Supervisors

Dr Peter North, Swansea University
Professor Stefan Doerr, Swansea University
Collaborators: Natural Resources Canada (NRC), Ontario, Canada

Project and aims

The project addresses a key current uncertainty in climate change research, that of atmospheric emissions of black carbon (BC) from forest fires. The student will collaborate with researchers at Natural Resources Canada (NRC), giving access to data on large-scale, closely monitored burns and carbon analysis.

Quantifying the atmospheric emission has wide significance. The uncertainty in published estimates for BC emissions is a factor of 2-5 on regional scales, and >50% globally. The highly absorbing particles directly result in surface dimming, with indirect impacts on cloud amount and albedo, and, with deposition, on snow albedo. The uncertainty in total aerosol effects has been estimated as 5-10 times that of the uncertainty in the enhanced greenhouse effect. The project aims to use large planned fires, which give an unprecedented opportunity for testing satellite Earth observation to address emissions and impacts at regional scales. Recent developments in Earth observation allow not only estimation of total aerosol fluxes, but also particle size and injection height, needed to calculate radiative effects, long-range transport and residence time.

The student will characterise aerosol fluxes and injection heights at the time of a series of planned experimental burns. Integration of land surface modelling and satellite data will allow application of results to regional scales.

Applicant requirements

The successful candidate will possess a 1st or upper second class degree in one of the physical sciences (e.g. physics, Earth sciences, geography, atmospheric sciences, computer science, chemistry, biology) with strong numerical and analytical skills. Familiarity with one or more computer programming languages (C, Fortran) will be an advantage . The student will receive training and experience in fieldwork, satellite remote sensing, and land surface modeling as appropriate. The student will work within a leading interdisciplinary team focussed on improving satellite information relevant to climate modelling, will be encouraged to direct the research within the broad remit described above and, will have the opportunity to present research findings at international conferences and to the European Space Agency (ESA).

Funding

This project is eligible for competitive funding through NERC studentships awarded to the Department (two studentships are available this year). Other funding opportunities are available and self-funded students are always welcome. Contact your potential supervisor for advice and details of how to apply. The closing date for NERC applications is 18 March 2011.

Further information

Further details about this opportunity are available from Dr Peter North (p.r.j.north@swan.ac.uk).