Radar and Weather Data Scientist

The National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) Atmospheric Physics programme and the University of Leeds operate and investigate observations from several state-of-the-art polarimetric Doppler weather radars as part NCAS’s responsibility to provide National Capability in observing atmospheric phenomenon.

Your research will use polarimetric radar observations to develop algorithms for quantitative precipitation estimation, hydrometeor classification, and microphysical retrievals, and utilize polarimetric radar observations for the improvement of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model performance. This will be done with the aim of increasing the reliability of the predictions of high-impact weather rainfall (both winter-time and convective) events. Following the NCAS Weather Radar Strategy, you will use world-leading observations and numerical models to:

• Help establish and rigorously validate a state-of-the-art multi-frequency wintertime hydrometeor classification algorithm (HCA) for UK-based research weather radars that can be used to help understand the evolution of populations of hydrometeors;
• Develop and improve algorithms used to derive quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) from UK-based radars so that the impact of precipitation events may be assessed more accurately;
• Oversee, coordinate and document the implementation of a fully polarimetric radar forward operator in locally utilised NWP models at X-, S-, and C-bands to help improve processed-based model comparisons to radar observations.

You will work between radar scientists and cloud modelers and capitalize on the benefits of international collaboration. You will also be involved with the continual development and improvement of the NCAS radar facilities as a whole (including accelerating time to science by increasing efficiency of and the automation of data analysis). You will support the NCAS radar programme by improving the overall technical and scientific performance analysis infrastructure, and data management. As part of this work, you will also be involved with ongoing field campaigns, the development of new projects and grants as opportunities arise.

NCAS is actively engaged in the evaluation of weather forecasts, and your role will include statistical analysis of observations and forecast predictions in order to objectively evaluate forecast accuracy and provide pointers towards future forecast improvements.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Ryan Neely, Lecturer in Observational Atmospheric Science

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 6417, email: ryan.neely@ncas.ac.uk