Scientist Urban Meteorology

Functie­omschrijving

Pushing the boundaries of urban meteorology requires precision, innovation, and collaboration. As a researcher in the UrbanAIR project at the KNMI, you will refine the representation of urban areas in HARMONIE-AROME, improving sub-kilometer weather forecasts through advanced energy balance modeling and land use data integration. Working closely with international experts, you will contribute to the scientific understanding of urban-atmosphere interactions, publish in peer-reviewed journals and translate research into operational weather models—advancing both meteorological science and climate resilience.

What will you be doing?

To advance urban meteorology, an accurate representation of cities in numerical weather prediction models is essential. You will collaborate with researchers from Météo-France and SMHI to refine HARMONIE-AROME and AROME, enabling high-resolution city- to neighbourhood-scale forecasts. This requires a fundamental shift in urban parameterization, including the further development of the multi-layer Town Energy Balance (TEB) model and its interaction with boundary-layer turbulence.

To fully leverage these fine-scale simulations, you will also refine urban land-use data, ensuring it aligns with the latest observational insights. Your work will directly contribute to the operational weather and climate models used at KNMI and will bridge fundamental research and applied forecasting. You will publish in peer-reviewed journals and engage with Large Eddy Simulation experts across Europe, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that drive innovation in urban weather prediction.

This gives you energy

You are driven by the challenge of improving weather prediction at urban scales, where fine-scale atmospheric processes interact with complex surface conditions. Pushing the boundaries of numerical modeling, you seek to refine methodologies, enhance model accuracy, and translate insights into tangible forecasting improvements.

You thrive in an environment where rigorous analysis, scientific integrity, and collaboration shape innovation. Engaging with international experts, you contribute to fundamental research while ensuring your findings are applicable to real-world forecasting. The opportunity to publish, experiment, and refine urban meteorological models—advancing both scientific understanding and practical application—fuels your ambition.

Functie-eisen

• you have a PhD in meteorology, environmental sciences, computer science, or a related field
• you have extensive experience with numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, preferably HARMONIE-AROME or AROME
• strong programming skills, particularly in FORTRAN, Python, and working in a Linux environment
• proficiency in English (spoken and written), with a basic understanding of Dutch being an advantage
• preferably, expertise in urban meteorology and urban climate or an interest in applying NWP models to these fields

Je herkent je in de volgende eigenschappen:

As a scientist in meteorology or data science, you thrive in an international, multidisciplinary research environment. You approach scientific challenges with analytical rigor and perseverance, navigating technical, methodological, and communicative complexities with a problem-solving mindset.

You uphold scientific integrity and apply critical thinking to develop innovative solutions. Collaboration is integral to your work—you engage actively with colleagues, exchanging insights and incorporating feedback to refine methodologies and advance understanding. With a results-driven approach, you structure your research effectively, ensuring steady progress and meaningful contributions. Proactive and engaged, you play a key role in discussions, driving scientific advancements in urban meteorology.