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Prof M Saunders
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Supervisors: Prof Mark Saunders ([Email Address Removed])
Dr Lidia van Driel-Gesztelyi ([Email Address Removed])
The Northern Hemisphere winters of 2008/9 and 2009/10 were unusually cold and snowy. The timing of these events close to a deep minimum in solar activity has raised interest in the influence of low solar activity on cold winters. Many studies going back centuries have examined the relationship between solar activity and aspects of climate. The weight of plausible evidence leaves little doubt that changes in solar activity do influence the Earth’s climate. However, the nature and importance of this link remains unclear. In particular a convincing and consistent physical mechanism (or mechanism chain) for how solar activity can influence winter climate is still missing.
Using the best long-term and high temporal-quality solar irradiance data, Earth satellite data and Earth surface observations, the project will attempt to establish a causality chain between changes in solar activity and changes in northern hemisphere surface winter climate. Focus will be given to the role of the stratosphere and the propagation of zonally averaged zonal wind anomalies from the tropical stratosphere to the high latitude stratosphere during October and November. Once established at high latitudes in early winter this circulation may extend down through the troposphere to contribute significantly to the winter monthly and seasonal Arctic Oscillation and thus to winter climate. But what causes the poleward propagation from the tropical stratosphere to begin and how do changes in solar activity contribute to or facilitate this? What is the role of the quasi-biennial oscillation in establishing or modulating the conditions that enable this propagation to occur? Do solar influences offer predictability of winter climate? These are the questions the project will empirically address.
UCL was one of the first universities in the world to become involved in making scientific observations in space. Since MSSL was established in 1966, we have participated in more than 35 satellite missions and over 200 rocket experiments. Our groups of research scientists and development engineers work together to ensure that the instruments we produce are as relevant and competitive as possible. The subsequent scientific interpretation of data benefits from the fundamental understanding of the instruments gained from in depth knowledge of their development and testing.
Further details on our PhD programme and other available projects can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/research-degrees.
Dr Lidia van Driel-Gesztelyi ([Email Address Removed])
The Northern Hemisphere winters of 2008/9 and 2009/10 were unusually cold and snowy. The timing of these events close to a deep minimum in solar activity has raised interest in the influence of low solar activity on cold winters. Many studies going back centuries have examined the relationship between solar activity and aspects of climate. The weight of plausible evidence leaves little doubt that changes in solar activity do influence the Earth’s climate. However, the nature and importance of this link remains unclear. In particular a convincing and consistent physical mechanism (or mechanism chain) for how solar activity can influence winter climate is still missing.
Using the best long-term and high temporal-quality solar irradiance data, Earth satellite data and Earth surface observations, the project will attempt to establish a causality chain between changes in solar activity and changes in northern hemisphere surface winter climate. Focus will be given to the role of the stratosphere and the propagation of zonally averaged zonal wind anomalies from the tropical stratosphere to the high latitude stratosphere during October and November. Once established at high latitudes in early winter this circulation may extend down through the troposphere to contribute significantly to the winter monthly and seasonal Arctic Oscillation and thus to winter climate. But what causes the poleward propagation from the tropical stratosphere to begin and how do changes in solar activity contribute to or facilitate this? What is the role of the quasi-biennial oscillation in establishing or modulating the conditions that enable this propagation to occur? Do solar influences offer predictability of winter climate? These are the questions the project will empirically address.
UCL was one of the first universities in the world to become involved in making scientific observations in space. Since MSSL was established in 1966, we have participated in more than 35 satellite missions and over 200 rocket experiments. Our groups of research scientists and development engineers work together to ensure that the instruments we produce are as relevant and competitive as possible. The subsequent scientific interpretation of data benefits from the fundamental understanding of the instruments gained from in depth knowledge of their development and testing.
Further details on our PhD programme and other available projects can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/research-degrees.
Funding Notes
Applications accepted all year round but interviews begin in mid February.
Funding: Competition funding: This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project that receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is available to citizens of a number of European countries (including the UK). In most cases this will include all EU nationals. However full funding may not be available to all applicants and you should read the full department and project details for further information.
Funding: Competition funding: This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project that receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is available to citizens of a number of European countries (including the UK). In most cases this will include all EU nationals. However full funding may not be available to all applicants and you should read the full department and project details for further information.
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