Nice to meet you

Svalbard
Photo: Derrick Midwinter

I am Tobias Stål, a geophysicist specialising in Antarctic research. My background is in geology and geomorphology, previously working in the Arctic and Europe. I also have a professional background and education in art and electrical engineering. I am here to learn, share knowledge and contribute to the community.

I get excited about fieldwork logistics. My work has taken me to the Arctic, the Antarctic, across Europe, Africa and the Middle East; projects and places where limited resources force you to prioritise, solve problems with whatever you have, and be well prepared. It turns out this constraint-driven approach works remarkably well. It also makes interdisciplinary and international collaboration not just possible, but essential. When you depend on other people's skills and experience, you cannot afford to be judgemental.

Fieldwork and instrumentation

Denman Glacier
Photo: Tobias Stål

I work in complex environments, build collaborations across disciplines and continents, and love learning while exploring this planet. I enjoy the process and don't take myself too seriously; however, I take my science extremely seriously.

Modelling and analysis

Lithospheric boundary model
Stål et al. (GRL, 2019)

My research integrates geology, geophysics and statistical modelling to better understand Antarctica's ice-covered interior. I investigate interactions between the ice sheet and subglacial geology to improve projections of Antarctic change, sea-level rise and global warming impacts. I also develop new modelling approaches, study geothermal heat, explore geophysical instrumentation, and draw on the history of polar science.

Online profiles

Portrait of Tobias Stål

Tobias Stål

Geoscientist and engineer
Tasmania, Australia
CV (full) CV (one page) Publication list BibTeX

Academic positions

  • 2022 – PresentResearch Associate in Computational Physics (Geophysics), ACEAS, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
  • 2021 – 2022Research Fellow in Antarctic Seismology, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
  • 2020 – 2021Research Assistant, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
  • 2016 – 2021Casual tutor, demonstrator and research assistant, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia

Peer-reviewed publications

  • 2026JA Halpin, NR Daczko, JA Mulder, A Maritati, T Stål — Ediacaran–Cambrian High‐Strain Melt‐Present Deformation of the Archean Charcot Province, East Antarctica. Tectonics, 45(8), e2026TC009479. doi:10.1029/2026TC009479
  • 2026MC Manassero, K Selway, T Stål, M Scheiter, M Loesing, F McCormack et al. — Bed Topography and Subglacial Conditions of Denman Glacier, East Antarctica: Insights From Magnetotelluric Data and Interdisciplinary Studies. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 131(7), e2026JF009277. doi:10.1029/2026JF009277
  • 2026ID Kelly, AM Reading, T Stål, B Kulessa, A García‐Jerez, J Piña‐Flores et al. — Determining the Character of Subglacial Sediments in the Ice‐Bedrock Interface Zone of Antarctica Using Horizontal‐to‐Vertical Spectral Ratios (HVSRs) of Seismic Ambient Noise. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 131(6), e2025JB033029. doi:10.1029/2025JB033029
  • 2026FS McCormack, T Stål, N Shao, E MacKie, A Fabela Hinojosa, M Lösing et al. — Synthetic bed topographies for Antarctica and their utility in ice sheet modelling. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 384(2319), 20240537. doi:10.1098/rsta.2024.0537
  • 2026D Arora, NC Pant, T Stål, A Naik, M Pandey, R Gupta — Geothermal heat flow in the Princess Elizabeth Land sector, East Antarctica. Earth-Science Reviews, 277, 105475. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105475
  • 2026M Al-Aghbary, M Sobh, T Stål, MO Awaleh, M Jalludin, C Gerhards — Uncertainty quantification using clustering-based quantile regression forests: with an application to improving geothermal heat flow predictions. Geophysical Journal International, 245(2), ggag113. doi:10.1093/gji/ggag113
  • 2026M Lösing, W Colgan, T Stål, J Ebbing, AG Busck, T Zhang et al. — Community heat flow recommendations: suitable basal boundary conditions for Greenland and Antarctica in ISMIP7. GEUS Bulletin, 62. doi:10.34194/r0w9rf81
  • 2025M Lösing, A Aitken, J Ebbing, JA Halpin, L Li, …, T Stål — Linking Tectonics and Crustal Thermal Properties in Southwestern Australia and East Antarctica Through Coupled Gravity and Magnetic Analysis. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130(12), e2024JB030770. doi:10.1029/2024JB030770
  • 2025NJ Abram, A Purich, MH England, FS McCormack, JM Strugnell, …, T Stål et al. — Emerging evidence of abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment. Nature, 644(8077), 621–633. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09349-5
  • 2024T Stål, JA Halpin, JW Goodge, AM Reading — Geology Matters for Antarctic Geothermal Heat. Geophysical Research Letters, 51(13), e2024GL110098. doi:10.1029/2024GL110098
  • 2022FS McCormack, JL Roberts, CF Dow, T Stål, JA Halpin, AM Reading et al. — Fine‐Scale Geothermal Heat Flow in Antarctica Can Increase Simulated Subglacial Melt Estimates. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(15), e2022GL098539. doi:10.1029/2022GL098539
  • 2022T Stål, AM Reading, S Fuchs, JA Halpin, M Lösing, RJ Turner — Properties and biases of the global heat flow compilation. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, 963525. doi:10.3389/feart.2022.963525
  • 2022AM Reading, T Stål, JA Halpin, M Lösing, J Ebbing, W Shen et al. — Antarctic geothermal heat flow and its implications for tectonics and ice sheets. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 3(12), 814–831. doi:10.1038/s43017-022-00348-y
  • 2022PE Morse, AM Reading, T Stål — Exploratory Volumetric Deep Earth Visualization by 2.5D Interactive Compositing. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 28(7), 2641–2653. doi:10.1109/TVCG.2020.3037226
  • 2021T Stål, AM Reading, JA Halpin, JM Whittaker — Antarctic Geothermal Heat Flow Model: Aq1. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 22(2), e2020GC009428. doi:10.1029/2020GC009428
  • 2021G Sanchez, JA Halpin, M Gard, D Hasterok, T Stål, T Raimondo et al. — PetroChron Antarctica: A Geological Database for Interdisciplinary Use. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 22(12), e2021GC010154. doi:10.1029/2021GC010154
  • 2020T Stål, AM Reading, JA Halpin, SJ Phipps, JM Whittaker — The Antarctic Crust and Upper Mantle: A Flexible 3D Model and Software Framework for Interdisciplinary Research. Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, 577502. doi:10.3389/feart.2020.577502
  • 2020T Stål, AM Reading — A Grid for Multidimensional and Multivariate Spatial Representation and Data Processing. Journal of Open Research Software, 8(1), 2. doi:10.5334/jors.287
  • 2019T Stål, AM Reading, JA Halpin, JM Whittaker — A Multivariate Approach for Mapping Lithospheric Domain Boundaries in East Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(17-18), 10404–10416. doi:10.1029/2019GL083453
  • 2019PE Morse, AM Reading, T Stål — Well-Posed Geoscientific Visualization Through Interactive Color Mapping. Frontiers in Earth Science, 7, 274. doi:10.3389/feart.2019.00274

Submitted and in review

  • 2026MC Manassero, K Selway, AM Reading, N Askey-Doran, JR Peacock, …, T Stål — Magnetotellurics, mantle viscosity, integrated geophysics, glacial isostatic adjustment, mantle water content, East Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. In review.

Datasets

  • 2024AM Reading, T Stål, I Kelly — Ice Sheets and Interactions, Dronning Maud Land and Coats Land [Dataset]. International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks. doi:10.7914/J9CQ-XD60
  • 2023Global Heat Flow Data Assessment Group, S Fuchs, F Neumann, B Norden, G Beardsmore, …, T Stål et al. — The Global Heat Flow Database: Update 2023 [Dataset]. GFZ Data Services. doi:10.5880/fidgeo.2023.008
  • 2023T Stål, AM Reading, S Kupis — Ice Sheets and Interactions, East Antarctica [Dataset]. International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks. doi:10.7914/74EN-YT90
  • 2021T Stål, AM Reading, S Kupis, J Newlands — Casey-Wilkins Adaptable Array [Dataset]. International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks. doi:10.7914/SN/Z9_2021
  • 2020T Stål, AM Reading, JA Halpin, SJ Phipps, J Whittaker — The Antarctic crust and upper mantle: a flexible 3D model and framework for interdisciplinary research [Dataset]. PANGAEA. doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.918549
  • 2015AM Reading, T Stål — CAD Seismic Deployment, Casey-Davis Region, East Antarctica [Dataset]. International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks. doi:10.7914/NRW9-9825

Software and code

Outreach

  • 2024T Stål, FS McCormack, AM Reading, N Askey-Doran, JA Halpin, M Lösing — Geothermal Heat Shapes the Antarctic Ice Sheet From Below. Frontiers for Young Minds, 11, 1178537. doi:10.3389/frym.2023.1178537

