Keith Makinson

Oceanographer

Biography

My research interests are within the fields of polar oceanography and glaciology. These include the measurement and modelling of sub-ice shelf ocean circulation, numerical modelling of ice-ocean interactions, and sub-ice shelf ocean mixing, particularly the influence of tides in these environments. As a drilling engineer, I’m involved in designing, developing, maintaining and operating the BAS deep hot-water drills used to provide subglacial access holes through ice shelves and ice sheets ranging in thickness from a few 100’s of metres to over 2 km. I am also an Innovation Champion for the Polar Oceans team.

Research interests

Collaborations

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2023

Schmidt, B. E., Washam, P., Davis, P.E.D. , Nicholls, K.W. , Holland, D.M., Lawrence, J.D., Riverman, K.L., Smith, J.A. , Spears, A., Dichek, D.J.G., Mullen, A. D., Clyne, E., Yeager, B., Anker, P. , Meister, M.R., Hurwitz, B.C., Quartini, E.S., Bryson, F. E., Basinski-Ferris, A., Thomas, C., Wake, J., Vaughan, D.G. , Anandakrishnan, S., Rignot, E., Paden, J., Makinson, K. . (2023) Heterogeneous melting near the Thwaites Glacier grounding line. Nature, 614 (). pp. 10.1038/s41586-022-05691-0

Davis, Peter E.D. , Nicholls, Keith W. , Holland, David M., Schmidt, Britney E., Washam, Peter, Riverman, Kiya L., Arthern, Robert J. , Vaňková, Irena , Eayrs, Clare, Smith, James A. , Anker, Paul G.D. , Mullen, Andrew D., Dichek, Daniel, Lawrence, Justin D., Meister, Matthew M., Clyne, Elisabeth, Basinski-Ferris, Aurora, Rignot, Eric, Queste, Bastien Y., Boehme, Lars, Heywood, Karen J., Anadakrishnan, Sridhar, Makinson, Keith . (2023) Suppressed basal melting in the eastern Thwaites Glacier grounding zone. Nature, 614 (). 21 pp. 10.1038/s41586-022-05586-0

2021

Smith, A.M. , Anker, P.G.D. , Nicholls, K.W. , Makinson, K. , Murray, T., Rios-Costas, S., Brisbourne, A.M. , Hodgson, D.A. , Schlegel, R., Anandkrishnan, S.. (2021) Ice stream subglacial access for ice sheet history and fast ice flow: The BEAMISH Project on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica and initial results on basal conditions. Annals of Glaciology, 62 (). pp. 10.1017/aog.2020.82

Makinson, Keith , Ashurst, Daniel, Anker, Paul G.D. , Smith, James A. , Hodgson, Dominic , Davis, Peter E.D. , Smith, Andrew M. . (2021) A new percussion hammer mechanism for a borehole deployable subglacial sediment corer. Annals of Glaciology, 62 (). pp. 10.1017/aog.2020.83

Anker, Paul G.D. , Makinson, Keith , Nicholls, Keith W. , Smith, Andrew M. . (2021) The BEAMISH hot water drill system and its use on the Rutford Ice Stream, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, 62 (). pp. 10.1017/aog.2020.86

McAfee, Carson W.I. , Rix, Julius , Quirk, Sean J. , Anker, Paul G.D. , Brisbourne, Alex M. , Makinson, Keith . (2021) Non-contact measurement system for hot water drilled ice boreholes. Annals of Glaciology, 62 (). pp. 10.1017/aog.2020.85

Makinson, Keith , Anker, Paul G.D. , Garcés, Jonathan, Goodger, David J., Polfrey, Scott, Rix, Julius , Silva, Alejandro, Smith, Andrew M. , Uribe, José A., Zamora, Rodrigo. (2021) Development of a clean hot water drill to access Subglacial Lake CECs, West Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, 62 (). pp. 10.1017/aog.2020.88

Smith, J.A. , Hillenbrand, C.-D. , Subt, C., Rosenheim, B.E., Frederichs, T., Ehrmann, W., Andersen, T.J., Wacker, L., Makinson, K. , Anker, P. , Venables, E.J., Nicholls, K.W. . (2021) History of Larsen C Ice Shelf reconstructed from sub-ice shelf and offshore sediments. Geology, 49 (). 5 pp. 10.1130/G48503.1

2020

Albert, Mary R., Slawny, Kristina R., Boeckmann, Grant V., Gibson, Chris J., Johnson, Jay A., Makinson, Keith , Rix, Julius . (2020) Recent innovations in drilling in ice. In: Bar-Cohen, Yoseph, Zacny, Kris (eds.). Advances in Terrestrial Drilling: Ground, Ice, and Underwater, , CRC Press, 310 pp.

