123(10), 2319-2340.
  • Ng FS, Gudmundsson GH & King EC (2018) . Frontiers in Earth Science, 6.
  • Igneczi A, Sole A, Livingstone S, Ng F & Yang K (2018) . Frontiers in Earth Science, 6.
  • Carrivick JL, Tweed FS, Ng F, Quincey DJ, Mallalieu J, Ingeman-Nielsen T, Mikkelsen AB, Palmer SJ, Yde JC, Homer R , Russell AJ et al (2017) . Frontiers in Earth Science, 5.
  • Ely JC, Clark CD, Ng FSL & Spagnolo M (2017) . Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface, 122(4), 961-972.
  • H瓣usler H, Ng F, Kopecny A & Leber D (2016) . Geomorphology, 273, 292-307.
  • Ng FSL (2016) . Acta Materialia, 120, 453-462.
  • Ng FSL (2015) . Nature Geoscience, 8(11), 847-850.
  • Kingslake J, Ng F & Sole A (2015) . Journal of Glaciology, 61(225), 185-199.
  • Ng F & Jacka TH (2014) . Journal of Glaciology, 60(221), 463-477.
  • Ng FS & King EC (2013) . Annals of Glaciology, 54(64), 90-96.
  • Kingslake J & Ng F (2013) . Annals of Glaciology, 54(63), 25-31.
  • Kingslake J & Ng F (2013) . Journal of Glaciology, 59(217), 805-818.
  • Li H, Ng F, Li Z, Qin D & Cheng G (2012) . Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface, 117(1).
  • Li H, Ng F, Li Z, Qin D & Cheng G (2012) An extended "perfect-plasticity" method for estimating ice thickness along the flow line of mountain glaciers. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 117(1).
  • Ng F & King EC (2011) . Journal of Glaciology, 57(206), 1119-1134.
  • Porter PR, Vatne G, Ng F & Irvine-Fynn TDL (2010) . Geografiska Annaler. Series A. Physical Geography, 92(4), 437-449.
  • Ng FSL, Barr ID & Clark CD (2010) . Quaternary Science Reviews, 29(23-24), 3240-3255.
  • Clark CD, Hughes ALC, Greenwood SL, Spagnolo M & Ng FSL (2009) . QUATERNARY SCI REV, 28(7-8), 677-692.
  • Ng F & Liu S (2009) . Journal of Glaciology, 55(192), 1-15.
  • Hodson A, Anesio AM, Ng F, Watson R, Quirk J, Irvine-Fynn T, Dye A, Clark C, McCloy P, Kohler J & Sattler B (2007) . J GEOPHYS RES-BIOGEO, 112(G4).
  • Ng F, Liu S, Mavlyudov B & Wang Y (2007) . Geophysical Research Letters, 34(21).
  • Ng F (2006) . The Geographical Journal, 172(4), 351-351.
  • Ng FSL & Zuber MT (2006) . Journal of Geophysical Research Planets, 111(2).
  • Ng F, Hallet B, Sletten R & Stone JO (2005) . Geology, 33(2), 121-124.
  • Ng F & Conway H (2004) . Geology, 32(6), 481-484.
  • Ng F & Bj繹rnsson H (2003) . Journal of Glaciology, 49(165), 161-172.
  • Ng F & Hallet B (2002) Patterning mechanisms in subglacial carbonate dissolution and deposition. Journal of Glaciology, 48(162), 386-400.
  • Fowler AC, Murray T & Ng FSL (2001) . Journal of Glaciology, 47(159), 527-538.
  • Ng FSL (2000) . Annals of Glaciology, 30, 146-152.
  • Ng FSL (2000) . Journal of Glaciology, 46(155), 580-598.
  • Alean J (2000) . Journal of Glaciology, 46(155), 700-700.
  • Fowler AC & Ng FSL (1996) . Annals of Glaciology, 22, 255-259.
  • Livingstone SJ, Li Y, Rutishauser A, Sanderson RJ, Winter K, Mikucki JA, Bj繹rnsson H, Bowling JS, Chu W, Dow CF , Fricker HA et al () . Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 3(2), 156-156.
  • Drews R, Pattyn F, Hewitt IJ, Ng FSL, Berger S, Matsuoka K, Helm V, Bergeot N, Favier L & Neckel N () . Nature Communications, 8(1).
  • Jowett AE, Hanna E, Ng F, Huybrechts P & Janssens I () , 9(5), 5327-5371.

Book chapters

  • Fowler A & Ng F (2021) , Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment (pp. 47-78). Springer International Publishing
  • Ng FSL (1990) , Ice Physics and the Natural Environment (pp. 325-327). Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Conference proceedings

  • Woodley SZ, Butcher FEG, Clark CD, Ng F, Davis JM & Gallagher C (2021) Multiple sites of Amazonian wet-based glaciation identified in West Tempe Terra, Mars. 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), Proceedings. Virtual conference, 15 March 2021 - 15 March 2021.
  • Livingstone S, Lewington ELM, Clark CD, Storrar RD, Sole AJ, McMartin I, Dewald N, Ng F, V矇rit矇 J & Ravier E (2021) . Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs
  • Hepburn A, Ng F, Holt T & Hubbard B (2020) . Sharing Geoscience Online

Software, code or databases

  • Lewington E, Livingstone S, Sole A, Ng F & Clark C .

Datasets

  • Ng F (2021) .
  • Ng F (2021) .
  • Ng FSL (2015) .
  • Ng FSL .
  • Livingstone S, Lewington E, Clark C, Storrar R, Sole A, Mcmartin I, Dewald N & Ng F .

