Post-doctoral position at INRA/France in 2010: Modelling atmospheric transfer at the landscape scale

Submitted by stefan_reis on Thu, 06/05/2010 - 06:47.

Post-doctoral position at INRA/France in 2010: Modelling atmospheric transfer at the landscape scale

Context and objectives

The overall objective of the NitroEurope Integrated Project (6th Framework Package, 2006-2011, http://www.nitroeurope.eu/) is to assess the impacts of nitrogen management in agro-ecosystems on the greenhouse gas balance in Europe. The French Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA, http://www.inra.fr/) is a partner in this project and coordinates the Component which aims to assess nitrogen interactions at the landscape scale. Under this component, the NitroScape model has been developed to integrate the different pathways of nitrogen transfer and transformation (atmospheric, hydrological, through ecosystems, within farms) at the landscape scale. The Biosphere-Atmosphere team of the Environment and Arable Crops Joint Research Unit has developed models of atmospheric emission, transfer and deposition at the scale of a few parcels (1 km²). The overall objective of the post-doctoral position is to integrate one of these atmospheric models into the NitroScape model to simulate nitrogen transfer at the landscape scale (20-30 km²).

Mission statement

 The first step of the mission is to adapt the FIDES-3D model (Loubet et al., 2001) for simulating nitrogen transfer by the atmospheric pathway in a landscape. This work involves:

  • Handling the concepts, processes and structure of the FIDES-3D model;
  • Scaling processes of atmospheric transfer from the parcel to the landscape scales by using a matrix approach for numerical inversion;
  • Adapting this model to simulate transfer of various nitrogen species (mainly NH3 and also N2O and NOx);
  • Adapting and/or developing a model of nitrogen exchange between the soil/vegetation and the atmosphere (resistance model, energy balance);
  • Developing procedures to reduce computing time.

The second step of the mission is to evaluate the produced atmospheric model from data already collected on at least one out of six landscapes studied in Europe.

The third step is to adapt the source code of the produced atmospheric model to integrate it into the NitroScape model which handles the PALM coupler (CERFACS, Toulouse).

Requirements

  • PhD in environmental physics or computer science
  • Good experience in modelling, numerical analysis and using computing tools (C++ programming)
  • Ability to work on a team, autonomy and rigour

Working conditions

Location

  • Biosphere-Atmosphere team of the Environment and Arable Crops Joint Research Unit (INRA/AgroParisTech), F-78850 Thiverval-Grignon, http://www-egc.grignon.inra.fr/
  • The lab is located 25 min from Paris by train

Partnership

  • CEH (Edinburgh, Scotland), ECN (Petten, The Netherlands), INRA SAS (Rennes, France), AU (Foulum, Denmark), RCAFE (Poznan, Poland), CNR (Naples, Italy)

Terms of the contract

  • Duration: a 8-month contract starting September 2010
  • Net salary: 1,810 Euros/month (French public service sector)

Application

A letter of motivation, a detailed Curriculum Vitae and contact information for at least one referent to be sent to: