Postdoctoral Research Assistant in satellite remote sounding and analysis of the mature Hunga-Tonga volcanic cloud

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant Postdoctoral Research Assistant in satellite remote sounding and analysis of the mature Hunga-Tonga volcanic cloud.

The post is available initially for a fixed-term duration of 2 years.

The eruption of Hunga-Tonga in January 2022 generated a volcanic cloud of enhanced concentrations of water and sulphur dioxide combined with particles of ash, ice and sulphuric acid.  This combination does not allow traditional approaches of independently retrieving gas or particle concentrations. The aim of this project is to characterise the ash and sulphuric acid volcanic clouds (> 48 hours) from high resolution infrared instruments such as the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) instruments and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS).

As part of a wider team, the post-holder will create a new retrieval scheme for determining the particle properties from the IASI and CrIS instruments. This work will be validated against other satellites (e.g. IASI, MLS, TROPOMI, Calipso, and ACE), in situ and ground based measurements. These new retrievals will then be used to study the evolution of the clouds from the Hunga-Tonga eruption with the aim of trying to better understand the rapid development of sulphuric acid and the distribution of ash in the stratosphere.

Applicants should possess, or be very close to obtaining a doctorate in physics or a related field.   Previous experience in radiative transfer and the use of satellite measurements will be an advantage.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate experience in coding preferably using Python or Fortran.

The post-holder will have the opportunity to teach.

Please direct enquiries about the role to [email protected]

Only applications received before midday 8 January 2024 can be considered. You will be required to upload a brief statement of research interests, CV and details of two referees as part of your online application.