[Met-jobs] New deadline: PhD Studentship at Leicester University on ice remote sensing

[Roger Brugge <r.brugge@reading.ac.uk>]

PhD Studentship on " Ice microphysics from multi-frequency suites of active and 
passive remote sensing instruments: satellite product and numerical model 
validation."

Supervisors:
Dr. Alessandro Battaglia (University of Leicester, NCEO)
Dr Christine Chiu (University of Reading, NCEO)
Dr. Hartmut Boesch (University of Leicester, NCEO)

Hosting institution: Department of Physics, University of Leicester, Leicester, 
UK
Funding institutions: Department of Physics, University of Leicester, 
Leicester, UK & UK National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO).
Application deadline: April 30th 2017

Project description:
Representation of ice clouds in numerical modelling remains problematic with 
global average ice water paths varying by more than an order of magnitude (0.01 
and 0.2 kg/m2) between different climate models. A similar spread exists 
amongst remote sensing satellite estimates, which makes it difficult to improve 
parameterization development for global models. Multi-wavelength Doppler 
radars&radiometers observations promise to reduce these observational 
uncertainties.
The Phd candidate will work at the development of a modular ice/snow 
microphysical retrieval (including ice water content and characteristic size) 
and will apply it to a gamut of observations acquired in the framework of NASA 
GPM (https://pmm.nasa.gov/science/ground-validation/field-campaigns) field 
validation campaigns (e.g. OLYMPEX, IPHEx) and of the DOE-ARM program
(https://www.arm.gov/),  including observations from the mobile facility in 
Antarctica and from the permanent facility in Barrow, North of Alaska. The 
retrieved microphysical parameters will be used to build climatological records 
of ice microphysics at specific sites that will be exploited to validate 
satellite products (specifically GPM and CloudSat) and numerical models.
The project is relevant for the energy, flux and water cycle theme since it 
will provide new insight into cloud and precipitation cold processes. The 
climatological ice products will be used for an Earth System model evaluation.

Collaborative framework:
This work will take place in a broad collaborative framework in UK between the 
University of Leicester and the University of Reading within the research 
activities conducted within the UK National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO).
Eligibility:
Applicants for a studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a 
Master 2 degree or higher in sciences (mathematics, physics), if possible 
specialized in remote sensing and/or meteorology/climatology, and with good 
skills in statistics and computer programming. Good communication skills are 
essential too.

The three-year studentship is expected to start at the beginning of October 
2017 in phase with other UK-NERC DTP programs but an early start can also be 
granted.

Application procedures:
Please apply at 
http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/postgraduate-study/research-degrees/projects/eos/2017-ab1
 by following the link ``How to apply'' on the left bar menu.
For informal enquiries please contact: Dr Alessandro Battaglia 
(ab474@le.ac.uk<mailto:ab474@le.ac.uk>)