Extreme weather in the tropics

(MATTHEWS_UENV23ARIES)

Extreme weather in the tropics

(MATTHEWS_UENV23ARIES)

Project Description

Supervisors

Prof. Adrian Matthews (University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences) – Contact me

Dr Ben Webber (School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia)

Dr Juliane Schwendike (School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds)

 

Project background

Extreme weather in the tropics, particularly in the form of heavy rainfall and strong winds, can destroy the lives and livelihoods of the local population through flooding, landslides and impacts on agriculture and local infrastructure.  Such extreme weather in the tropics is primarily controlled by large scale weather patterns such as convectively coupled equatorial Kelvin waves (Figure 1), the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) or El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).  Although the broad features of these tropical weather patterns are known, their impact on extreme weather is not; this represents a major gap in our understanding of tropical weather.

Research methodology

You will determine the effect of tropical weather patterns on extreme weather using a combination of observational analysis, and numerical modelling. Initially, this will involve analysis of state-of-the-art satellite data sets that measure rainfall every 30 minutes across the whole planet and wind, temperature and other variables every hour.  You will then analyse model forecast data from the UK Met Office available through the FORSEA (Forecasting in Southeast Asia) and K-scale projects, and conduct sets of experiments with a state-of-the-art atmospheric model to determine what factors generate and influence these tropical waves.

Training

You will join an active research group at UEA in tropical meteorology and climate.  You will be trained in meteorological and climate theory, and in meteorological analysis of very large data sets, and computer modelling of weather and climate.  You will have the opportunity to present your work at national and international conferences.

Person specification

We seek an enthusiastic, pro-active individual with strong scientific interests and self-motivation.  You will have a degree in physics, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography or environmental science. Prior experience of programming is desirable.

References

  • Da Silva NA, Matthews AJ, 2021: Impact of the Madden-Julian oscillation on extreme precipitation over the western Maritime Continent and Southeast Asia. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 147, 3434-3453, doi: 10.1002/qj.4136.
  • Matthews AJ, 2021: Dynamical propagation and growth mechanisms for convectively coupled equatorial Kelvin waves over the Indian Ocean. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 147, 4310-4336, doi: 10.1002/qj.4179.
  • Da Silva NA, Webber BGM, Matthews AJ, Feist MM, Stein THM, Holloway CE, Abdullah MFAB, 2021: Validation of GPM IMERG extreme precipitation in the Maritime Continent by station and radar data. Earth Space Sci., 8, e2021EA001738, doi: 10.1029/2021EA001738.
  • Latos B, Lefort T, Flatau MK, Flatau PJ, Permana DS, Baranowski CB, Paski JAI, Makmur E, Sulystyo K, Peyrille P, Feng Z, Matthews AJ, Schmidt JM, 2021: Equatorial waves triggering extreme rainfall and floods in southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia. Mon. Weath. Rev., 149, 1381-1401, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-20-0262.1.
  • Ferrett S, Yang G-Y, Woolnough S, Methven J, Hodges K, Holloway CE, 2020: Linking extreme precipitation in southeast Asia to equatorial waves. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 146, 665-684, doi: 10.1002/qj.3699.

Key Information

  • This project has been shortlisted for funding by the ARIES NERC DTP and will start on 1st October 2023. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 19th May 2023.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a NERC studentship, which covers fees, stipend (£18,622 p.a. for 2023/24) and research funding. Please note that all international awards have been made for our programme for 2023 so we will not be accepting applications from international candidates,
  • ARIES students benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis, visa requirements notwithstanding
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential, and will be stored on the UEA sharepoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships, and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.

Applications are open

Apply now