LaboratoryUC Weather Stations
PEOPLE
- User
- Associate Professor
- School of Earth and Environment
- Associate ProfessorSchool of Earth and Environment
I specialize in surface-atmosphere interactions, and has undertaken numerous research projects throughout New Zealand, the United States and Antarctica. My research interest is around modelling, simulating, measuring and analyzing atmospheric phenomena, and I use advanced field measurement and numerical modeling techniques to tackle my research objectives.
I am particularly interested in coherent turbulent structures (CTS) within the first 1km of our atmosphere above ground level (also called the atmospheric boundary-layer). CTS is a unique fabric of turbulence that controls the spatial variability of temperature and moisture across our landscape. I conduct laboratory and field experiments using state of the art in situ, aerial, remote sensing measurement systems, and also high resolution numerical weather simulations to develop a better understanding of these coherent turbulence structures.
Some of my research projects involve wind turbulence for wind energy applications, air pollution dispersion modelling, forest canopy turbulence measurements, Antarctic meteorology, wild-land fire weather and fire-atmospheric interactions, and stable boundary layers in complex terrain.
I have a growing interest in Antarctic Dry Valley climates because of the extreme environment on the continent. In Antarctica I try to understand mesocyclones (or Antarctic storms) in the Ross Sea Region.I specialize in surface-atmosphere interactions, and has undertaken numerous research projects throughout New Zealand, the United States and Antarctica. My research interest is around modelling, simulating, measuring and analyzing atmospheric phenomena, and I use advanced field measurement and numerical modeling techniques to tackle my research objectives.
I am particularly interested in coherent turbulent structures (CTS) within the first 1km of our atmosphere above ground level (also called the atmospheric boundary-layer). CTS is a unique fabric of turbulence that controls the spatial variability of temperature and moisture across our landscape. I conduct laboratory and field experiments using state of the art in situ, aerial, remote sensing measurement systems, and also high resolution numerical weather simulations to develop a better understanding of these coherent turbulence structures.
Some of my research projects involve wind turbulence for wind energy applications, air pollution dispersion modelling, forest canopy turbulence measurements, Antarctic meteorology, wild-land fire weather and fire-atmospheric interactions, and stable boundary layers in complex terrain.
I have a growing interest in Antarctic Dry Valley climates because of the extreme environment on the continent. In Antarctica I try to understand mesocyclones (or Antarctic storms) in the Ross Sea Region.- Faculty of Science
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 3 Good Health and Well Being
Fields of Research- Meteorology
- Atmospheric dynamics
- Atmospheric sciences
- Turbulent flows
- Manager
- Field Services Manager
- Asset Operations
- Field Services ManagerAsset Operations
Jenny Ladley is the Field Services Manager at the University of Canterbury, leading the delivery of high‑quality support across UC’s network of field stations. She oversees operational planning, health and safety assurance, and day‑to‑day service coordination to ensure researchers, staff, and students can work safely and effectively across the suite of field stations.
Her portfolio includes asset stewardship and the continuous improvement of UC’s field service systems and processes. She works closely with academic teams, technical specialists, and external partners to enable field‑based research and teaching, supporting activities ranging from ecological monitoring and environmental sampling to engineering fieldwork and postgraduate training.
She is committed to building a consistent, reliable, and sector‑aligned field services framework that strengthens UC’s research infrastructure, enhances user experience, and supports safe, sustainable field practice across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Jenny Ladley is the Field Services Manager at the University of Canterbury, leading the delivery of high‑quality support across UC’s network of field stations. She oversees operational planning, health and safety assurance, and day‑to‑day service coordination to ensure researchers, staff, and students can work safely and effectively across the suite of field stations.
Her portfolio includes asset stewardship and the continuous improvement of UC’s field service systems and processes. She works closely with academic teams, technical specialists, and external partners to enable field‑based research and teaching, supporting activities ranging from ecological monitoring and environmental sampling to engineering fieldwork and postgraduate training.
She is committed to building a consistent, reliable, and sector‑aligned field services framework that strengthens UC’s research infrastructure, enhances user experience, and supports safe, sustainable field practice across Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Service Unit
- 15 Life on Land
- Technical expertise & support
- User
- Associate Professor
- School of Earth and Environment
- Associate ProfessorSchool of Earth and Environment
My research expertise is in the field of glaciology, specifically glacier mass balance, dynamics, and climate change, with a focus on mountain glaciers in Te Tiritiri-o-te-moana, the New Zealand Southern Alps. I am very interested in glaciological change that occurs over short temporal scales; that which impacts utilization of the glacier resource, for example glacier-tourism. I also focus on interactions and feedbacks between all aspects of glacier mass balance from snow accumulation processes to ablation processes, including the role of avalanche nourishment to glacier resilience. Most recently, I have been exploring rapid change at lake-calving glaciers, and the impact that crevasses have on glacier mass balance...
Current research projects:
* The role of crevasses on surface energy balance of alpine glaciers
* Bathymetric and terminus evolution at lake calving glaciers
* Morphological evolution and feedbacks at retreating glacier termini
* Characteristics of alpine snowpacks - managing snow in a warming world
* Implications of glacier retreat on tourism and recreation
Here is a link to my "Raising the Bar" talk....
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/smart_talk/audio/2018894949/the-university-of-canterbury-glaciologist-heather-purdie-explains-why-glaciers-are-a-barometer-of-climate-changeMy research expertise is in the field of glaciology, specifically glacier mass balance, dynamics, and climate change, with a focus on mountain glaciers in Te Tiritiri-o-te-moana, the New Zealand Southern Alps. I am very interested in glaciological change that occurs over short temporal scales; that which impacts utilization of the glacier resource, for example glacier-tourism. I also focus on interactions and feedbacks between all aspects of glacier mass balance from snow accumulation processes to ablation processes, including the role of avalanche nourishment to glacier resilience. Most recently, I have been exploring rapid change at lake-calving glaciers, and the impact that crevasses have on glacier mass balance...
Current research projects:
* The role of crevasses on surface energy balance of alpine glaciers
* Bathymetric and terminus evolution at lake calving glaciers
* Morphological evolution and feedbacks at retreating glacier termini
* Characteristics of alpine snowpacks - managing snow in a warming world
* Implications of glacier retreat on tourism and recreation
Here is a link to my "Raising the Bar" talk....
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/smart_talk/audio/2018894949/the-university-of-canterbury-glaciologist-heather-purdie-explains-why-glaciers-are-a-barometer-of-climate-change- Faculty of Science
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students