Research position Atmospheric Cold Extremes near the Surface

Are you driven by this challenge to understand cold surface extremes in the Netherlands and beyond?

Job description

Extreme and rapid surface cooling during night has severe impact on our daily lives, as it affects linger on throughout early morning. They may cause local frost or morning fog, resulting in dangerous traffic conditions, or may cause large economic losses in agriculture. Although our group has made recent advancements in our conceptual understanding of such extremes, numerical weather prediction models struggle to accurately predict and represent them. Occurrence of these extremes is linked to the state of the atmospheric boundary layer and its coupling to the underlying land surface.

A better understanding of this coupling and representation thereof in models is therefore key to improve predictions of cold extremes. How much the surface and atmosphere cool is the result of many processes interacting with each other in a non-linear way. As the temperature difference between atmosphere and surface increases, more heat must typically be extracted from the ground, emphasizing its critical impact on the occurrence of cold extremes. This heat transport in turn is dependent on the type of surface cover, for example, short versus tall grass, and dynamically responds to the atmosphere (e.g., cloud cover).

In this project, we will investigate this intricate relation between surface and lower atmosphere by an analysis of novel observational data in combination with high-resolution numerical modelling. For the first time ever, our group has successfully probed temperatures at unprecedented resolutions inside grass, allowing us to analyze the entire temperature profile through an atmosphere–grass–soil continuum. Further, the Dutch Atmospheric Large-Eddy Simulation model (DALES) will be used to simulate the turbulent state of the atmospheric boundary layer and its effect on these temperature profiles. Broadly, you will be able to work on the following topics:

• Performing observational analysis on our novel observations and observations from the national meteorological institute, constructing “composite averages”.
• Simulating these composites and representative cases in DALES and diagnosing its performance in representing different states of the atmospheric boundary layer.
• Implementing and testing new surface representations in the DALES model, with the aim of better representing observed characteristics.

Are you driven by this challenge to understand cold surface extremes in the Netherlands and beyond? Would you like to learn more about the atmospheric boundary layer and its modelling?

Then consider applying for this research position. You will work in an internationally renowned, curiosity-driven team on atmospheric boundary layers in which we aim to bridge the gap between fundamental knowledge and application. We offer you a team in which creative ideas and personal growth (e.g., in teamwork, presenting science) are encouraged.

Job requirements

Need-to-have requirements:

• An MSc. degree in (applied) physics or meteorology.
• A background in fluid dynamics and mathematical modelling.
• An affinity with conceptual analysis, or a willingness to learn.
• An interest in meteorology, and drive to learn about this.
• Very good command of English (spoken and written).

Nice-to-have requirements:

• Background in numerical modelling of flows.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology 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.