praveen
15th November 2005, 05:43 AM
Two PhD Scholarships in Meteorology at Victoria University of Wellington,
New Zealand
************************************************** **********************
TWO PhD scholarships are available in meteorology at Victoria
University of Wellington (VUW), New Zealand.
(1) In mesoscale-modeling and data assimilation which will be jointly
supervised by Dr James McGregor at the University and Greg Pearson at
MetService New Zealand which is based in Wellington.
(2) In large-scale climate dynamics and climate modeling which will
be jointly supervised by Dr James McGregor, VUW and Dr James Renwick at the
National Institute of Water and Atmosphere, which also has offices and its supercomputer based in Wellington.
Topic (1) Brief Project Description - Mesoscale modeling and Data Assimilation
************************************************** *******************************************
The project involves research and development in the areas of data
assimilation and ensemble initialisation using the Weather Research and Forecasting
(WRF) model.
Two key areas of active research in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) are:
1) data assimilation, which deals with the specification of the analysis, or
initial state, from which a numerical forecast starts; and 2) ensemble modelling,
which is used to estimate the uncertainty associated with NWP model forecasts. They
are closely related, as both deal with the inherent difficulty of specifying the
current state of the atmosphere, due to limitations in the quality and availability of
observational data.
In an operational NWP context, the main goal of data assimilation is
to provide the single best estimate of the initial state by combining observations
and model forecasts, both of which contain errors. In ensemble modeling, the
goal is to assess the effect that initial state errors and model limitations have on
forecasts.
The successful applicant will investigate a range of applications of the 3DVAR data assimilation technique within the WRF framework. In addition, the use of one or more novel techniques for incorporating day-to-day variations in estimates of model error (e.g., Ensemble Kalman Filter, Shadow Trajectories) will be investigated, including their potential application to ensemble model initialisation. This will provide the candidate with an ideal opportunity to participate in the development of state-of-the-art methods of analysing and predicting weather.
This work is funded by Technology New Zealand (http:// www.technz.co.nz) and will
contribute to MetService's weather prediction research and development programme.
This Scholarship is available now but foreign students should note the favorable
change in fees which occurs on 1 January 2006 and is mentioned below.
It is anticipated that the candidate will work at least 50% of their time at MetService,
and the remainder at VUW. MetService and VUW are situated in Wellington, separated by a comfortable ten minute walk.
The candidate will have access to excellent computing facilities, including appropriate
Linux- or UNIX-based systems for model development and execution. At MetService, they will work alongside a team of Meteorologists carrying out research and
development in support of the company's operational NWP programme.
Comprehensive real-time and archived meteorological data are available at both MetService and VUW.
Topic (2) Large-scale climate dynamics and climate modeling
************************************************** **********************
The successful applicant will work in the area of large-scale climate dynamics and climate modelling. The project involves improving our understanding of how
the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects southern ocean and Antarctic climate, and whether there are connections between ENSO and the stratospheric circulation over the Antarctic.
The research will illuminate present-day climate variability, and will have implications for
future climate changes. We are seeking someone interested in climate research, with a background in physics and/or mathematics, preferably with some exposure to meteorology or atmospheric dynamics. Experience with, or a strong interest in,
numerical climate modelling is very desirable, as the work will involve a mix of observational analysis and a significant component of hands-on climate modelling.
This work is funded by the Marsden Fund and will be available from March 2006.
The successful applicant will spend the majority of their time at the National Institute of
Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) in Wellington were there are excellent facilities, including a supercomputer for climate modeling.
The research work is also in collaboration with the University of Melboune, Melbourne, Australia so the student can expect to have occasional visits to Melbourne during the course of their research.
Scholarships
************
The successful applicants will enrol for the degree of PhD at Victoria University of Wellington. The total value of each scholarship (including all fees) is $NZ25,000
per annum.
(It should be noted that fees will be approx. $4-5,000 per annum. As from 1 January
2006 all foreign students studying for a PhD degree in New Zealand will only have
to pay local fees. This is a significant saving as prior to this time students would have had to pay approx $21,000 per annum in course fees.)
For more general information on study at VUW see http://www.vuw.ac.nz/home/study/index.html
Applicants
**********
Interested individuals are asked to send a CV, three letters of recommendation, and academic transcripts to Dr James McGregor at the address indicated below.
Memoranda of Understanding between MetService and VUW and NIWA and VUW
************************************************** ********************
MetService and VUW signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding in 1998 which has promoted closer links between the two organisations and has facilitated closer
cooperation on research initiatives and data exchange.
NIWA and VUW have a Joint Centre of Excellence in Atmospheric Physics and Climate.
Other relevant Web sites
************************
Further relevant information can be found at:-
http://www.metservice.com
http://www.geo.vuw.ac.nz
http://www.niwa.co.nz
Http://www.metvuw.com
Contact
*******
Dr James McGregor
School of Earth Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 600
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone no: +64 4 463 5278
Fax no: +64 4 463 5186
E-mail: j.mcgregor@vuw.ac.nz
Credits : Met-jobs mailing list
http://www.lists.rdg.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/met-jobs
New Zealand
************************************************** **********************
TWO PhD scholarships are available in meteorology at Victoria
University of Wellington (VUW), New Zealand.
