Assistant Professor

Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen

Field of work

I am a PhD student in the Computer Science PhD programme at HVL working in the intersection of computer science and glaciology. In my PhD project I develop mathematical models to investigate past and future glacier changes in Western Norway.

I build and program mass balance models that use climatic and topographical data to simulate changes in glacier mass and runoff. The modelling focuses on Jostedalsbreen, the largest ice cap in mainland Europe, which I am lucky to have at my doorstep. The results of the modelling are a contribution to the JOSTICE project, which aims to investigate the physical and societal impacts of climate change effects on Jostedalsbreen.

A focus of my PhD project is to investigate how statistical methods (e.g. Bayesian methods and machine learning) can be used to improve predictions in glacier mass balance models. Robust models with accurate assessments of uncertainty are an important basis for evaluating the impacts of glacier melt on local tourism, hydropower production, agriculture and landscape planning.

I have a background in energy and environmental engineering and have a great interest in science and technology, especially related to energy! In addition to working on my PhD project I teach physics and technology in the teachers education and hydrological modelling in the Master's programme in Climate Change Management and in the international semester programme Geohazards and Climate Change.



Courses taught
  • Physics in MGBNA/MGUNA201 
  • Physics in MGBNA/MGUNA301 
  • Hydrological modellering in GE-487/PL4-303 (Environmental Hydrology and) Runoff Management

Research areas
  • Modelling mass balance and runoff from glaciers
  • Statistical methods and optimization in glacier modelling
  • Climate change effects on glaciers

Research groups
Courses taught
  • FE402, Applied Exercises in Energy Transitions, Fall 2024
  • MA415, Elementary Calculus, Fall 2024

Publications

  • Spatiotemporal mass balance variability of Jostedalsbreen ice cap, Norway, revealed by a temperature-index model with data assimilation

    Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Thorben Dunse, Thomas Schuler, Liss Marie Andreassen, Henning Åkesson (2024)
  • Taking the pulse of Jostedalsbreen: the interdisciplinary research project JOSTICE (2020-2025)

    Thorben Dunse, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Mette Kusk Gillespie, Liss Marie Andreassen, Jacob Clement Yde (2024)
  • Taking the pulse of Jostedalsbreen: the interdisciplinary research project JOSTICE (2020-2025)

    Mette Kusk Gillespie, Liss Marie Andreassen, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Jacob Clement Yde (2024)
  • History and future demise of Jostedalsbreen, the largest ice cap in mainland Europe

    Henning Åkesson, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Liss Marie Andreassen, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Thorben Dunse, Mette Kusk Gillespie (2024)
  • Glaciers and people around mainland Europe’s largest ice cap – the JOSTICE project

    Henning Åkesson, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Liss Marie Andreassen, Mette Kusk Gillespie, Matthias Huss, Thomas Schuler (2023)
  • Spatio-temporal variability in geometry and geodetic mass balance of Jostedalsbreen ice cap, Norway

    Liss Marie Andreassen, Benjamin Aubrey Robson, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Hallgeir Elvehøy, Bjarne Kjøllmoen, Jonathan L. Carrivick (2023)
  • Bayesian parameter estimation in glacier mass-balance modelling using observations with distinct temporal resolutions and uncertainties

    Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Thorben Dunse, Antoine Tambue, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Liss Marie Andreassen (2023)
  • Present changes of Jostedalsbreen, Norway-s largest ice cap

    Liss Marie Andreassen, Mette Kusk Gillespie, Kjetil Melvold, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Benjamin Aubrey Robson, Hallgeir Elvehøy (2023)
  • Bayesiansk massebalansemodellering av norske breer

    Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Thorben Dunse, Antoine Tambue, Thomas Schuler, Liss Marie Andreassen (2022)
  • Changes of Jostedalsbreen Ice Cap LIA 1966-2020

    Liss Marie Andreassen, Hallgeir Elvehøy, Bjarne Kjøllmoen, Benjamin Aubrey Robson, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Jonathan L. Carrivick (2022)
  • Bayesian estimation of mass balance model parameters for glaciers along a continentality gradient: How informative are low vs. high temporal resolution mass balance observations?

    Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Thorben Dunse, Antoine Tambue, Thomas Schuler, Liss Marie Andreassen (2022)
  • New measurements of ice thickness on Jostedalsbreen ice cap reveal vulnerability to future fragmentation

    Mette Kusk Gillespie, Jostein Bakke, Kjetil Melvold, Liss Marie Andreassen, Jostein Aasen, Jan Magne Cederstrøm (2022)
  • JOSTICE

    Pål Hage Kielland, Jostein Aasen, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen (2021)
  • JOSTICE

    Marte Meland, Kaare Øst, Mette Kusk Gillespie, Jostein Aasen, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen (2021)
  • Vil kartlegge landskapet under breen

    Jacob C. Yde, Hallgeir Elvehøy, Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen (2021)
  • Modelling the climatic mass balance of three glaciers in Norway along a continentality gradient, 1961-2019

    Kamilla Hauknes Sjursen, Thorben Dunse, Antoine Tambue, Thomas Schuler, Liss Marie Andreassen (2020)