Postdoc on Aerosol Microphysics (R2) per el Barcelona Supercomputing Center

The Earth Sciences Department at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-ES) (www.bsc.es) is embarking on an umbrella of large-scale activities and developments linked to the implementation of a High-Resolution Emission System for Air Quality Prediction and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring. These activities are part of a large initiative on the “Modernization of observation networks and digitalization of production processes for the development of intelligent meteorological services in the context of climate change” in the framework of the European Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU.

In the frame of this ambitious project, we are offering a postdoctoral position on aerosol microphysics in the Atmospheric Composition (AC) group of BSC-ES. The overall objective is to investigate the microphysical processes affecting the aerosol population in the atmosphere. Aerosol aging plays a pivotal role in shaping atmospheric composition across a spectrum of environments, from pristine atmospheres to heavily polluted urban environments. These processes encompass a myriad of chemical and physical transformations that alter the size, composition, and optical properties of aerosol particles over time. In pristine environments, such as remote marine regions or unpolluted forests, aging processes are primarily driven by natural sources like biogenic emissions and photochemical reactions. In contrast, in urban areas characterized by high levels of anthropogenic pollutants, particle aging is accelerated due to the presence of abundant precursor emissions. Accurate representation of particle growth, coagulation, condensation, and chemical reactions in atmospheric models enables to simulate the complex interplay between aerosols and their surrounding environment, facilitating assessments of climate impacts, air quality, and human health effects.

The successful candidate will review, implement and evaluate state-of-the-art microphysics schemes within the weather-chemistry model MONARCH developed by the AC group. The microphysics scheme will be coupled with a flexible treatment for gas- and aerosol-phase chemical processes available in MONARCH. This will enable a wide range of multi-phase chemistry representations in the system to further advance our understanding on key processes controlling the lifetime and composition of aerosols in the atmosphere. The MONARCH model provides cutting-edge predictions of trace gases and aerosol from regional to global scale, and is currently used for both research and operational purposes. On the operational side, it participates to the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS; https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/air-quality) regional ensemble of air quality models, the International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) global aerosol ensemble, and the World Meteorological Organization Barcelona Dust Forecasting Center (WMO-BDFC, https://dust.aemet.es/). The candidate will analyse episodes of nucleation and condensation and properly evaluate the microphysical schemes, taking benefit from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) measurements campaigns (e.g. particule number, chemical composition) organised in north-western Spain over the recent years, the EMEP intensive measurement period (EIMP) campaign on summer 2022 and 2023 (e.g. volatile organic compounds, ozone, aerosol chemical composition) and the novel HORIZON-EUROPE RI-URBANs database.

The candidate will work in a highly collaborative environment, with tight links with other researchers in the AC and Computational Earth System group of BSC-ES. The researcher will have the opportunity to follow multiple training activities, including those aimed at improving coding and data analysis, scientific and project writing abilities, or project management. All this will be implemented via the formal courses organized by the Education and Training team and Human Resources, and the participation in the regular seminars organized by the department.

Data de tancament: Dimarts, 15 Octubre, 2024

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