(1) In mesoscale-modeling and data assimilation which will be jointly
supervised by Dr James McGregor at the University and Greg Pearson at
MetService New Zealand which is based in Wellington.
(2) In large-scale climate dynamics and climate modeling which will
be jointly supervised by Dr James McGregor, VUW and Dr James Renwick at the
National Institute of Water and Atmosphere, which also has offices and its supercomputer based in Wellington.
Topic (1) Brief Project Description - Mesoscale modeling and Data Assimilation
************************************************** *******************************************
The project involves research and development in the areas of data
assimilation and ensemble initialisation using the Weather Research and Forecasting
(WRF) model.
Two key areas of active research in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) are:
1) data assimilation, which deals with the specification of the analysis, or
initial state, from which a numerical forecast starts; and 2) ensemble modelling,
which is used to estimate the uncertainty associated with NWP model forecasts. They
are closely related, as both deal with the inherent difficulty of specifying the
current state of the atmosphere, due to limitations in the quality and availability of
observational data.
In an operational NWP context, the main goal of data assimilation is
to provide the single best estimate of the initial state by combining observations
and model forecasts, both of which contain errors. In ensemble modeling, the
goal is to assess the effect that initial state errors and model limitations have on
forecasts.
The successful applicant will investigate a range of applications of the 3DVAR data assimilation technique within the WRF framework. In addition, the use of one or more novel techniques for incorporating day-to-day variations in estimates of model error (e.g., Ensemble Kalman Filter, Shadow Trajectories) will be investigated, including their potential application to ensemble model initialisation. This will provide the candidate with an ideal opportunity to participate in the development of state-of-the-art methods of analysing and predicting weather.
This work is funded by Technology New Zealand (http:// www.technz.co.nz) and will
contribute to MetService's weather prediction research and development programme.
This Scholarship is available now but foreign students should note the favorable
change in fees which occurs on 1 January 2006 and is mentioned below.
It is anticipated that the candidate will work at least 50% of their time at MetService,
and the remainder at VUW. MetService and VUW are situated in Wellington, separated by a comfortable ten minute walk.
The candidate will have access to excellent computing facilities, including appropriate
Linux- or UNIX-based systems for model development and execution. At MetService, they will work alongside a team of Meteorologists carrying out research and
development in support of the company's operational NWP programme.
Comprehensive real-time and archived meteorological data are available at both MetService and VUW.
Topic (2) Large-scale climate dynamics and climate modeling
************************************************** **********************
The successful applicant will work in the area of large-scale climate dynamics and climate modelling. The project involves improving our understanding of how
the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects southern ocean and Antarctic climate, and whether there are connections between ENSO and the stratospheric circulation over the Antarctic.
The research will illuminate present-day climate variability, and will have implications for
future climate changes. We are seeking someone interested in climate research, with a background in physics and/or mathematics, preferably with some exposure to meteorology or atmospheric dynamics. Experience with, or a strong interest in,
numerical climate modelling is very desirable, as the work will involve a mix of observational analysis and a significant component of hands-on climate modelling.
This work is funded by the Marsden Fund and will be available from March 2006.
The successful applicant will spend the majority of their time at the National Institute of
Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) in Wellington were there are excellent facilities, including a supercomputer for climate modeling.
The research work is also in collaboration with the University of Melboune, Melbourne, Australia so the student can expect to have occasional visits to Melbourne during the course of their research.
Scholarships
************
The successful applicants will enrol for the degree of PhD at Victoria University of Wellington. The total value of each scholarship (including all fees) is $NZ25,000
per annum.
(It should be noted that fees will be approx. $4-5,000 per annum. As from 1 January
2006 all foreign students studying for a PhD degree in New Zealand will only have
to pay local fees. This is a significant saving as prior to this time students would have had to pay approx $21,000 per annum in course fees.)
For more general information on study at VUW see http://www.vuw.ac.nz/home/study/index.html
Applicants
**********
Interested individuals are asked to send a CV, three letters of recommendation, and academic transcripts to Dr James McGregor at the address indicated below.
Memoranda of Understanding between MetService and VUW and NIWA and VUW
************************************************** ********************
MetService and VUW signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding in 1998 which has promoted closer links between the two organisations and has facilitated closer
cooperation on research initiatives and data exchange.
NIWA and VUW have a Joint Centre of Excellence in Atmospheric Physics and Climate.
Other relevant Web sites
************************
Further relevant information can be found at:-
http://www.metservice.com
http://www.geo.vuw.ac.nz
http://www.niwa.co.nz
Http://www.metvuw.com
Contact
*******
Dr James McGregor
School of Earth Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 600
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone no: +64 4 463 5278
Fax no: +64 4 463 5186
E-mail: j.mcgregor@vuw.ac.nz
Credits : Met-jobs mailing list
http://www.lists.rdg.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/met-jobs