Job Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) - PhD position at Meteorology and Air Quality

A cool PhD job on urban climate at the

Meteorology and Air Quality Section at Wageningen University

For this position we request a MSc in Meteorology, Physics, or an equivalent MSc diploma.

In addition we request a keen interest in atmospheric modeling and data analysis, and (working) knowledge of FORTRAN and/or IDL and/or MATLAB.

According to our collective labour agreement we offer a temporary appointment. A full time position: 4 years, starting with a 18 month contract. If your suitibility in this position is apparent, your period of employment will be extended to the remainder of your PhD study. Commencing as soon as possible, preferably before October 1, 2010! Gross salary starts at 2042 Euro/month during the first year, increasing to 2612 Euro/month during the fourth year.

Chairgroup: Meteorology and Air Quality, Wageningen
Information: Dr.ir. Bert van Hove: 0317-486584. Email: Bert.vanHove@wur.nl


Subject information.

Worldwide urbanization is strongly increasing and this affects local weather, climate and air quality, in particular with the anticipated climate change in mind. As such the understanding and prediction of heat stress, urban water management and air pollution have been identified as the critical issues. Adverse urban meteorological conditions should be avoided for vulnerable groups, e.g. the elderly, young children, people with cardiovasucular diseases, and on time warnings are required.

From an atmospheric point of view, urban areas are special surfaces. First, the presence of buildings configurations triggers an enhanced absorption of sunlight during the day, which heats the city. The same buildings limit radiative heat release to space compared to rural areas, and therefore cities remain warmer than the countryside at night. Anthropogenic heating by traffic, domestic and industrial activity, and the direct drainage of rainwater complicate the urban heat balance.

Available field observations for the Dutch Randstad region will be analyzed as a reference for model validation. Then, a particular aim is to connect meteorological forecasts at the 10 km scale towards street levels. Specific topics are:

1. Data Analysis of Available Observational Data in Rotterdam: Focus on heterogeneity of meteorological variables within a city: temperature, radiation, humidity, precipitation.

2. Modeling of hetereogeneity of urban data: formulation and validation of urban canopy schemes in mesoscale meteorological models.

3. Urban weather after a nearly instantaneous shower, including induction of mesoscale flows due to heterogeneous precipitation. On the short term (1 day) and longer term: e.g. week.

4. Coupling WRF with a CFD model vice versa: Drive ENVI-Met with WRF output.
 
Context

This PhD research is within the national Knowledge for Research program, develops and evaluate modeling tools that will form the basis for further understanding and prediction of the urban atmosphere. The daily guidance of the PhD student will be given by Dr Gert-Jan Steeneveld and Dr Bert van Hove (both at MAQ) under the supervision of Prof. Bert Holtslag.
If you qualify and if you are interested in this opportunity, please send your cv and letter with motivation to our website http://www.jobsat.wur.nl.


 
The department of Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University provides fundamental research and academic education on our living environment: nature, landscape, land usage, adaptation to climate change, water and ocean management, and the various competing claims on space. This also includes biodiversity and the sustainability of management and production. Wageningen University is part of the Wageningen University and Research Centre concern.


 
Wageningen University and Research centre.

Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus – each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society – such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don’t do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on ‘the quality of life’, turning ideas into reality, on a global scale.



Could you be one of these people? We give you the space you need.



For further information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look at www.jobsat.wur.nl.

Bert Holtslag - 85519