Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in  the measurement and analysis of the initial Hunga-Tonga volcanic cloud.

The post is available initially for a fixed-term duration of 2 years 8 months.

The aim of this project is to characterise the eruption and the initial evolution of the volcanic plume (first 48 hours)  from satellite data complemented by measurements of lightning (WWLLN), ionospheric waves, surface seismic waves and atmospheric pressure waves (from surface stations and radiosondes). It is expected that this work will lead to fundamental papers on the formation of volcanic clouds and their interaction with the atmosphere.

The principal task of the project is to characterise the ash, ice and sulphuric acid formed by the Hunga-Tonga  eruption by applying the Optimal Retrieval of Aerosol and Cloud (ORAC) algorithm to imager data  (Himawari, GOES, SLSTR, VIIRS, MODIS) accounting for the high-levels of water vapour and sulphur dioxide.

The successful candidate will develop a high resolution atmospheric radiative transfer model using existing transmission (The RFM) and multiple scattering (e.g. DISORT) code.  This code will be used to simulate top-of-atmosphere radiance (0.5 – 16 um) for a range of volcanic plume structures and compositions. This dataset will be used to compare different volcanic cloud satellite retrievals.

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 r.grainger@physics.ox.ac.uk

Only applications received before midday 27 November 2023 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.

Further details on how to apply can be found here: Job Details (corehr.com)

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the measurement 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 r.grainger@physics.ox.ac.uk

Only applications received before midday 27 November 2023 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.