Climate of Earth’s Upper Atmosphere
Research analyzes upper atmosphere climate by studying temperature, composition, and winds, focusing on responses to radiative forcing, composition changes, and lower atmosphere influences, using models like NRLMSIS and HWM.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | February 1, 2026
Funding Amounts: $99,200 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical fellowship duration 2-3 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to study Earth's upper atmosphere climate and dynamics using empirical models and data assimilation at the Naval Research Laboratory.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents holding a recent doctoral degree; relocation and health insurance benefits included.
Description
This postdoctoral research opportunity at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) focuses on the climate and behavior of Earth's upper atmosphere, specifically above approximately 50 km altitude. The research involves analyzing a wide range of contemporary and historical measurements of atmospheric temperature, composition, and winds. Key scientific interests include understanding the systematic responses of the thermosphere and mesosphere to:
- Long- and short-term variations in radiative forcing from solar and terrestrial sources, as well as solar wind and magnetospheric energy inputs.
- Anthropogenic changes in atmospheric composition.
- Influences from the climate and meteorology of the lower atmosphere.
The research approach emphasizes thorough statistical analysis of large, diverse datasets, identification and characterization of significant geophysical variations and biases, and the development and validation of comprehensive empirical models with physical constraints. A major component of the program is the continued development of:
- NRLMSIS: The most comprehensive empirical model of atmospheric temperature and composition.
- HWM (Horizontal Wind Model): The only global empirical model of atmospheric winds.
These models are widely used by scientific and engineering communities for applications such as atmospheric remote sensing, satellite drag prediction, atmospheric gravity wave research, and ionospheric modeling.