Vankova, Irena , Nicholls, Keith W. , Corr, Hugh F.J., Makinson, Keith , Brennan, Paul V.. (2020) Observations of tidal melt and vertical strain at the Filchner‐Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 125 (). pp. 10.1029/2019JF005280

2018

Makinson, Keith . (2018) Subglacial access and investigation. In: Nuttall, Mark, Christensen, Torben R., Siegert, Martin (eds.). The Routledge Handbook of the Polar Regions, Abingdon, Oxon, Routledge, pp.

2017

Rosier, Sebastian H.R. , Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar , King, Matt A., Nicholls, Keith W. , Makinson, Keith , Corr, Hugh F.J.. (2017) Strong tidal variations in ice flow observed across the entire Ronne Ice Shelf and adjoining ice streams. Earth System Science Data, 9 (). pp. 10.5194/essd-9-849-2017

2016

Makinson, Keith , Pearce, David, Hodgson, Dominic , Bentley, Michael, Smith, Andrew , Tranter, Martyn, Rose, Mike, Ross, Neil, Mowlem, Matthew, Parnell, John, Siegert, Martin. (2016) Clean subglacial access: prospects for future deep hot-water drilling. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A, 374 (). 14 pp. 10.1098/rsta.2014.0304

Hodgson, Dominic A. , Bentley, Michael J., Smith, James A. , Klepacki, Julian, Makinson, Keith , Smith, Andrew M. , Saw, Kevin, Scherer, Reed, Powell, Ross, Tulaczyk, Slawek, Rose, Mike, Pearce, David, Mowlem, Matt, Keen, Peter, Siegert, Martin J.. (2016) Technologies for retrieving sediment cores in Antarctic subglacial settings. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A, 374 (). pp. 10.1098/rsta.2015.0056

2014

Makinson, Keith , Anker, Paul G.D. . (2014) The BAS ice shelf hot water drill: design, methods and tools. Annals of Glaciology, 55 (). pp. 10.3189/2014AoG68A030

Darelius, E., Makinson, K. , Daae, K., Fer, I., Holland, P.R. , Nicholls, K.W. . (2014) Hydrography and circulation in the Filchner Depression, Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 119 (). pp. 10.1002/2014JC010225

Venables, Emily, Nicholls, Keith , Wolk, Fabian, Makinson, Keith , Anker, Paul . (2014) Measuring turbulent dissipation rates beneath an Antarctic ice shelf. Marine Technology Society Journal, 48 (). pp. doi:10.4031/MTSJ.48.5.8

Siegert, Martin J., Makinson, Keith , Blake, David, Mowlem, Matt, Ross, Neil. (2014) An assessment of deep hot-water drilling as a means to undertake direct measurement and sampling of Antarctic subglacial lakes: experience and lessons learned from the Lake Ellsworth field season 2012/13. Annals of Glaciology, 55 (). pp. 10.3189/2014AoG65A008

Brisbourne, Alex , Smith, Andy , King, Edward , Nicholls, Keith , Holland, Paul , Makinson, Keith . (2014) Seabed topography beneath Larsen C Ice Shelf from seismic soundings. The Cryosphere, 8 (). pp. 10.5194/tc-8-1-2014

2013

Brito, Mario P., Griffiths, Gwyn, Mowlem, Matthew, Makinson, Keith . (2013) Estimating and managing blowout risk during access to subglacial Antarctic lakes. Antarctic Science, 25 (). pp. doi:10.1017/S0954102012000442

2012

Brito, M.P., Makinson, K. , Tait, A., Hill, C., Griffiths, G.. Nuttall, Mark, Christensen, Torben R., Siegert, Martin (eds.). (2012) Reliability Case Notes No. 7. Risk assessment of the hot-water drilling system for accessing subglacial Lake Ellsworth. Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, 37 pp. (National Oceanography Centre Research and Consultancy Report, 28.)

Nicholls, Keith W. , Makinson, Keith , Venables, Emily J.. (2012) Ocean circulation beneath Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctica from in situ observations. Geophysical Research Letters, 39 (). 6 pp. 10.1029/2012GL053187

Årthun, Marius, Nicholls, Keith W. , Makinson, Keith , Fedak, Michael A., Boehme, Lars. (2012) Seasonal inflow of warm water onto the southern Weddell Sea continental shelf, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 39 (). 6 pp. 10.1029/2012GL052856

Fer, Ilker, Makinson, Keith , Nicholls, Keith W. . (2012) Observations of Thermohaline Convection adjacent to Brunt Ice Shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 42 (). pp. 10.1175/JPO-D-11-0211.1

Makinson, Keith , King, Matt A., Nicholls, Keith W. , Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar . (2012) Diurnal and semidiurnal tide-induced lateral movement of Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 39 (). 5 pp. 10.1029/2012GL051636

Nicholls, K.W. , Corr, H.F.J., Makinson, K. , Pudsey, C.J.. (2012) Rock debris in an Antarctic ice shelf. Annals of Glaciology, 53 (). pp. doi:10.3189/2012AoG60A014

2011

Mowlem, M., Tsaloglou, M-N., Waugh, E., Floquet, C.F.A., Saw, K., Fowler, L., Brown, R., Pearce, D. , Wyatt, J., Beaton, A.D., Brito, M.P., Hodgson, D. , Griffiths, G., Bentley, M., Blake, D., Campbell, H., Capper, L., Clarke, R., Cockell, C., Corr, H., Harris, W., Hill, C., Hindmarsh, R. , King, E. , Lamb, H., Maher, B., Makinson, K. , Parnell, J., Priscu, J., Rivera, A., Ross, N., Siegert, M.J., Smith, A. , Tait, A., Tranter, M., Wadham, J., Whalley, B., Woodward, J.. (2011) Probe technology for the direct measurement and sampling of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake. In: Siegert, Martin J, Kennicutt, Mahlon C., II, Bindschadler, Robert A. (eds.). Antarctic Subglacial Aquatic Environments, Washington, American Geophysical Union, 246 pp. (AGU Geophysical Monograph, ).

Makinson, Keith , Holland, Paul R. , Jenkins, Adrian , Nicholls, Keith W. , Holland, David M.. (2011) Influence of tides on melting and freezing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 38 (). 6 pp. 10.1029/2010GL046462

King, Matt A., Makinson, Keith , Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar . (2011) Nonlinear interaction between ocean tides and the Larsen C Ice Shelf system. Geophysical Research Letters, 38 (). 5 pp. 10.1029/2011GL046680

Ross, N., Siegert, M.J., Rivera, A., Bentley, M.J., Blake, David, Capper, Linda, Clarke, Rachel, Cockell, C.S., Corr, Hugh, Harris, W., Hill, Christopher, Hindmarsh, Richard , Hodgson, Dominic , King, Edward , Lamb, H., Maher, B., Makinson, Keith , Mowlem, M., Parnell, J., Pearce, David , Priscu, J., Smith, Andy , Tait, Andrew, Tranter, M., Wadham, J.L., Whalley, W.B., Woodward, J.. (2011) Ellsworth Subglacial Lake, West Antarctica: A review of its history and recent field campaigns. In: Siegert, Martin J, Kennicutt, Mahlon C., II, Bindschadler, Robert A. (eds.). Antarctic Subglacial Aquatic Environments, , American Geophysical Union, pp.

2010

Thoma, Malte, Grosfeld, Klaus, Makinson, Keith , Lange, Manfred A.. (2010) Modelling the impact of ocean warming on melting and water masses of ice shelves in the Eastern Weddell Sea. Ocean Dynamics, 60 (). pp. 10.1007/s10236-010-0262-x

Timmermann, R., Le Brocq, A., Deen, Tara, Domack, E., Dutrieux, Pierre , Galton-Fenzi, B., Hellmer, H., Humbert, A., Jansen, D., Jenkins, Adrian , Lambrecht, A., Makinson, Keith , Niederjasper, F., Nitsche, F., Nøst, O.A., Smedsrud, L.H., Smith, W.H.F.. (2010) A consistent data set of Antarctic ice sheet topography, cavity geometry, and global bathymetry. Earth System Science Data, 2 (). pp. 10.5194/essdd-3-231-2010

