This project will investigate the effects of climate change on the North Atlantic by the end of the 21st century. The research will focus on understanding how future changes in North Atlantic Sea surface temperature affect changes in precipitation and temperature worldwide. Climate model outputs will be used to assess the effect of climate change.
Department: Meteorology
Supervised by: Paul-Arthur Monerie and Tillys Petit
The ocean meridional overturning circulation over the North Atlantic is a key component of the global climate system. Characterized by a northward transport of heat from the subtropics, the variation of its strength influences the sea surface temperature over the North Atlantic, which leads to global changes in the climate over the Northern Hemisphere (including rainfall over the Sahel and hurricane activity over America). However, the effect of climate change on the North Atlantic overturning, and thus on North Atlantic Sea surface temperature, is uncertain and needs to be better understood, for instance, climate models project onto a large variety of temperature change patterns and magnitudes. This wide range of temperature changes between climate models leads us to a lack of confidence in the evolution of climate over the Northern Hemisphere. The aim of this project is thus to bridge the gap in our understanding of how global warming affects the North Atlantic Ocean temperature and how this uncertainty can affect the projection of future climate changes over the Northern Hemisphere, focusing on the link between temperature and precipitation. The student will identify the North Atlantic temperature changes in a range of sophisticated climate models and will explore the associated changes in atmospheric and oceanic circulation. The results of the project will be used to feed into our current research and could be turned into a scientific paper, or to write a research proposal.
Task 1: The student will spend the first week reading the relevant publications on the effects of climate change on North Atlantic temperature and will familiarise themselves with the database and the programming language. Task 2: the second week will be dedicated to the investigation of model biases and associated future changes in North Atlantic Sea surface temperature, using a range of models that were selected following our current research. Task 3: the third task will consist in analyzing atmospheric circulation that is associated with the changes in North Atlantic Sea surface temperature: heat fluxes, surface wind, and sea level pressure. We expect that it will take a week and a half. Task 4: A week and a half will be focused on the effects of climate change on the ocean dynamic, investigating changes in oceanic currents, the vertical structure of the ocean, and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Task 5: Finally, the student will analyze how uncertainty in North Atlantic Sea surface temperature could affect changes in precipitation and temperature worldwide, with an initial focus on the West African monsoon. This fifth task is expected to take a week. However, should the student have spare time within the six-week period, there is plenty of scope for further investigation.
As the bulk of this project involves analysing climate model data, experience with a programming language would be an advantage (e.g., Matlab, NCL, Python). However, analysis code and informal training and support will be provided. The student should have an interest in meteorology/climatology/oceanography, particularly of North Atlantic.
Throughout this project, the student will have the opportunity to gain knowledge in climate dynamics, oceanography, and tropical meteorology, as well as to have an overview on the impact of climate change. The project will also allow the student to develop their data analysis and scientific programming skills, with support from the supervisors. As an optional output the student will have the opportunity to work on communication skills, preparing a presentation for a scientific audience.
Within the Department of Meteorology, Whiteknights campus. Can also be done remotely.
Preferred hours are 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, but could be negotiated if needed.
Thursday 01 June 2023 - Friday 11 August 2023
The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Monday 3rd April 2023. Students should submit their CV and Cover Letter directly to the Project Supervisor (click on supervisor name at the top of the page for email). Successful candidates will be invited for an interview.