Improving understanding of the role of clouds in climate change and weather forecasting

  • Supervisors: Prof T.W. Choularton
    Prof Martin Gallagher


  • External Supervisors:

  • Contact:

    Prof Tom Choularton, Choularton@manchester.ac.uk

  • CASE Partner: No

Application deadline: 3 February 2017

Introduction:

Clouds represent the largest uncertainty in predictions of future climate. They are also a major uncertainty in the forecasting of weather as the timing and efficiency of precipitation is strongly related to the detail of cloud microphysics. In collaboration with the Met Office, NCAS and the Universities of Reading and Leeds we have ongoing programmes to study cloud microphysics through insitu measurements using the UK community aircraft the BAe 146 using state of the art microphysics equipment supported by measurements of aerosols and cloud dynamics.

Project Summary:

The student will investigate data obtained from a variety of cloud types from a range of environments across the world. These will include clouds in the Arctic, Antarctic, the tropical Atlantic, tropical Africa and mid latitude clouds from around the UK. The clouds can be warm i.e. consisting of just liquid droplets, mixed phase, (liquid and ice either together or in different parts of the cloud) or purely ice clouds. The objective of the study will be to investigate the factors controlling the development of precipitation in the clouds including its timing and efficiency and as a result the water budget of the cloud. This will be done using data analysis and a range of modelling tools. Appropriate training will be given in data analysis techniques and computer modelling. In addition to exploiting existing data sets the student will have the opportunity to participate in gathering new data from airborne field projects during the first 2 years of the Ph.D. The ultimate aim will be to gather the physical understanding required to better improve the treatment of clouds in both climate and weather forecasting models.

References:

Taylor, J. W., Choularton, T., Blyth, A. M., Liu, Z., Bower, K., Crosier, J., ... Brown, P. R. A. (2016). Observations of cloud microphysics and ice formation during COPE. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 16(2), 799-826. DOI:doi:10.5194/acp-16-799-2016, 10.5194/acp-16-799-2016. Publication link: 4a5b579d-9ba0-4737-9361-9b4d35f8121d 

Lloyd, G., Choularton, T., Bower, K., Crosier, J., Jones, H., Dorsey, J., ... Lachlan-Cope, T. (2015). Observations and comparisons of cloud microphysical properties in spring and summertime Arctic stratocumulus clouds during the ACCACIA campaign. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 15, 3719-3737. DOI:10.5194/acp-15-3719-2015, 2015 

Lloyd, G., Dearden, C., Choularton, T., Crosier, J., & Bower, K. (2014). Observations of the origin and distribution of ice in cold, warm and occluded frontal systems during the DIAMET campaign. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 4230-4255. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-13-00396.1.

Apply Now