DLR-DAAD Doctoral Fellowship Nr. 621: Comparing lidar measurements of gravity waves in the middle atmosphere to high-resolution simulations

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 11,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

Our Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich offers a

Nr. 621: Comparing lidar measurements of gravity waves in the middle atmosphere to high-resolution simulations

What to expect:

Earth’s atmosphere is dynamically coupled through atmospheric waves of different scales, ranging from planetary waves to small-scale gravity waves. Gravity waves in particular can propagate from sources close to the ground into the upper atmosphere to altitudes above 100 km. The contribution of these waves to perturbations of the ionosphere (“space weather”) is a recent research question. Space weather has important implications for our modern navigation and communication technologies.

Therefore, it is of interest to study atmospheric wave disturbances in the height region of about 50 to 150 km and investigate whether these disturbances can be predicted in advance, and whether certain background conditions lead to a change in occurrence frequency of strong wave disturbances.

Datasets of modern, high-power Light detection and Ranging (lidar) instruments from selected geographic locations are available and will continue to grow during the course of the PhD project. Temperature perturbation observations from southern Argentina on the edge of the southern polar vortex provide data on high-amplitude gravity waves in the middle atmosphere. A twin instrument observes the atmosphere above South Pole in the middle of the polar vortex where gravity waves of a
different type and a more moderate activity is expected. This unique data is to be analyzed and compared to simulations of a novel, high-resolution numerical model, the extended version of the German Weather and Climate model (UA-ICON).

The candidate will work closely with a second PhD student in charge of UA-ICON simulations. In this project, suitable strategies for validation of UA-ICON model data with observational lidar data are to be explored. This will concern the variability of the strength of gravity wave events (e.g, can UA-ICON reproduce the observed variability?) or the predictability of specific events (e.g. under what
circumstances can UA-ICON predict this event?).

What we expect from you:

What we offer:

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

Further information:

Starting date: As soon as possible
Type of employment: Full-time

Natalie Kaifler

E-mail: natalie.kaifler@dlr.de