Overview and activity

The project focuses on studying the response of ice sheets and mountain glaciers to climate change. It is an international collaboration that brings together different backgrounds, ranging from in-situ experimental measurements and satellite observations to the development of models at various spatial scales and the study of the social and economic impacts of ice melt.

Our working unit focuses on global climate modeling using the EC-Earth4 model, a model that will participate to CMIP7 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project - Phase 7). The goal, in collaboration with the EC-Earth consortium, is to include a dynamic component to represent the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets within the climate model, and to study the ice sheets' response to global warming under idealized scenarios.

The post-doc researcher will:

• contribute to the development of a version of the EC-Earth4 global climate model (https://ec-earth.org/)with interactive ice sheets, simulated using the PISM model
  (https://www.pism.io/), including thetesting and tuningof the coupled model;

• simulate the recent historical period (1950–) and the future evolution of the ice sheets according to idealized scenarios defined by the ISMIP protocol (https://climate-cryosphere.org/about-ismip6/);

• analyze the response of the ice sheets to global warming, with a focus on feedback processes on the global climate system, such as those related to the effect of meltwater on ocean circulation and ocean heat uptake patterns.

Requirements:

• The candidate must hold a PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Astrophysics, Geophysics, Earth-system sciences, Informatics or related fields. PhD must be awarded before November 10th.

• Experience: Previous experience with atmospheric/oceanic general circulation models and/or with numerical ice dynamics models will be positively evaluated. In-depth knowledge of cryospheric dynamic processes and interactions with atm/ocean is welcomed but not fundamental.

• Coding: Experience with Python for climate data analysis and working in a UNIX environment is required. Previous experience working with HPC platforms is welcome.

NOTE: The candidate must submit a brief research proposal regarding the analysis of climate simulations with interactive ice sheets, focusing on one or more of the following aspects: a) comparison with observations; b) response of ice sheets under idealized scenarios and impacts; c) feedback processes on ocean circulation. English language, max 5,000 characters excluding spaces (references excluded).

For any further information, including help in the submission process, please contact:

• Federico Fabiano, federico.fabiano (at) cnr.it

• Valerio Lembo, valerio.lembo (at) cnr.it