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Eric Rignot

Distinguished Professor and Chair, Earth System Science

Dr. Rignot works to understand the interactions of glaciers and climate and what effects they will have on global sea levels.

Areas of Expertise

  • Ice Sheet Dynamics and Mass Balance
  • Climate Change
  • Glaciology
  • Radar

Biography

Dr. Rignot works to understand the interactions of ice and climate, in particular to determine how the ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland will respond to climate change in the coming century and how they will affect global sea level.

He uses satellite remote sensing techniques (imaging radar, laser altimetry, radio echo sounding), airborne geophysical surveys (icebridge), field surveys (radar, GPS, bathymetry, CTD), and numerical modeling (ice sheet motion, ocean circulation near glaciers, coupled ocean/ice sheet models).

In addition, he is an expert in how ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland will respond to climate change, interactions of ice and climate, global sea level, satellite remote sensing and ocean circulation.

Media

Watch on YouTube: The AGU Interviews: Eric Rignot, Part OneWatch on YouTube: Ice Sheet Systems and Sea Level Rise: Prof Eric RignotWatch on YouTube: Measuring Earth's Meltdown in Greenland - UC IrvineDownload image: Eric RignotDownload image: Eric RignotDownload image: Eric Rignot

Education

Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI)

Master's Degree, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 1987

Ecole Centrale Paris

Engineer's Degree, Aerospace Engineering, 1985

University of Southern California

Ph.D., Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, 1988

University of Southern California

Master's Degree, Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, 1988

University of Southern California

Ph.D. and E.E., Electrical Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering, 1991

Accomplishments

  • 2017 Louis Agassiz Medal
  • NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
  • Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher
  • 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (Contributing Author)

Affiliations

  • NASA
  • JPL

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