PhD Studentship - Windstorms and Atmosphere-ocean Coupling around Greenland in a Changing Climate

Primary Supervisor - Prof Ian Renfrew

Scientific background

Arctic climate change and the associated sea-ice retreat are having significant impacts on both the atmosphere, the ocean and their interactions. Atmosphere-ocean surface heat exchange is highest during cold-air outbreaks and high surface wind speeds and thus often associated with mesoscale weather systems such as barrier winds, polar lows, and tip jets, embedded within cold-air masses. As sea-ice retreats, the location of the highest heat fluxes also retreats, which is now contributing to changes in the atmospheric forcing of the Greenland and Iceland Seas and along the major ocean currents of the Nordics Seas, with ramifications for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. The challenge for this project is to determine likely future changes in these mesoscale weather systems and assess their impact on the coupled climate system.  

Research methodology

The aim of the project is to quantify the impact of high windspeed events on atmosphere-ocean interactions with particular focus on long-term changes in their impact, given sea-ice retreat and changes in the ocean circulation. Specifically: 

• Investigate the structure and characteristics of barrier winds off East Greenland using new wintertime observations from a research cruise. 
• Carry out numerical weather prediction simulations of barrier wind case studies with the observed sea-ice distribution and with synthesised future sea-ice distributions; examine the impacts on barrier wind structure and associated surface turbulent fluxes. 
• Examine the frequency, characteristics and ocean mixed-layer impacts of barrier winds and tip jets in current and future climates via time-slice comparisons from state-of-the-art climate model simulations. 

Training 

You will use observations from a series of Norwegian-led research cruises of the western Iceland and Greenland Seas. You may have the opportunity to take part in an autumn 2026 cruise. You will have training in using a state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction model – the Met Office Unified Model – and in the use and analyses of the latest climate model output.  

Person Specification 

A degree in a quantitative science. An interest in data analysis and numerical modelling of weather systems and the climate system is essential, while some experience in coding is desirable.  

Entry Requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). 

Acceptable first degree:

• Physics
• Maths
• Meteorology
• Oceanography
• Geophysics or a similar quantitative science.

Start date: 1^st October 2026

Funding

ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.

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