This position will be part of the ERC starting grant project OceanPeak: The global ocean carbon cycle after peak emissions, dynamics and process attribution in a seamless model from coastal shelves to the open ocean. The ERC group, led by Dr. Judith Hauck, is located in the Marine Biogeosciences section at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research.
Background:
The ocean carbon sink estimate based on global ocean biogeochemistry models in the Global Carbon Budget shows a substantial spread, with the range of all models being larger than the European Union’s current fossil CO2 emissions. Prime suspects for biases in ocean carbon cycle models are formulations of ventilation processes that are responsible for the transfer of carbon out of the surface mixed layer and into the ocean interior (deep ocean). This encompasses mixing schemes and parameterizations of small-scale processes (meso- and submesoscale). Carbon gradients across the base of the mixed layer, which carry imprints of these processes, are not usually used for model optimization and evaluation. In OceanPeak, we will make use of the newly emerging data set from biogeochemical Argo floats (bgcArgo, free-drifting profiling floats with biogeochemical sensors, surface to 2000 m), which provides a unique opportunity to evaluate and optimize ocean ventilation processes and carbon transport across the base of the mixed layer in ocean models. The goal is to derive evaluation metrics based on the bgcArgo data, and to apply them in order to optimize the ocean carbon cycle representation in the AWI’s ocean carbon cycle model FESOM-REcoM.
The preferred starting date is spring/summer 2023.
Tasks
- Develop a new set of evaluation metrics for the modelled open ocean carbon cycle based on emerging data from biogeochemical Argo floats that target the vertical gradient of carbon-related variables (e.g. pH, derived pCO2, nutrients, oxygen).
- Optimize the ocean carbon cycle model FESOM-REcoM in order to reduce mismatch between observed and modelled gradients across the base of the mixed layer, with the help of the newly developed metrics.
- Quantify the evolution of the global open ocean carbon sink in the optimized model, including on the rate of change of the ocean carbon sink since 2000, which differs by a factor of three between the current Global Carbon Budget model ensemble and observation-based estimates.
Requirements
- Master degree in oceanography, marine sciences, physics, geosciences, climate sciences or related field
- Basic knowledge of at least one of the themes: ocean carbon cycle, ocean ventilation, ocean circulation models, ocean biogeochemistry models
- Skills in processing, statistical analysis and visualization of data
- Strong English language skills
- Ability to work focused, independently and cooperatively in a team
Advantageous
- Experience in ocean biogeochemical modelling (conduct simulations, and/or analyse model results)
Further Information
Please contact Dr. Judith Hauck (Judith.Hauck@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1848) for further information.
The position is limited to 3 years. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13 (66%). The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.
All doctoral candidates will be members of AWI’s postgraduate program POLMAR or another graduate school and thus benefit from a comprehensive training program and extensive support measures.
The AWI is characterised by
- our scientific success – excellent research
- collaboration and cooperation – intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
- opportunities to develop – on the job, aiming at other positions and beyond AWI
- a culture of reconciling work and family – an audited and well-supported aspect of our operation
- our outstanding research infrastructure – ships, stations, aircraft, laboratories and more
- an international environment – everyday contacts with people from all over the world
- having an influence – fundamental research with social and political relevance
- flat hierarchies – facilitating freedom and responsibility
- exciting science topics, with opportunities also in technology, administration and infrastructure
Equal opportunities are an integral part of our personnel policy. The AWI aims to increase the number of employees who are women, and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply.
AWI offers the possibility of mobile working to the extent of up to 50% of regular working hours.
Applicants with disability will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.
The AWI fosters the compatibility of work and family in various ways and has received a number of awards as a result of this engagement.
We look forward to your application!
Please submit your application by February 23rd 2023, exclusively online.
Please submit a complete application that includes a motivation letter, CV including list of publications if applicable, copies of certificates, contact details of two references and preferred start date.
Reference number: 23/31/D/Bio-b.
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