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(Scientist) to work on coupled data assimilation system (two positions)

2:38:00 PM

Reference no.: AP12-03

Location:

ECMWF Headquarters at Shinfield Park, near Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Environment:

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an international organisation supported by 34 States*.

ECMWF’s principal objectives are the development of numerical methods for medium‑range, monthly and seasonal weather forecasting; the preparation, on a regular basis, of these weather forecasts for distribution to the meteorological services of the Member States; scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of these forecasts; and the collection and storage of appropriate meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and surface. For details see:

ECMWF’s main computing facility includes supercomputers, archiving and data handling systems. ECMWF is connected to the meteorological telecommunication system and to its Member States via efficient networks linking 44 countries. A detailed description is available at:

Main duties:

Under the auspices of the European Space Agency (ESA), ECMWF is developing a prototype data assimilation system for a coupled atmosphere/ocean/sea-ice model that can be used for climate reanalysis.

ECMWF is recruiting two consultants to work on this project. One of the positions is in the Marine Aspects Section and the other is in the Reanalysis Section, both within the Research Department. The Marine Aspects Section is responsible for the development and maintenance of the ocean wave and ocean circulation models run at the Centre. The Reanalysis Section works in close collaboration with other sections of the Research and Operations Departments to produce and disseminate state-of-the-art atmospheric reanalysis datasets.

The work will consist of building the technical framework for the coupled data assimilation system using existing software components (IFS, NEMO/NEMOVAR), and investigating the performance of the system by means of data assimilation experiments. In particular, the following tasks are envisaged:

  • Develop methodology to constrain the sea-surface temperature (SST) in long coupled model integrations
  • Conduct and evaluate long coupled model integrations with SST constraints
  • Include the NEMO ocean/sea-ice forward models as components in the atmospheric reanalysis system, based on the IFS and using existing coupling infrastructure
  • Implement the NEMO/IFS coupled model as first guess in the existing NEMOVAR ocean-only data assimilation software
  • Combine the above elements to build a prototype weakly-coupled data assimilation system, using the coupled model with separate analyses in the atmosphere and ocean components
  • Increase the flexibility of the NEMOVAR ocean analysis cycle
  • Develop targeted diagnostics of processes related to air–sea interaction
  • Conduct experiments to evaluate the impact of coupling


Qualifications:

An advanced university degree (PhD level or equivalent) and relevant experience with data assimilation and/or coupled ocean/atmosphere/sea-ice modelling. Proficiency with UNIX scripting and FORTRAN 90 programming on parallel computer architectures is essential.

The working languages of ECMWF are English, French and German. Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and a good knowledge of one of the other working languages would also be desirable. Interviews will be conducted in English.



Remuneration:

Typically within the range of £4,202.00 to £5,820.00 per month net of tax, depending upon qualifications, experience, personal situation and eligibility for expatriation allowance. A deduction of either £28.75 per beneficiary or 3.72% of the monthly remuneration will be made for the supplementary health insurance scheme.

Starting date: April 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter, subject to final contract agreements with the University of Reading.

Length of contract: One year initially, with the possibility of extension of a further year.

Applications: an application form in Word format can be downloaded from here (162kb) and completed on-line. If you download, you may (if near to the closing date) e-mail the completed form only back to ECMWF at jobs@ecmwf.int. Please note, however, that you must still send your full application form together with all the attachments to ECMWF by post. Under no circumstances should you e-mail your attachments.

Closing date: Completed applications for this post must reach the Personnel Section of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts not later than 5 March 2012.

[Version française] [Deutsche Fassung]

* The ECMWF Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The ECMWF Co-operating States are Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.

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