The aim of this PhD project is to develop an understanding of the spatial and temporal variations in crop yield and weather patterns across different parts of Europe and North America; examine their changes in the past and future; and also study the value addition of using weather patterns for seasonal crop yield prediction.
Application deadline - 12pm 11th January 2021
Interview week - Week commencing 1st February 2021
Universal acceptance date for offers - 17th March 2021
Projected increases in the frequency, intensity and duration of extremes such as heat waves and extreme precipitation can have devastating impacts on crop production. Predicting how these events are likely to affect future crop yields is of major importance and can help governments and businesses to better respond to food production shocks and food price spikes.
Anomalous weather conditions cause crop yield variations; previous research has highlighted the importance of growing season temperature and precipitation in explaining crop yield variability. For example, significant crop production losses across the EU are mainly due to drought and/or heavy precipitation caused by large-scale weather systems. Large-scale weather systems can affect crop yield in many countries across the world simultaneously. For example, in 2007 and 2012, eastern European countries were affected by severe drought conditions, while western countries experienced problems generated by heavy rainfall, which both influenced crop yields. Weather patterns (Figure 1), sometimes referred to as weather regimes or types, are large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns that drive specific temperature and precipitation patterns. Weather patterns have recently been used to model hydrological and meteorological extremes such as floods and heat waves. Weather patterns have also higher predictability compared to small scale events, such as precipitation and or temperature extremes, making them particularly useful.
The main hypothesis of this PhD project is that weather types can be used to explain spatial and temporal climate-related crop variability and can provide longer crop yield prediction lead times than for example using specific indicators such as precipitation or temperature.
The study will be applied to Europe and North America given the availability of the crop yield data, with a focus on the UK.
COVID-19 Resilience of the Project: The project is largely a desk-based study. Low risk of COVID-19 is anticipated on the delivery of the project. However, COVID-19 might limit the physical interaction of the student with other student and researchers. COVID might also affect physical attendance to conferences and meetings.
Eligibility
UK and International students are eligible to apply for UKRI funded studentships.
- UK students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years can apply for full awards covering tuition fees and annual stipend for living costs.
- International students (including EU Students)can apply for awards covering tuition fees (at the UK rate) and annual stipend for living costs.
UKRI funding will not cover the difference between UK tuition fee rate and international tuition fee rate (approx. £20,000 per annum). Funding may be available from other sources but specific guidance on additional funding is currently not available.
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