Forecasting Martian Dust Storms- PhD (UKSA Funded) Ref: 5521

Supervisors

Primary supervisor  Professor Nathan Mayne Exeter University

Secondary supervisors

Professor Matthew Bate, 

Dr Ben Drummond (Met Office)  

Dr Denis Sergeev (University of Bristol)

Dust plays a hugely important role in the global climate of Mars and through localised or global dust storms can present significant dangers for missions to the planet. For example, dust deposition on the solar panels of the Opportunity (MER-B) rover following a dust storm, after 14 years of operation, led to the loss of the instrument. Therefore, predicting the onset and evolution of these dust storms is vital for the planning, delivery to, and successful operation of, resources and people on the surface of Mars.

In this, fully funded, PhD project we will further develop the Met Office Unified Model (UM), used extensively to predict Earth’s weather and climate across a range of spatial and temporal scales, for the study of Mars. The UM is one of the world’s most sophisticated climate models and has already successfully been adapted and applied to idealised modelling of the Martian climate. In this project the focus will be on predicting the Martian weather and climate through the capture of the physical processes ranging from dust uplift from the surface, to carbon dioxide condensation from the atmosphere. This tool will be complemented by the use of the Met Office Lagrangian particle dispersion model (NAME; Numerical Atmospheric dispersion Modelling Environment), which tracks particles from their source through their motion in the atmosphere. NAME has been extensively used for Earth, in particular for cases such as tracking pollutants, radiological material and dust from volcanic eruptions.

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee (~£24k).

International applicants need to be aware that they will have to cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of

Physics, Astrophysics, Mathematics, Atmospheric Science, Planetary Science or related subjects

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information. 

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents

•             CV

•             Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).

•             Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)

•             Two academic references

•             If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

The closing date for applications is midnight on 12^th May 2025.  Interviews will be held virtually in the week commencing [19^th May 2025].

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5521  on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary