Faculty of ScienceThe Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU, Utrecht University) and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) are looking for a two-year postdoc for the BSIK program “North-Atlantic Ocean Monitoring and Modelling”. This program contributes to an international network for long-term observations of the ocean circulation relevant for climate variability, and to analyze these observations. Three institutes collaborate within this program: the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (K-NIOZ), KNMI, and IMAU. A joint IMAU/KNMI-subprogram concentrates on numerical modelling of the impacts of spatially varying mixing on the meridional overturning circulation.

We invite applicants for aPostdoc researcher in Physical Oceanography (1,0 fte)

Job description
Scientific motivation
Recent studies have shown that large and rapid climate changes in Europe have occurred in the past and may occur again when the northward heat transport in the North Atlantic Ocean strongly decreases in magnitude. An important part of this heat transport in the Atlantic Ocean is the meridional overturning circulation.

Details of the modeled mixing processes in the ocean are known to have a large impact on this meridional overturning circulation. So far, state-of-the-art models used for climate change studies apply a spatially constant diapycnal mixing rate Kv. However, recent observations have pointed out that Kv is highly variable in space. One of the main contributors to this locally enhanced mixing is the generation and subsequent breaking of internal waves near rough topography. Some preliminary model studies have shown that this spatial inhomogeneity of Kv has large impacts on the ocean circulation, and hence on climate simulations, but a systematic study of its impacts in a realistic setting is still lacking.

Job description
Within this subprogram, the influence of spatially varying diapycnal mixing is investigated in a realistic Atlantic basin. The influence of wind forcing is addressed, as is the role of mesoscale eddies by performing a few high-resolution runs. A different subprogram carried out at K-NIOZ will provide a map of the spatially varying diapycnal mixing coefficient Kv based on observations and the newest physical insights on internal wave breaking. The postdoc will study the impact of this Kv-map on the meridional overturning in our model as well. Finally, the results are compared to observations from a second sub-program carried out at K-NIOZ to assess the most appropriate mixing scheme.

Qualifications
A PhD in physical oceanography, meteorology or related subject in physics or computational science is required. Knowledge of, and experience with numerical ocean/atmosphere modelling is desirable. The candidate publishes the results in international, peer-reviewed journals, and preferably already possesses a record of such publications.

Terms of employment
We offer a fulltime temporary position for a period of 2 years. Gross salary will range between € 2639,- and € 4049,- per month, depending on qualifications and experiences, (scale 10 or 11) according to the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities.

The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 2% per year. In addition we offer: a pension scheme, a health insurance allowance; partially paid parental leave, facilities for child care, flexible employment conditions in which you may trade salary for vacation days or vice versa. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities.

The Faculty strongly encourages women to apply.

Further details
For further enquiries please contact dr. P.J. van Leeuwen (phone +31 30 253 7759, e-mail: p.j.vanleeuwen@phys.uu.nl), or dr. C. A. Katsman (phone +31 30 2206715, e-mail: katsman@knmi.nl).

How to apply
Applications, including a curriculum vitae can be submitted to the Personnel Department, Department of Physics and Astronomy, P.O. Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands or submitted by e-mail to: p&o@phys.uu.nl. Please mention vacancy number 63510. Deadline for applications is 10 September 2005.

:::Source of this announcement.