"We are very excited to have received this vital funding from the prestigious Moore Foundation," said Rignot. He said the advanced helicopter survey work "will provide critical data to improve our understanding and predictability of how glacial ice contributes to sea level rise in a warming climate."
Partners in the three-year project will be Centro de Estudios Cientificos in Chile and Sanders Geophysics in Canada.
"We're thrilled that one of our outstanding professors will be able to continue his vital global work thanks to the Moore Foundation's generosity," said physical sciences dean Kenneth Janda.
Jacob Levin, assistant vice chancellor for research development, said private funding for the South American work was indispensable because no U.S. science agency covers the area.
"Research is extremely important on the glaciers of Patagonia, the largest in the southern hemisphere outside of Antarctica," said Levin.
About the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, established in 2000, seeks to advance environmental conservation and scientific research around the world and improve the quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. The foundation's Science Program aims to make a significant impact on the development of provocative, transformative scientific research, and increase knowledge in emerging fields. For more information, visit www.moore.org.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County's largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more news, visit www.today.uci.edu.