This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP) for entry in October 2023. The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter and Cardiff University plus five prestigious Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad multi-disciplinary training, designed to produce tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science.
Supervisory Team:
Lead Supervisor: Dr Robert Watson, University of Bath, Dept. of Electronic & Electrical Eng.
Co-Supervisor: Dr Christopher Brunt, University of Exeter, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Project Background
The next generation of high-resolution weather prediction models require fine scale (a few km) measurements of key parameters such as humidity over large areas (> 20,000 km2). These are key to our better understanding of severe phenomena such as intense thunderstorms and sustained rainfall events leading to flooding and land slips. Forecasting severe weather requires measurements on spatial scales of 2-5 km (Deeter & Evans, 1997). Additionally, high sensitivity is important since it is known that even small changes in temperature (1 K) or moisture (1 g kg-1) in the boundary layer (approximately the lowest two km of the atmosphere) can mean the difference between no initiation and intense convection (Crook, 1996, Liu et al., 2005). Existing measurement techniques like radiosondes (weather balloons), Global Positioning System receiver networks and surface weather stations are quite limited and can be expensive to operate. Further, they are not able to resolve the necessary three-dimension structure of the atmosphere required for scientific study and data assimilation into weather prediction models.
Project Aims and Methods
This project addresses key objectives of the NERC Strategic Delivery Plan, those of “novel sensors” and “realising the potential of sensing technologies”. The aim here is to study the use of signals of opportunity (SOO) as a new measurement technology. SOO is the re-use of existing radio signals for something other than their intended purpose. For example, it has been shown that digital radio signals can be used to infer refractivity changes via observations of signal phase over time (Watson et al., 2012). Similarly, Brunt & Kitchen (2019) are investigating how small changes in angle of arrival from aircraft transmissions of ADS-B signals can be used to estimate refractivity. Both of these SOO sensors are based on software defined radio systems and are passive (i.e., receive-only), have low power consumption and would be relatively easy to deploy in a large scale, dense network. However, both techniques have issues related to multipath error, caused by unwanted reflections from the ground. This project will address these problems by conducting research into smart antenna techniques for SOO. These will be able to adapt the antenna reception patterns so as to minimise unwanted ground reflections and at the same time maximise the wanted signal. This work is a common enabling technology for the successful exploitation of these and perhaps many other SOO methods. A number of aspects to this project could be considered. These include antenna design, analogue and/or digital beamforming, angle-of-arrival estimation and other required signal and data processing. The project focus could also be varied depending on the candidate’s own interests.
Candidate requirements
This project is suitable for a student with a undergraduate degree level background in electronic & electrical engineering, physics, meteorology, or other relevant science.
Applicants for a studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a UK Honours degree at 1st or 2.1 level, or international equivalent.
Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement by 01 February 2023 (the only exemption is if you will be awarded a UK degree or degree conducted in English before your PhD start date).
Project partners
The collaborative project partner is the Met Office, headquartered in Exeter, who will provide further technical and scientific support as well as being a beneficiary of the research. There will be opportunities to visit the Met Office, providing further experience of working in a more industry environment. The Met Office will also provide the opportunity to deploy any equipment developed at their Clee Hill site.
Training
Bath has a well-equipped laboratory for the development and testing of radio frequency systems. Training will be given in the use of specialist equipment such as vector network analysers and spectrum analysers, software define radio systems and any required specialist electromagnetic simulation software.
Enquiries and Applications:
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Robert Watson, [Email Address Removed]
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath's online application form for a PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering.
When completing the form, please identify your application as being for the NERC GW4+ DTP studentship competition in Section 3 Finance (question 2) and quote the project title and lead supervisor’s name in the ‘Your research interests’ section.
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
We welcome and encourage student applications from under-represented groups. We value a diverse research environment. If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.
Project keywords: electronic engineering, meteorology, electromagnetism
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