The Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NILU, has as its goal to increase the understanding of processes and effects related to air quality, climate change, atmospheric composition and hazardous contaminants. NILUs chemical laboratories are among the foremost in Europe. The Institute drives observatories for global air pollution in Norway, the Arctic and the Antarctic and helps managing air pollution all over the world. NILU provides well recognised research integrated services and products within the areas of analysis, monitoring and air quality management both nationally and internationally.

Data assimilation: Making sense of SMOS soil moisture observations over Norway and Northern Areas

A candidate is sought for a challenging 3-year PhD studentship funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The candidate will be based at the Kjeller office of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU). The project is co-supervised by the Department of Physics (Plasma and Space physics) at the University of Oslo. It involves collaboration with the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Met.no), the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC), Météo-France, and the University of Toulouse/CESBIO.

Project description:

Soil moisture is one of the key geophysical variables for understanding the Earth's hydrological cycle. In turn, the hydrological cycle is a key component of the Earth's climate, playing a key role in the distribution of water in all its forms. On November 2009, ESA's Earth Explorer mission SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) was launched. It measures soil moisture and ocean salinity. Data are currently being validated, with the end of the commissioning phase being May 2010.

The project will use data assimilation to improve the spatial and temporal soil moisture information provided by SMOS to be more in line with user needs, i.e. offer higher rate, higher resolution, wider area "snap shot" information. This addresses the challenge of using SMOS data to understand the hydrological cycle in Norway and Northern Areas, regions characterized by complex orography.

The following requirements to the applicant are essential:

• Strong background in physics and/or mathematics (Masters degree)
• Knowledge of Fortran or similar programming language

The application must include:

• Application letter
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• Copies of educational certificates and letters of recommendation
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references

Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system.

Our main office is located at Kjeller, just outside Oslo. We have extensive collaboration with national and international research institutes and universities, so travel activities are to be expected as part of the work.

Details about NILU can be found at www.nilu.no. Informal enquiries about the available position can be directed to William Lahoz ( wal@nilu.no ) + 47 45775245 or to Tove Svendby ( tms@nilu.no ) + 47 63898185.

Applications should be sent to: NILU, Post Box 100, 2027 Kjeller, Norway or by e-mail: nilu@nilu.no as soon as possible and no later than 1 July 2010.