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Atmospheric modelling and data assimilation in preparation for the NASA/ESA
ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter mission

STFC funded PhD Studentship (starting Oct 2011)
Department of Physics & Astronomy, Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space & 
Astronomical Research, The Open University.
Lead supervisor: Dr. Stephen Lewis

This PhD project provides the opportunity to play a key role in the develop
ment of modelling and data analysis techniques in support of a spaceflight
instrument, ExoMars Climate Sounder (EMCS) to be flown on the joint 
NASA/ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission, scheduled for launch in 2016.

The project is intended to:
. Develop an existing martian global atmosphere model in close 
collaboration with a team at The Open University, Oxford University and 
Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, Paris. The project would focus on 
the development of the chemical schemes and the representation of volatile 
transport, sources and sinks within the model.
. Conduct model experiments to support instrument and observing strategy 
design, working with the EMCS team led by the NASA Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory, USA.
. Prepare for the analysis of martian data by assimilation into the global 
atmospheric model, making use of existing data from the Mars Climate 
Sounder instrument on the ongoing NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission 
to test the analysis technique and to produce new scientific results in 
their own right.

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission is aimed at furthering our 
understanding of the martian environment in the context of the search for 
life, by measuring trace gases, such as methane, in the martian atmosphere 
from orbit. The EMCS instrument will map daily, global, pole-to-pole 
profiles of temperature, dust, H2O and CO2 ices, and H2O vapour, using 
infrared limb-sounding techniques. Combining the thermal, aerosol and 
volatile data from EMCS with a model will allow a consistent analysis of 
the martian climate and the atmospheric transport of trace species, 
measured by other instruments, can be quantified.

If interested, please contact Dr Stephen Lewis on [log in to unmask], or
for detailed information and how to apply go to 
http://www.open.ac.uk/science/physics/home.php.

The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an 
exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 
038302).

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