Hydrological Modeller - European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Forecast / Evaluation Section
Location: Reading
Salary: £55,488
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Contract / Temporary
Placed on: 21st July 2016
Closes: 6th September 2016
Job Ref: VN16-23
Grade: A2
Job Ref. No.:?STF-PL/16-23
Reports to: Team Leader
About ECMWF*
ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States. ECMWF carries out scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of its forecasts, collects and processes large amounts of observations, and manages a long-term archive of meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and climate reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and land surface.
For details, see www.ecmwf.int/.
ECMWF has long recognised the value of high-quality forecasts in mitigating the effects of natural disasters.
Recognising that floods are among the costliest natural disasters in Europe, the European Commission instigated the development of the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) at its Joint Research Centre (JRC). Development and testing were carried out in close collaboration with national hydrological and meteorological services, European civil protection agencies (through the Emergency Response and Coordination Centre (ERCC)), and other research institutes. Since 2011, EFAS has been part of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) and it became fully operational in 2012.
EFAS helps to protect European citizens, the environment, property and cultural heritage when major floods occur by providing:
added-value early flood forecasting products for hydrological services;
unique overviews of current and forecast floods in Europe more than 3 days in advance;
a European network of operational hydrological services.
Current products include pan-European overview maps of flood probabilities up to 15 days in advance and detailed forecasts at stations where the national services are providing real-time data. More than 50 hydrological services and civil protection services in Europe are part of the EFAS network.
Several European organisations, including ECMWF, are responsible for running the operational EFAS system. As well as providing ensemble meteorological forecasts, ECMWF:
acts as the EFAS Computational centre, the heart of data processing and model calculations;
hosts the web interface for the EFAS Information System.
Alongside this, ECMWF co-operates with the JRC in the provision of the pre-operational Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS). GloFAS scales the approaches used in EFAS to the global domain and is expected to go fully operational as part of the Copernicus EMS during 2017.
Summary of the role
The focus of the position is on the development of the hydrological model used in EFAS and GloFAS. Currently EFAS uses the gridded LISFLOOD Rainfall-Runoff model (http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC78917) for the European domain. A model that couples LISFLOOD and HTESSEL is used for the global domain (http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/17/1161/2013/hess-17-1161-2013.pdf).
The developments envisaged will be based on the modification of existing processes in LISFLOOD or the incorporation of additional processes into the model, with the overall aim of improving the flood forecast skill of EFAS and GloFAS. More specifically, the developments should:
allow for an increase in the spatial and temporal resolution of the model;
build synergies between LISFLOOD and the ECMWF land surface model (HTESSEL) which underpins GloFAS.
The role may also include further work addressing these two objectives.
Main duties and key responsibilities
To maintain and develop the existing hydrological model (LISFLOOD) used within the European and Global Flood Awareness Systems in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre.
To enhance the ECMWF land surface model (HTESSEL) with hydrological and hydraulic processes.
To contribute to the scientific evaluation of EFAS forecasts and its documentation in the scientific literature.
Personal attributes
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach
Positive attitude towards working in an international environment
Flexibility, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and user needs
Dedication and enthusiasm to work independently and in a small team
Qualifications and experience required
Education
A university degree, or equivalent experience, in hydrology or a related discipline.
Experience
Extensive experience in hydrological and/or hydraulic modelling.
Experience with PCRaster and Geographical Information Systems would be an advantage.
Experience in processing output from numerical weather prediction (NWP) models would be an advantage.
Experience in drafting and producing written reports, scientific papers or other relevant documentation.
Knowledge and skills (including language)
Excellent knowledge of scientific programming, programming languages and shell scripts. Knowledge of Python is essential. Knowledge of Fortran and R would be an advantage.
Good knowledge of Linux systems (and/or UNIX).
Ability to develop, modify, implement and test code.
Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and interviews will be conducted in English.
A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German) would be an advantage.
Other information
Grade remuneration
The successful candidate will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Co?ordinated Organisations, and the annual basic salary will be £55,488 net of tax. This position is assigned to the employment category STF-PL as defined in the Staff Regulations.
Full details of salary scales and allowances are available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs, including the Centre’s Staff Regulations regarding the terms and conditions of employment.
Starting date: 1 January 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Length of contract: Four years
Location: The position will be based in the Reading area, in Berkshire, United Kingdom.
How to apply
Please apply by completing the online application form available at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.
ECMWF has an Equal Opportunities Policy and applications from all suitably qualified candidates are welcome.
Staff are usually recruited from among nationals of the Member States and Co-operating States.
Staff from non-ECMWF States may be considered in exceptional cases where there is a strong need for a particular competency.
* The ECMWF Member States are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
The ECMWF Co-operating States are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania and Slovakia.
Location: Reading
Salary: £55,488
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Contract / Temporary
Placed on: 21st July 2016
Closes: 6th September 2016
Job Ref: VN16-23
Grade: A2
Job Ref. No.:?STF-PL/16-23
Reports to: Team Leader
About ECMWF*
ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States. ECMWF carries out scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of its forecasts, collects and processes large amounts of observations, and manages a long-term archive of meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and climate reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and land surface.
For details, see www.ecmwf.int/.
ECMWF has long recognised the value of high-quality forecasts in mitigating the effects of natural disasters.
Recognising that floods are among the costliest natural disasters in Europe, the European Commission instigated the development of the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) at its Joint Research Centre (JRC). Development and testing were carried out in close collaboration with national hydrological and meteorological services, European civil protection agencies (through the Emergency Response and Coordination Centre (ERCC)), and other research institutes. Since 2011, EFAS has been part of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) and it became fully operational in 2012.
EFAS helps to protect European citizens, the environment, property and cultural heritage when major floods occur by providing:
added-value early flood forecasting products for hydrological services;
unique overviews of current and forecast floods in Europe more than 3 days in advance;
a European network of operational hydrological services.
Current products include pan-European overview maps of flood probabilities up to 15 days in advance and detailed forecasts at stations where the national services are providing real-time data. More than 50 hydrological services and civil protection services in Europe are part of the EFAS network.
Several European organisations, including ECMWF, are responsible for running the operational EFAS system. As well as providing ensemble meteorological forecasts, ECMWF:
acts as the EFAS Computational centre, the heart of data processing and model calculations;
hosts the web interface for the EFAS Information System.
Alongside this, ECMWF co-operates with the JRC in the provision of the pre-operational Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS). GloFAS scales the approaches used in EFAS to the global domain and is expected to go fully operational as part of the Copernicus EMS during 2017.
Summary of the role
The focus of the position is on the development of the hydrological model used in EFAS and GloFAS. Currently EFAS uses the gridded LISFLOOD Rainfall-Runoff model (http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC78917) for the European domain. A model that couples LISFLOOD and HTESSEL is used for the global domain (http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/17/1161/2013/hess-17-1161-2013.pdf).
The developments envisaged will be based on the modification of existing processes in LISFLOOD or the incorporation of additional processes into the model, with the overall aim of improving the flood forecast skill of EFAS and GloFAS. More specifically, the developments should:
allow for an increase in the spatial and temporal resolution of the model;
build synergies between LISFLOOD and the ECMWF land surface model (HTESSEL) which underpins GloFAS.
The role may also include further work addressing these two objectives.
Main duties and key responsibilities
To maintain and develop the existing hydrological model (LISFLOOD) used within the European and Global Flood Awareness Systems in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre.
To enhance the ECMWF land surface model (HTESSEL) with hydrological and hydraulic processes.
To contribute to the scientific evaluation of EFAS forecasts and its documentation in the scientific literature.
Personal attributes
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach
Positive attitude towards working in an international environment
Flexibility, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and user needs
Dedication and enthusiasm to work independently and in a small team
Qualifications and experience required
Education
A university degree, or equivalent experience, in hydrology or a related discipline.
Experience
Extensive experience in hydrological and/or hydraulic modelling.
Experience with PCRaster and Geographical Information Systems would be an advantage.
Experience in processing output from numerical weather prediction (NWP) models would be an advantage.
Experience in drafting and producing written reports, scientific papers or other relevant documentation.
Knowledge and skills (including language)
Excellent knowledge of scientific programming, programming languages and shell scripts. Knowledge of Python is essential. Knowledge of Fortran and R would be an advantage.
Good knowledge of Linux systems (and/or UNIX).
Ability to develop, modify, implement and test code.
Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and interviews will be conducted in English.
A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German) would be an advantage.
Other information
Grade remuneration
The successful candidate will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Co?ordinated Organisations, and the annual basic salary will be £55,488 net of tax. This position is assigned to the employment category STF-PL as defined in the Staff Regulations.
Full details of salary scales and allowances are available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs, including the Centre’s Staff Regulations regarding the terms and conditions of employment.
Starting date: 1 January 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Length of contract: Four years
Location: The position will be based in the Reading area, in Berkshire, United Kingdom.
How to apply
Please apply by completing the online application form available at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.
ECMWF has an Equal Opportunities Policy and applications from all suitably qualified candidates are welcome.
Staff are usually recruited from among nationals of the Member States and Co-operating States.
Staff from non-ECMWF States may be considered in exceptional cases where there is a strong need for a particular competency.
* The ECMWF Member States are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
The ECMWF Co-operating States are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania and Slovakia.