Development of an improved ionospheric near real time forecast system with Met Office

The Met Office is the national meteorological service for the United Kingdom. Central to its weather forecasting is a state-of-the-art Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) system, in which meteorological observations are assimilated, and forecasts produced and disseminated, in near-real-time around the clock.

The project focuses on improved forecasts of the ionosphere. Space weather alerts in this region are of especial importance to users of high frequency (HF) radio communications and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications. In collaboration with the University of Bath, the Met Office runs Multi-Instrument Data Analysis Software (MIDAS), which provides near real time analyses (or nowcasts) of Total Electron Content (TEC), which is the integrated vertical column of ionospheric electron density. The analyses are created using observations available over land regions only, and which give little information about the vertical structure of the ionosphere. Accordingly, the MIDAS analyses currently produced in near real time at the Met Office are only for the European region, and are of TEC rather than 3D electron density.

Potential areas of research include:
• Developing global forecasts by combining MIDAS with forecast fields produced by global first principles ionospheric models.
• Exploiting new observation types (eg ionosondes and GNSS Radio Occultation) to improve the representation of the vertical structure of ionospheric electron density.

It is also very important that the information provided by any improved ionospheric forecast system is presented in an accessible form. Therefore an additional aspect of this project will involve interaction with both our space weather forecasters and our customers. The aim is to go beyond just producing forecasts (which other people then have to interpret), and to work out better ways for the forecast information to be supplied to users (eg better visualisation, decision-making tools for non-scientists).

Requirements on candidates:

Essential:
• A minimum of an upper second (2:1) class honours degree (or equivalent) in physical sciences, mathematics, computer science or engineering.
• An interest in atmospheric science, IT coding and design, and system modelling.
• Experience of working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• An ability to communicate confidently to both scientific and industrial colleagues.

Desirable:
• A background in, or demonstrated interest in, space weather

The Systems EngD is a full-time four-year postgraduate research programme, offering the experience of rigorous, leading-edge research within a business context. A Research Engineer will spend about 75% of his/her time based at the Met Office in Exeter, and the remaining time at the Universities and the Centre on taught courses, covering Systems and business-related topics. The researcher will be registered as a full time post graduate student at the University of Bath.
Full description go to http://www.bristol.ac.uk/eng-systems-centre/idc/vacancies/met-office.html