2009

Nicholls, Keith W. , Østerhus, Svein, Makinson, Keith , Gammelsrød, Tor, Fahrbach, Eberhard. (2009) Ice-ocean processes over the continental shelf of the southern Weddell Sea, Antarctica: a review. Reviews of Geophysics, 47 (). 23 pp. 10.1029/2007RG000250

2008

Adalgeirsdóttir, G., Smith, Andy M. , Murray, T., King, M.A., Makinson, Keith , Nicholls, Keith W. , Behar, A.E.. (2008) Tidal influence on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica: observations of surface flow and basal processes from closely-spaced GPS and passive seismic stations. Journal of Glaciology, 54 (). pp. 10.3189/002214308786570872

2007

Makinson, K. , Nicholls, K.W. , Abrahamsen, E.P. . (2007) Oceanographic processes near the Filchner Sill – plans for fieldwork in 2007. Forum for Research into Ice Shelf Processes (FRISP). Report, 17 (). pp.

Siegert, M.J., Behar, A., Bentley, M., Blake, D., Bowden, S., Christoffersen, P., Cockell, C., Corr, H., Cullen, D.C., Edwards, H., Ellery, A., Ellis-Evans, C., Griffiths, G., Hindmarsh, R. , Hodgson, D.A. , King, E. , Lamb, H., Lane, L., Makinson, K. , Mowlem, M., Parnell, J., Pearce, D.A. , Priscu, J., Rivera, A., Sephton, M.A., Sims, M.R., Smith, A.M. , Tranter, M., Wadham, J.L., Wilson, G., Woodward, J.. (2007) Exploration of Ellsworth Subglacial Lake: a concept paper on the development, organisation and execution of an experiment to explore, measure and sample the environment of a West Antarctic subglacial lake. Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 6 (). pp. 10.1007/s11157-006-9109-9

Smith, A.M. , Murray, T., Nicholls, K.W. , Makinson, K. , Adalgeirsdottir, G., Behar, A., Vaughan, D.G. . (2007) Rapid erosion, drumlin formation, and changing hydrology beneath an Antarctic ice stream. Geology, 35 (). pp. 10.1130/G23036A.1

2006

Makinson, Keith . (2006) Future hot water drilling on Rutford Ice Stream 2004/05. Forum for Research into Ice Shelf Processes (FRISP). Report, (). pp.

Makinson, Keith . (2006) Tidal vertical mixing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf. Forum for Research into Ice Shelf Processes (FRISP). Report, (). pp.

Makinson, Keith , Schroder, Michael, Osterhus, Svein. (2006) Effect of critical latitude and seasonal stratification on tidal current profiles along Ronne Ice Front, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111 (). 15 pp. 10.1029/2005JC003062

2005

Makinson, Keith , Schröder, Michael, Østerhus, Svein. (2005) Seasonal stratification and tidal current profiles along Ronne Ice Front. Forum for Research into Ice Shelf Processes (FRISP). Report, 16 (). pp.

2004

Makinson, Keith , Schröder, Michael. (2004) Ocean processes and seasonal flow along Ronne Ice Front. Forum for Research into Ice Shelf Processes (FRISP) Report, 15 (). pp.

Nicholls, Keith , Makinson, Keith , Østerhus, Svein. (2004) Ronne inflow experiment – fieldwork. Forum for Research into Ice Shelf Processes (FRISP) Report, 15 (). pp.

Nicholls, Keith W. , Makinson, Keith , Østerhus, Svein. (2004) Circulation and water masses beneath the northern Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109 (). 11 pp. 10.1029/2004JC002302

2002

Makinson, Keith . (2002) Modeling tidal current profiles and vertical mixing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 32 (). pp. 10.1175/1520-0485(2002)032<0202:MTCPAV>2.0.CO;2

2001

Nicholls, K.W. , Østerhus, S., Makinson, K. , Johnson, M.R.. (2001) Oceanographic conditions south of Berkner Island, beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research, 106 (). pp. 10.1029/2000JC000350

Doake, C.S.M., Corr, H.F.J., Jenkins, A. , Makinson, K. , Nicholls, K.W. , Nath, C., Smith, A.M. , Vaughan, D.G. . (2001) Rutford Ice Stream, Antarctica. In: Alley, R.B., Bindschadler, R.A. (eds.). The West Antarctic ice sheet: behavior and environment, Washington, D.C., American Geophysical Union, pp. (Antarctic Research Series, ). 10.1029/AR077p0221

