Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences

Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work on “ Decadal Variability and Predictability of the West African Monsoon and Downstream Atlantic Hurricane Activity”

A postdoctoral position funded by the NOAA CLIVAR program is available in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, New York. The position is expected for 3 years.

The Project

This project is motivated by the societal need for skillful decadal forecasts of the West African Monsoon and its associated impacts on Hurricane Activity. It is also motivated by the need to increase our confidence in coupled Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) used for longer time climate prediction – especially given the lack of model agreement in West African rainfall predictions in this region reported in the 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change.

The two overarching aims of the proposal are:

(1)To evaluate the extent to which coupled ocean-atmosphere models are able to predict decadal variability of the West African climate including its impacts on hurricane activity.

(2)To investigate the key mechanisms which explain identified decadal predictability of the West African climate as well as the reasons for model-to-model differences in skill.

Successfully addressing these aims is an important step towards establishing an operational decadal prediction system for use in the West African and Tropical Atlantic regions. The work planned will make extensive use of the “short-term” decadal forecasts made for CMIP5.

The Position

The successful candidate should have a PhD in atmospheric sciences or a related field, and ideally with a good knowledge of tropical climate. Experience with manipulation of large datasets and their analysis will be an advantage. The successful candidate will work with Professor Chris Thorncroft in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences.

Applicants should send a curriculum vitae and the names and contact information of three references to Professor Chris Thorncroft, e-mail chris@atmos.albany.edu . If candidates need more information please contact Chris Thorncroft by e-mail or by phone (+1 518 442 4555).