David Pollard

David Pollard is a senior scientist at Pennsylvania State University's Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI), specializing in ice sheet modeling and climate change research. His work focuses on simulating the historical behavior of Antarctic ice sheets to predict future responses to global warming, particularly in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and Pine Island Glacier regions.

Pollard's research employs computer models validated against geological data from the ANDRILL project, examining how ice shelves act as stabilizing structures and how their melting could accelerate ice loss and sea level rise. He emphasizes the role of ocean warming in near-term ice dynamics and explores long-term scenarios of self-accelerating ice retreat under continued greenhouse gas emissions.

• Key collaborator: Robert DeConto (University of Massachusetts)
• Focus areas: Ice sheet modeling, sea level rise, climate-ice interactions