Dr. Torsten Albrecht
Main Focus
- Co-development of the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM)
- Interactive coupling of ice model (PISM) to ocean models (FESOM, PICO-MOM) and to solid-Earth and sea-level model (VILMA) to support integration in Earth system models
- Characterizing tipping behavior of the Antarctic Ice Sheets and potential interaction with other tipping elements via the ocean and the solid Earth
- Interaction of fracture evolution and ice shelf dynamics
- Iceberg calving parameterization for Antarctic ice shelves
Curriculum Vitae
Torsten Albrecht studied physics at the University of Potsdam, where he received his doctorate in climate physics at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in 2013. His thesis covered topics of iceberg calving and continuum damage mechanics in Antarctic ice shelves implemented into the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM). As a postdoctoral researcher, Torsten conducted ensemble simulations over glacial cycles investigating Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics and worked on the coupling of PISM to solid Earth and ocean models, becoming integrative part of various Earth system models. He is involved in various international model intercomparison projects on sea-level projections and tipping risks (e.g. ISMIP, TIPMIP, CalvingMIP) and is leading the ice dynamics theme as part of the Earth Resilience Science Unit (ERSU) at PIK and now at the MPI-GEA.
Publications
- D. M. Chandler, P. M. Langebroek, R. Reese, T. Albrecht, J. Garbe, W. Winkelmann,
Antarctic Ice Sheet tipping in the last 800 kyr warns of future ice loss,
Communications Earth & Environment, 6, 420 (2025),
DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02366-2. - L. Nicola, R. Reese, M. Kreuzer, T. Albrecht, R. Winkelmann,
Bathymetry-constrained warm-mode melt estimates derived from analysing oceanic gateways in Antarctica,
The Cryosphere, 19, 6, 2263-2287 (2025),
DOI: 10.5194/tc-19-2263-2025. - M. Kreuzer, T. Albrecht, L. Nicola, R. Reese and R. Winkelmann,
Bathymetry-constrained impact of relative sea-level change on basal melting in Antarctica,
The Cryosphere 19, 3, 1181-1203 (2025),
DOI: 10.5194/tc-19-1181-2025.
- R. Creel, J. Austermann, R. Kopp, N. Khan, T. Albrecht, J. Kingslake,
Global mean sea level likely higher than present during the Holocene,
Nature Communications 15, 10731 (2024),
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54535-0. - H. Seroussi, T. Pelle, W. H. Lipscomb, A. Abe-Ouchi, T. Albrecht, J. Alvarez-Solas, X. Asay-Davis, J.-B. Barre, C. J. Berends, J. Bernales, J. Blasco, J. Caillet, D. M. Chandler, V. Coulon, R. Cullather, C. Dumas, B. K. Galton-Fenzi, J. Garbe, F. Gillet-Chaulet, R. Gladstone, H. Goelzer, N. Golledge, R. Greve, G. H. Gudmundsson, H. Kyeore Han, T. R. Hillebrand, M. J. Hoffman, P. Huybrechts, N. C. Jourdain, A. K. Klose, P. M. Langebroek, G. R. Leguy, D. P. Lowry, P. Mathiot, M. Montoya, M. Morlighem, S. Nowicki, F. Pattyn, A. J. Payne, A. Quiquet, R. Reese, A. Robinson, L. Saraste, E. G. Simon, S. Sun, J. P. Twarog, L. D. Trusel, B. Urruty, J. Van Breedam, R. S. W. van de Wal, Y. Wang, C. Zhao, T. Zwinger,
Evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet Over the Next Three Centuries From an ISMIP6 Model Ensemble,
Earth's Future 12, 9, e2024EF004561 (2024).
DOI: 10.1029/2024EF004561 - T. Albrecht, M. Bagge, V. Klemann,
Feedback mechanisms controlling Antarctic glacial-cycle dynamics simulated with a coupled ice sheet–solid Earth model,
The Cryosphere 18, 9, 4233-4255.
DOI: 10.5194/tc-18-4233-2024
a) T. Albrecht, V. Klemann, M. Bagge,
PISM-VILMA glacial cycle simulations of the Antarctic Ice Sheet coupled to the solid Earth and global sea level [dataset] (2024).
DOI: 10.1594/PANGAEA.972528.
b) T. Albrecht,
PISM version as used in Albrecht et al. (TC, 2024) publication. [software].
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12730724.