PhD Position in Remote Sensing and Modelling of Polar Clouds

Are you a researcher aspiring to obtain a PhD degree and interested in working with satellite data and climate models? Then this might be a great job opportunity for you!

Your job
The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the new satellite EarthCare in May 2024. EarthCARE is expected to provide cloud observations in unprecedented detail. So far, cloud observations have been either precise but ground based, or from satellites but with limited precision. EarthCARE combines the best of both worlds. In this project, we will use the EarthCARE observations to investigate polar clouds, in particularly those over Greenland, and subsequently use these observations to improve the state-of-the-art polar regional atmospheric climate model RACMO.

Why is this a relevant PhD project?
Clouds significantly impact the climate and surface mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Clouds generally limit ice melt over the dark margins of the ice sheet, as they shield the surface from direct sunlight. However, on the higher-elevated parts of the ice sheet, clouds generally enhance snow melt as the longwave cloud radiative effect exceeds the reduction in sunlight. Furthermore, due to the low concentration of aerosols over the ice sheet, liquid water persists much longer in clouds than elsewhere, enhancing longwave radiation emission. All in all, a correct representation of clouds is critical for an accurate estimate of the contemporary and future surface mass loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet, and consequently of future sea level rise.

Why is this an attractive PhD project?
RACMO is one of the globally leading models in assessing the surface mass balance of ice sheets. Model results of RACMO are used widely in the polar science community, meaning that your work will have considerable impact. You will be among the first to work with EarthCARE data once it has been successfully launched. Our research team at Utrecht University and KNMI includes key researchers within the EarthCARE and RACMO projects ensuring effective guidance on data handling and interpretation. Lastly, all our EarthCARE products will be open source, facilitating collaboration with existing and potentially new international partners.

You will start the project with writing code for a fast and seamless on flight track comparison of EarthCARE observations with climate model data. This code will be published as open source, supporting international collaborations. Next, you will improve the representation of clouds in our regional climate model RACMO using the first year of EarthCARE data, in combination with existing observations. In the second half of the project, you will use the expanding set of EarthCARE observations to assess and publish the first accurate cloud climatology over Greenland and how clouds impact the surface mass balance of the Greenland Ice sheet.

This challenging research position requires developing a good understanding of climate modelling and remote sensing. You will work with experts from both fields to become an expert in the remote sensing of clouds, their model representation, and the polar climate. For 15% of your time, you are expected to assist in the teaching at the Department of Physics of Utrecht University.