1999

Makinson, Keith , Nicholls, Keith W. . (1999) Modeling tidal currents beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf and on the adjacent continental shelf: Their effect on mixing and transport. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104 (). pp. doi:10.1029/1999JC900008

1998

Nicholls, K.W. , Makinson, K. . (1998) Ocean circulation beneath the western Ronne Ice Shelf, as derived from in situ measurements of water currents and properties. In: Jacobs, S.S., Weiss, R.F. (eds.). Ocean, Ice, and Atmosphere: Interactions at the Antarctic Continental Margin, Washington, D.C., American Geophysical Union, pp. (Antarctic Research Series, 75). doi:10.1029/AR075p0301

Nicholls, K.W. , Makinson, K. . (1998) A “light-weight” hot-water drill for use on Ronne Ice Shelf. In: Hall, J. (eds.). Proceedings of the Seventh Symposium on Antarctic Logistics and Operations, Cambridge, August 1996, Cambridge, British Antarctic Survey, pp.

1997

Nicholls, K.W. , Makinson, K. , Johnson, M.R.. (1997) New oceanographic data from beneath Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 24 (). pp. doi:10.1029/96GL03922

1994

Robinson, Allan, Makinson, Keith , Nicholls, Keith . (1994) The oceanic environment beneath the northwest Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, 20 (). pp. 10.3189/172756494794586916

Robinson, Allan, Makinson, Keith . (1994) Ocean circulation beneath Ronne Ice Shelf. Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf Programme Report, 7 (). pp.

Makinson, Keith . (1994) BAS hot water drilling on Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. In: Watanabe, O. (eds.). Ice drilling technology. Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on Ice Drilling Technology, Tokyo, April 20-23, 1993, Tokyo, National Institute of Polar Research, pp. (Memoirs of the National Institute of Polar Research. Special Issue, ).

Makinson, Keith . Watanabe, O. (eds.). (1994) The BAS hot water drill. , UNI Research Climate, Bergen, 8 pp. (Filchner Ronne Ice Shelf Programme Report, 7.)

1992

Robinson, A.V., Makinson, Keith . Watanabe, O. (eds.). (1992) Preliminary results from how water drilling and oceanographic measurements under Ronne Ice Shelf. , UNI Research Climate, Bergen, 7 pp. (Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf Programme Report, 6.)

1991

Nicholls, Keith W. , Makinson, Keith , Robinson, A. V.. (1991) Ocean circulation beneath the Ronne ice shelf. Nature, 354 (). pp. 10.1038/354221a0

Nicholls, Keith W. , Makinson, Keith , Robinson, A.V.. Watanabe, O. (eds.). (1991) Direct oceanographic observations from under the Rutford flowline, Ronne Ice Shelf. , Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research, 5 pp. (Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf Programme Report, 5.)

PRESCIENT
Melting at Thwaites Grounding Zone and its Control on Sea Level
BEAMISH: Basal Conditions on Rutford Ice Stream
Direct oceanographic observations from under the Rutford flowline, Ronne Ice Shelf

Fimbulisen Ice-shelf Observatory (FIO), part of the Troll Observing Network (TONe): A collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI). https://www.npolar.no/en/tone/

Development of technologies for geophysical survey and hot water drilling of the sub-glacial lakes below Antarctic David glacier: A cooperation with the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). https://www.kopri.re.kr/eng/html/rsch/020102.html?mode=V&mng_no=143

LIONESS/TG (Land-Ice/Ocean Network Exploration with Semiautonomous System: Thwaites Glacier): A collaboration with the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). https://www.kopri.re.kr/eng/html/rsch/02010301.html?mode=V&mng_no=162

Drilling Subglacial Lake CECs in Antarctica: A collaborative partnership with Chilean scientists from the Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs). https://nerc.ukri.org/research/funded/programmes/subglacial-cecs/

Filchner Ice Shelf System (FISS), Antarctica. https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/fiss/

Keith Makinson

Team

Links/Websites

General enquiries

Keith Makinson

Biography

Research interests

Collaborations

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2023

2021

2020

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2002

2001

1999

1998

1997

1994

1992

1991

2021

2019

2016

Research outputs

Keith Makinson

Team

Links/Websites

General enquiries

Keith Makinson

Biography

Research interests

Collaborations

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2023

2021

2020

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2002

2001

1999

1998

1997

1994

1992

1991

2021

2019

2016