Education

  • 2021PhD, Geophysics, Geology and Computational Methods, University of Tasmania, AustraliaThesis: The Antarctic lithosphere revealed by multivariate analysisSupervisors: AM Reading, JA Halpin, JM WhittakerCoursework in statistics and computational geophysics
  • 2015MSc, Geophysics, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkThesis: High-resolution S- and P-wave seismic mapping of near-surface chalk depositsSupervisor: L NielsenCoursework in geophysics, stochastic modelling and sedimentary basins
  • 2011BSc, Geology, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkIncluding studies at UNIS, SvalbardThesis: Processes and development of the Faroe North Slide ComplexSupervisors: GK Pedersen, T NielsenCoursework in geology, palaeontology, geomorphology, Quaternary geology and Arctic marine geology
  • 1998AD, Sound Engineering, Piteå Music Conservatory (Luleå University of Technology), Piteå, SwedenCoursework in electronics, acoustics, radio broadcasting, music theory and recording technologyIncluding exchange studies at VGIK, Moscow, Russia
  • OngoingUnincorporated studies (162.5 ECTS)Linguistics (linguistic typology, sociolinguistics, African languages, Nordic studies, pragmatics, grammar)Geology: climate change, non-Nordic geology (the American Cordillera), Arctic petroleum provinces, geohazards, GIS and remote sensing

Selected conferences, workshops and hackathons

  • 2026EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria– Aq2 and Kq2, refined geothermal heat flow models from multivariate observables for application to ice sheet modelling
  • 2025geoBRIDGE Working Group Hackathon, Perth, Australia– Participant and project contributor
  • 2025EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria– Seismicity of Denman Glacier: constraints on geometry and dynamics
  • 2024SCAR Open Science Conference, Pucón, Chile– Aq2: a refined geothermal heat flow map of Antarctica from multivariate observables for application to ice sheet modelling– Exploring Atlas Antarktiki: a distinctive repository of historical Antarctic and Southern Ocean data– Convened three scientific sessions on Antarctic geology and geophysics, and co-organised a side meeting to organise collaborations at Bunger Hills
  • 2023EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria– Using information entropy to optimise and communicate certainty of continental scale tectonic models
  • 2023Maydena Subglacial Hydrology and Geology Workshop, Maydena, Australia– The subglacial heat budget – a conceptual investigation– Organised and co-chaired the workshop
  • 2021AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans and online– Modelling Antarctic subglacial geothermal heat transfer in higher resolution, with reduced uncertainty and assumptions addressed– Co-convened a session on Antarctic geothermal heat
  • 2021Australian Earth Sciences Convention (AESC) "Core to Cosmos", online– Data-driven tectonic regionalisation of Antarctica: appreciate the similarity– Convened two sessions on data science and machine learning
  • 2020SCAR Open Science Conference: Antarctic – Global Connections, online– Towards a reconciled heat flow map for Antarctica: Aq1– The Wilkes Land sector including the Aurora Basin, and its most probable subglacial geology
  • 2020AGU Fall Meeting, online– Multivariate geothermal heat flow models of Antarctica, towards Aq2
  • 2019Geological Society of Australia SGTSG Meeting, Port Lincoln, Australia– The probable geology of the Aurora Basin, East Antarctica
  • 2019XIII International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES), Incheon, Korea– Linking Antarctic geological observations and geophysical data in a probabilistic space
  • 2018POLAR2018 Open Science Conference, Davos, Switzerland– A multi-domain lithospheric model of East Antarctica
  • 2018SCAR TACtical heat flow workshop, Hobart, Australia– Talk and poster on the tectonic structure of Antarctica
  • 2018IEEE Antarctic and Southern Ocean Forum (ASOF), Hobart, Australia– A frame for processing multivariate Antarctic solid Earth data
  • 2018DataTas seminar, Hobart, Australia– Software construction tools make everything so easy!
  • 2018Agile* Subsurface Hackathon, Copenhagen, Denmark– Winner of the People's Choice Award
  • 2017AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, USA– Combined constraints on the structure and physical properties of the East Antarctic lithosphere from geology and geophysics
  • 2015Workshop on 3D Reflection Seismic Processing Using Open-Source Software, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA

Selected non-academic work experience

  • 2021 – PresentGRIT Facility Manager – Instrumentation, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, AustraliaInstrumentation management and Antarctic fieldwork support
  • 2019 – 2021Geoscientist, Geoneon, AustraliaMarine geoscience, GIS and data compilation
  • 2011 – 2012Invited technician and video designer, Al-Harah Theatre, Palestine
  • 2010 – 2015Field Leader and Geophysicist, COWI, DenmarkMEP, GPR and TEM fieldwork and survey design
  • 2010Field Scientist, Norwegian Polar Institute, SvalbardSupporting biological fieldwork
  • 2009 – 2016Lighting Designer, Rapid Eye, DenmarkIncluding the award-winning performance QUIPROQUO
  • 2009 – 2014Lighting Designer, STÜ, EstoniaIncluding touring
  • 2008 – 2009Technical Producer, National Theatre of Ghana, Ghana
  • 2005 – 2007Sound/Video/Light Designer and Technician, The Swedish National Touring Theatre, SwedenAnd shorter projects until 2011
  • 2004 – 2006Sound Engineer, Circus Cirkör, Sweden and world tour
  • 2003 – 2004Sound Designer, The Royal Dramatic Theatre, Sweden
  • 1998 – 2003Stage Manager, Uppsala Stadsteater, Sweden
  • 1997 – 2004Sound Engineer, Swedish Radio (P1, P3), Sweden
  • 1993 – 1996Plumbing Apprentice, Linds Rör AB, Sweden

Awards and recognition

  • 2023Royal Society of Tasmania Doctoral Award
  • 2021Wiley Top Cited Article
  • 2020PhD Award for Outstanding Performance during Postgraduate Studies
  • 2019Progress in Inclusion, Diversity & Equity

Memberships and service

  • 2023 – PresentMember, International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC), IUGG
  • 2021 – PresentCo-chair, SCAR INSTANT Heat Flow Subcommittee
  • 2020Organising committee, Australian Antarctic Research Conference (AARC)
  • 2019Organising committee, Geological Society of Australia SGTSG Meeting
  • 2017 – 2020Member, School of Natural Sciences Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Committee

Art collaborations (as a scientist)

  • 2025T Stål, AM Reading, K Verell — Seismic Dance Party, Beaker Street (Hobart).Collaborative science–art performance with AuScope, sound designer K Verell and DJs Huh Pink, translating Denman Glacier seismic data into an immersive audio-visual dancefloor experience
  • 2025L Bleach — An Infrasonorous Archipelago, Walk&Talk Biennial "Gestures of Abundance" (Azores).Using seismo-volcanic infrasound from the Azores to create tactile and sonic works that tune audiences to the Earth’s low-frequency vibrations
  • 2025M Nieboer — Through Our Eyes, Australian Embassy (Paris).Exhibition on women’s experiences and narratives, the culmination of two years of work; I contributed cartographic design and geospatial visualisation
  • 2023L Bleach — soft rock monitoring (the slow seismogenic zone), EARTHEN. Better Nature, Cement Fondu (Sydney).Collaboration with Lucy Bleach and Geoscience Australia, transmitting vibrational signals from the SYDS soft-rock urban seismic monitoring site into the gallery architecture via transducer speakers
  • 2021L Bleach — Attenuated ground (the slow seismogenic zone), TarraWarra Biennial 2021: Slow Moving Waters (TarraWarra Museum of Art, Victoria).Integrating double bass, cast toffee, seismometer, tactile transducers and slow-earthquake signals from the Japan Trench to render seismogenic motion as resonant sound and vibration

Other skills and experience

  • CodingPython (scikit-learn, OpenCV, TensorFlow, dask, xarray, geopandas), GIS (QGIS, ArcGIS, GDAL/OGR), TeX/LaTeX (TikZ), Bash, Linux, macOS, git, SCons, Madagascar, Seismic Unix, SQL and MAX. Some HTML, C and JavaScript (learning). Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Blender (BlenderGIS), GIMP, Inkscape, CAD (Fusion). Working but outdated knowledge of MATLAB, SAC, Emacs Lisp and BASIC.
  • CertificatesCoastal Skipper Certificate (SWE); Marine HF/VHF Radio Certificate (SWE); firearms licence and hunting certificate (SWE); PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (including dry suit and Nitrox); Wilderness First Aid (AUS); Australian Approved Arrangements Accreditation Biosecurity (AUS); trip leader and terrain-vehicle driver for the Australian Antarctic Division (e.g. Casey 2023)
  • LanguagesEnglish (C2), Swedish (native), Danish (fluent), French (intermediate), Russian (functional), Asante Twi (functional), Norwegian (reading and understanding), Esperanto (inactive), Spanish (learning), Yiddish (learning), Estonian (learning)
  • Online coursesDrawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration NHI101x (University of Newcastle, 2020); 3D Earth spring school (Kiel University, 2021); Presenting Data and Information by Edward Tufte (2025)
  • Practical skillsWelding, woodwork, diesel engines, sewing, cooking and baking (enquire about my chocolate mousse)
  • Other interestsMusic, literature and theatre. I also love old boats, particularly tugs.