Multi-scale subtropical controls on the position and intensity of the summertime West African heat low
Main supervisor: Prof. Dr. A. H. Fink (University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, fink@meteo.uni-koeln.de)
Co supervisor: Dr. Peter Knippertz (University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, p.knippertz@leeds.ac.uk)
Starting date: immediately
The summertime West African heat low (WAHL) over the western Sahara desert exerts a strong control on the continental-scale monsoon circulation and thereby, e.g., affects rainfalls over the Sahel. Until recently the lack of observational data has hindered our understanding of the WAHL dynamics, leading to comparably limited capabilities to predict the West African monsoon. The proposed PhD project will directly benefit from exciting new field activities in this region. The international Fennec field campaigns in 2011, and potentially in 2012, provide unprecedented surface, upper-air, and aircraft data. In addition, the University of Cologne has been operating a unique meso-network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) in the Drāa valley of south-eastern Morocco. The PhD student is expected to play an active role in operating, processing and archiving the AWS data including several visits to the field sites. The research aims at a better understanding of the meteorological proc!
esses on the subtropical side of the WAHL that control its position and intensity. In the long run, this work will help to improve weather and climate predictions in this largely understudied region.
The successful candidate will conduct both diagnostic and modelling work. He/she will perform a synoptic-dynamic analysis of upper-level disturbances over northwest Africa, deep moist convection over the Atlas Mountains and density currents that are created through the cooling associated with the evaporation of convective precipitation. These density currents can penetrate far into the northern Sahara and are suspected to contribute to the ventilation of the WAHL adding to the well known synoptic-scale ventilation from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Another focus is the so called Atlas and Hoggar pumping hypothesis, i.e. (moist) convection and uplift over these mountains amplify the subsidence in the core region of the WAHL. For both research questions, sensitivity experiments will be carried out using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model.
The PhD student will be part of Prof. Dr Andreas Fink's lively and supportive research group (http://www.geomet.uni-koeln.de/en/general/the-institute/research-groups/research-group-fink/). The group is based at the Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology at the University of Cologne. Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany with a rich cultural life and recreational value. Multi-week research visit at Leeds (UK) to work with Dr. Knippertz group are envisaged. The student will also benefit from the active involvement in the international FENNEC science team.
Application
The successful candidate should have a Master of Science equivalent university degree in meteorology or a physical or mathematical discipline, such as mathematics, physics, geophysics, and engineering. Experience in synoptic-dynamic meteorology and/or atmospheric modelling, with working in a Linux environment, with scientific programming in FORTRAN 90 and/or C is highly desirable.
The position (50%, 19.92 hours/week, TV‐L E13) is awarded for 3 years. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled.
Equal employment opportunity: Selection for these positions will be based solely on merit without regard to gender, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital or family status or other differences. Among equally qualified candidates, handicapped candidates will be given preference.
Please send inquiries and applications (with a meaningful CV) to (e-mail applications are preferred):
Prof. Dr. Andreas Fink
Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology
University of Cologne
D-50923 Cologne, Germany
fink@meteo.uni-koeln.de
Plase also see:
<http://www.stellenwerk-koeln.de/uploads/tx_exinitswkjobs/PhD_Geophysik.pdf>