The Radar Remote Sensing group at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden is looking for postdoc candidates. The postdoc will be part of a team that develops a route optimization system to reduce fuel consumption and air emissions from ships. Information about wind, waves and currents at the ocean surface is essential for the system and the main task for the postdoc will be to develop and validate algorithms for extraction of wind, waves and currents from satellite observations and integrate these in the system together with information from numerical models, in situ measurements and external satellite products. The position is a full-time employment limited to a maximum of two years. More details about the position, qualifications and the application procedure can be found at the following link: http://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=4313
GlobCurrent's second newsletter is available for download here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdOvS-3e0MQ and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AamnNxkPUw
To hear more updates on these and related developments, please find the GlobCurrent project on twitter.
The research of the PhD student will be an important part of a project that aims to use satellite sensors to increase our understanding for ocean surface dynamics. Knowledge about ocean currents is essential for shipping and maritime activities, but also for our understanding of climate and eco systems. Ocean currents are highly complex and variable and are influenced by wind stress, waves, tidal forces, bathymetry etc. The best way to monitor the ocean surface currents over large areas is to use satellites sensors, but improvements of methods and algorithms are required to increase usefulness and resolution. Funding for the project is provided by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB). For more information please see: http://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=2763
The GlobCurrent project held its first User Consultation Meeting in Plymouth, UK on 12-13 November 2014. This was the first time since 2012 that many of its users had gathered. Discussions centered on the four ocean current components (geostrophic, Ekman, Stokes, and tidal) that were circulated as part of the project’s initial data offering. The event provided an opportunity to consider the various contexts in which the definition, exploitation, and validation of surface current components are relevant. This event was also the first opportunity for the consortium to receive guidance on the priorities of its user community. A number of key recommendations were collected, mainly focusing on the need for more processing information and application guidance. Everyone took advantage of the opportunities to interact and were shown the best of the venue. Also captured on video (to come) were the goals and aspirations of key members of both the consortium and ESA.
Presentations are here and are some of the animations that were shown at the UCM included:
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GlobCurrent first newsletter is now available! Download it here.
Can we shed some light on the ocean processes and marine applications that need more attention in GlobCurrent? Satellite altimetry, arguably a mature technique for mapping ocean currents, provides one of the most important views of the large-scale oceanic circulation. Still, we know the ground track spacing of conventional altimeters limits the resolution of ocean currents to scales no better than about 100 km and 10 days. This so-called high resolution "altimetry gap" is what prompts ideas to combine altimeter data with sequences of higher resolution satellite and in situ observations. Horizontal extent and time scale are just two possible ways to improve ocean current analysis. There are of course "deeper" issues when it comes to what we need to know. What are your issues? How would you define an ocean current? GlobCurrent would like to know. Please tweet us or simply email globcurrent-at-listes.ifremer.fr (replacing -at- with the @ sign).