PhD Positions Air-Sea Interaction and Wind Stress

Challenge: A poor understanding of the drivers of wind stress patterns over seas at scales of atmospheric convection

Change: Combinining ultra-high resolution satellite observations, simulations and local measurements of surface roughness and wind

Impact: More accurate wind stress formulations leading to improved high-resolution weather models and better understanding of satellite radar data.

Job description

The presence of rich flow structures in the atmosphere and ocean down to the scales of atmospheric convection O (100 m - 10 km) has sparked renewed interest across atmospheric and ocean scientists in recent years. How does this diverse wind structure influence the exchange of energy and momentum through the air-sea interface, and impact weather and climate? Marine cumulus clouds, especially during rain, are one of the drivers of large wind variability and leave a clear imprint on ocean surface roughness seen in high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. These multi-scale, heterogeneous wind patterns may change the surface wind stress in ways we do not understand. Using ultra-high resolution satellite observations of ocean surface roughness, combined with large-eddy simulation (LES) and in-situ mooring/buoy data and ship-borne wind lidar, you will work closely together as a team to:

• Develop spatial maps of near-surface wind and wind stress from SAR, LES and wind lidar
• Quantify the influence of (sub)mesoscale spatial heterogeneity in wind, stability and surface roughness on wind stress
• Validate and improve formulations of wind stress
• Study the sensitivity of the atmosphere to (sub)mesoscale spatial heterogeneity in wind stress

You will be guided by Dr. Louise Nuijens, with expertise in wind-convection coupling using observations and LES, and by Dr. Paco Lopez-Dekker, with expertise in SAR retrievals and boundary layer processes. Your research will aid the development of space-borne wind stress retrievals and scale-aware surface flux parameterizations through connections to ESA, KNMI and ECMWF.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Earth sciences, physics, applied mathematics, engineering, computer science or related disciplines.
• A strong background in either:

fluid dynamics and numerical modelling

satellite Earth observation data analysis (involving an understanding of the physics of the satellite measurement)

data science.

• Excellent programming skills and experience in Python/Matlab.
• A demonstrable interest in climate physics.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills and an ability to work independently as well as interact in a team.
• Good command of written and spoken English.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Civil Engineering & Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.