Other

  • Ng FSL, Rhodes RH, Fudge TJ & Wolff EW (2025) .
  • Ng FSL (2024) .
  • Fowler A, Ng F & Kember G (2024) . EGU General Assembly 2024.
  • Ng FSL (2024) . EGU General Assembly 2024.
  • Ng FSL (2023) .

Preprints

  • Bingham RG, Bodart JA, Cavitte MGP, Chung A, Sanderson RJ, Sutter JCR, Eisen O, Karlsson NB, MacGregor JA, Ross N , Young DA et al (2024) , Copernicus GmbH.
  • Ng FSL (2024) , https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2024/egusphere-2024-1012/.
Teaching activities

My teaching encompasses the theoretical, empirical and skill elements of geoscience. Breaking down complex things and explaining them simply is challenging, and this is what I try to do with my students. 

I am fortunate to have been taught by people who are truly inspirational; I try to follow in their footsteps by launching students into the fun of thinking and problem-solving. I do this by a range of methods to get my students to push ideas in words and drawings with me. To me, a key ingredient of effective teaching is the art of getting across the essential story of the science, whether when unpicking individual papers or the complex web of interacting research studies. 

I teach numerous undergraduate and postgraduate modules: Unlocking Past Environmental Changes (Level 2; and as module convenor); Glacial Processes (Level 2); The Planets (Level 3; convenor), Geoscientific Data Analysis using MATLAB (Level 3; convenor); Current Issues in Polar and Alpine Research (MScRes; convenor); and Polar and Alpine Change Research Project (MScRes; past convenor, 2009-2023). 

I also lead the Level-2 Research Design/Proposal module and the Level-3 (final year) Undergraduate Research Dissertation as the convenor for physical geography and environmental science students, working alongside a human-geography convenor.

From 2008 to 2023, I was Programme Director of MSc(Res) Polar and Alpine Change at the University of Sheffield. I am proud to say that this research masters has educated more than 150 graduates over the years some 80 of them successfully securing PhD places afterwards to tackle different areas of glaciological, polar and climate science. Many of them are now established scientists.

For my undergraduate teaching contributions, I won a University Senate Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching in 2010. For my sustained efforts over a decade as Director of the MSc(Res) Polar and Alpine Change programme, I was nominated by my department for the University of Sheffield 2023 Education Award (Leadership category).

My former MSc/undergraduate research students include:  (Durham Univ., PhD student),  (Research Fellow, Northumbria Univ.), (Research Associate, UEA),  (Research Fellow, Aberystwyth Univ.), (Senior Lecturer, Univ. Hertfordshire),  (Operational Meteorologist, UK Met Office),  (Oslo Univ.),  (Associate Prof., Exeter Univ.). 

Additional research projects

Ice Dynamics

I had earlier investigated the surge behaviour of sub-polar glaciers with Tavi Murray (Leeds) and Andrew Fowler (Oxford) and recently turned my attention to the Antarctic ice streams, whose variable flow exerts strong control on ice-sheet mass balance.

With Howard Conway (Seattle), I used the radar structures in Kamb Ice Stream to infer its flow speed before it stopped ~150 years ago. Ongoing work considers the general problem of deciphering the history of ice flow from englacial radar layers.

Graph showing the radar X-section of Kamb Ice Stream, showing undulating layers in ice ~1800 m deep

Radar X-section of Kamb Ice Stream, showing undulating layers in ice ~1800 m deep (horizontal axis in km) 

Model of isochrone-layer deformation along a flow band in an ice stream

Model of isochrone-layer deformation along a flow band in an ice stream 

Glacier Hydrology

Catastrophic outburst floods from ice-dammed lakes, known as j繹kulhlaups, can deliver several cubic kilometres of water suddenly with a peak discharge ranging up to 105 m3 s-1, causing severe environmental and economic impact.

In order to identify factors that regulate their timing and magnitude, I am studying the mechanics of these floods worldwide and also locally, using examples from Iceland and from the Tian Shan.

Image of the moraine-dammed lake at Grinnell Glacier, Rocky Mountains where fieldwork took place

Fieldwork on the moraine-dammed lake at Grinnell Glacier, Rocky Mountains 

Glacial Geomorphology

Glaciation leaves behind a variety of bedforms on the Earth surface. Part of my research explores how they form, with an aim to reconstruct the conditions of past ice flow using them and to learn something about the processes that operate at the glacier bed.

The following images show two examples which I have studied.

Pins of calcite precipitate protruding from the leeside of a limestone bed specimen (collected by Bernard Hallet from Castleguard Glacier, Canada)

Centimetre-scale: Pins of calcite precipitate protruding from the leeside of a limestone bed specimen (collected by Bernard Hallet from Castleguard Glacier, Canada) 

Drumlins of the Puget Sound, Washington State, USA. This LIDAR image is about 6 km wide. Image courtesy: Ralph Haugerud.

Kilometre-scale: Drumlins of the Puget Sound, Washington State, USA. This LIDAR image is about 6 km wide. Image courtesy: Ralph Haugerud. 

When sediment-laden ice sublimates, a debris layer (an ablation till) forms on the surface and it can become thick enough to obscure the ice.

This situation is found in central Beacon Valley, Antarctica. Together with collaborators at the University of Washington, I have studied the cosmogenic.

He systematics of the debris accretion process and applied our model to understand how the till layer in Beacon Valley developed while it also became spectacularly patterned by contraction-crack polygons

Photo of the campsite at Beacon Valley

Beacon Valley (photo by Ron Sletten) 

Polygonal pattern on the sublimation till that covers relict ice Beacon Valley. The polygon diameter is about 10m.

Polygonal pattern on the sublimation till that covers relict ice (not visible) in Beacon Valley. The polygon diameter is about 10m.