About the Project
Introduction:
The UK suffered multiple shocks between November 2013 and March 2014 (Lewis et al. 2015), from severe winter storms causing national scale flood damage and wave overtopping at the coast. Bad winters have persisted over the last 2 years, and coastal flooding has been identified as the number 1 natural hazard in the National Risk Register. The aim of this studentship is to improve the forecasting of events wave events associated with winter storms, by implementation and validation of a coupled modelling system to coastal waters.
Project Summary:
This project will focus on wind-generated surface waves, and aims to improve understanding of how hydrodynamic-wave-atmosphere interaction impacts upon theforecasting of extreme wave events.
Objectives
Explore how improved representation in computer models of the wave surface roughness affects the meteorological bottom boundary layer, surface winds, and wave generation.
Explore the joint probabilities associated with extreme waves and storm surges which cause coastal flood events.
The student will work with a novel 3-way coupled atmosphere-wave-surge model system in shallow water regions to develop new understanding and improved prediction of near-coastal processes. The powerful UK Environmental Prediction coupled model set-up(created by NOC and the Met Office)will be used to simulate air-sea interaction in British coastal areas at high (1.5 km) resolution. The student would analyse the interaction between tides, storm surges and waves at the national and regional scale. This is the first time that such a study has been done. The modelling work will be combined with observations, to assess the coupled system’s skill in representing surface wave conditions during severe storms. The coupled set-up (Bricheno et al. 2013, Brown et al. 2013) will enable assessment of the temporally and spatially varying importance of wave-tide-surge-wind interaction under extreme conditions to ultimately improve the UK’s predictive capability. Having a physically-based connection between modelled atmosphere and ocean systems, will act to tighten the coupling and close the momentum budget, as well as investigating the role of waves in momentum transfer.
The results will improve operational forecasting systems and used to protect lives and property by national bodies including the Environment Agency and joint Flood Forecasting Centre. This project seeks to answer: what are the important air-sea parameters and feedbacks to consider in operational forecasting at a national scale?
This study will investigate specific research questions at a national level:
How do tides and storm surges interact with and modulate extreme waves?
What is the impact of shallow water currents on wave refraction?
Where in the UK does wave-surge-wind interaction to increase flood risk?
The project begins with a review of contemporary literature and familiarisation with the modelling environment, followed by a case study to be written-up at the end of year one. Next physical parameterisations will be coded, tested and validated, before the findings are published. As a CASE studentship, this project will have close links with the UK Met Office, including regular visits and training.
Training & opportunities
The student will also benefit from a comprehensive training programme provided by NOC and the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool (see liv.ac.uk/studentships-earth-atmosphere-ocean/training/). This training is designed to develop each student to their full potential as a researcher and equip them to compete for the very best jobs and research opportunities. The student will have opportunities to present their research results at postgraduate workshops and international conferences.
Eligibility
Applicants should possess, or expect to graduate with, a first class or upper 2nd class degree in a numerate science, such as physics, mathematics, physical oceanography or meteorology, and have an enthusiasm to engage in numerical modelling. Previous knowledge of ocean sciences is not essential. Some experience of computer programming is essential.
References
Bricheno, L., Soret, A., Wolf, J., Jorba, O., Baldasano, J. (2013) Effect of High-Resolution Meteorological Forcing on Nearshore Wave and Current Model Performance. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 30, 1021–1037.
Brown, J., and J. Wolf, (2009) Coupled wave and surge modelling for the eastern Irish Sea and implications for model windstress. Cont. Shelf Res., 29, 1329–1342.
Brown, J., Bolaños, R., Wolf, J. (2013) The depth-varying response of coastal circulation and water levels to 2D radiation stress when applied in a coupled wave–tide–surge modelling system during an extreme storm. Coast. Eng., 82, 102-113.
Lewis, H., Mittermaier, M., Ken Mylne, K., Norman, K., Scaife, A., Neal, R., Pierce, C.,Harrison, D., Jewell, S., Kendon, M., Saunders, R., Brunet, B., Golding, G., Kitchen, K., Davies P., Pilling C. (2015) From months to minutes – exploring the value of high-resolution rainfall observation and prediction during the UK winter storms of 2013/2014. Meteorological Applications, 22: 90-104.
Stansby, P., Chini, N., Apsley, D., Borthwick, A., Bricheno, L., Horrillo-Caraballo, J., McCabe, M., Reeve, D., Rogers, B., Saulter, A., Scott, A., Wilson, C., Wolf, J. & Yan, K. (2013) An integrated model system for coastal flood prediction with a case history for Walcott, UK, on 9 November 2007. J. of Flood Risk Management, 6: 229–252.
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