Research Portraits

What does your project focus on? 

Extreme winds lead to extreme devastation if they hit the continents, so better understanding of why they form could also be important for better forecasts and projections of their changes in the future. Those winds are often caused by extratropical cyclones, and my PhD project aims to understand such cyclones. I am mainly interested in the dynamical meteorology perspective, so that includes taking a look at storm tracks and various meteorological fields starting from the surface and going up with the height. 

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes? 

Their display of the power that nature can have is something I find fascinating and intriguing. Another thing is the potential negative impact they can have on societies. 

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why? 

Hoskins et al. 1985, On the use and significance of isentropic potential vorticity maps , Wernli et al. 2002. Dynamical aspects of the life cycle of the winter storm ‘Lothar’ and The Scientific Attitude by Lee McIntyre. The first article established the foundations for my understanding of potential vorticity, a variable that is really important in the field. The second article showed me the fascinating ways in which we can use this variable to better understand one of the most severe winter storms that has hit Europe. The last thing on my list is a book which has introduced me to the philosophy of science, made me more critical while doing my work, and helped me understand the relations between science and pseudoscience. 

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?  

Spending time with my friends, watching movies, reading books, going to museums, and walking in nature.  

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently got a PhD position? 

First, be sure that you want to spend a couple of years doing research. Then dive in and try to enjoy it as much as you can. And don’t forget to take some time for yourself (regular fika can help – google it if you have never heard of this before). 

What does your project focus on?

Currently, I work on two projects. The first one is
a more data analysis oriented project focusing on the role of the Atlantic
Multidecadal Variability and of the Southern Europe May soil moisture on the
occurrence of heat waves in Europe. The other project focuses on developing the
theory and the methodology to compute climate extreme events using rare event
algorithms applied to extreme heat waves. When dealing with extremes, two major
challenges arise: the lack of data and the cost of computation. We aim at tackling
both challenges using a rare event algorithms coupled with machine learning, to
have more and better representative data of heat wave events.

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes?

Coming from a background on complex systems modeling, I have been captured by the different layers of complexity embedded in our planet. I would say that there is not a more
complicated and interconnected system on both time and spatial scale than the
Earth. This degree of complexity is the one that suits me and my interests.

Moreover, dedicating my time as researcher in studying climate and weather
extremes is for me the best way to concretely help science and people to
understand and mitigate the climate crisis.

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why?

Personally, I have been influenced majorly by two modules I took during my MSc.
studies, which dealt with statistical physics and dynamical analysis of complex
systems. They spoke my curiosity in a truly unexpected way and encouraged me to
pursue my career as a PhD candidate.

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?

Outside from work, I enjoy cooking very much. My passion is baking. I love preparing brioches, homemade bread and trying recipes from different countries of the world. Beside
that, I write novels and poetry in my mother tongue, Italian. This is a passion I have
been cultivating since high school. In the last year, I re-started reading books, with a
particular interest for classics of Eastern European authors.

In the future I would like to explore more the world of music, learning playing an
instrument, and eventually dig more the world of psychology.

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently
got a PhD position?

If the person just got a PhD position, the first thing would be:
big congratulations! 🙂 In general, what I would advise is to first carefully think of
what you really want to investigate and then try to connect to people, especially to
peers, that are in that field to concretely understand their daily working routine.
Understanding the daily routine is, in my opinion, a great test bench to avoid
idealizations and, at the same time, to connect to what you truly aspire to do in your
career as researcher.
Moreover, finding a PhD advisor with whom you can have a good and respectful
relationship is another important point. I would say fundamental when it comes with
periods of bad mood or poor results, which are part of the path.

If you have the opportunity to visit the future city I would absolutely suggest you to
do so. That city could became your home place for some years: it is fundamental to
physically being in a place that smells and feels like home.

What does your project focus on?

My research focuses on understanding and predicting extreme dynamical events and specifically when the jet stream and storms in the North Atlantic behave in a very unusual way for a relatively long period. Such a rare state of the flow occurred for example during the winter of 2009-10 when the usually separate Atlantic and African jets merged into one zonal jet, more typical of the Pacific jet stream, resulting in unusually cold and wet conditions in North America, Europe and even China. During my research I apply a novel rare event algorithm to produce an ensemble of model runs of similar winter flow conditions, to study both the dynamics of these events and their predictability using dynamical systems tools. My project aims to: (i) study the physical processes underlying rare merging events of the Atlantic and African jets; (ii) characterize precursors to the merging by analogy with instanton theory in statistical mechanics; and (iii) use the latter to improve our predictive capabilities for the associated weather extremes, such as surface temperature and precipitation extremes.

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes?

During my bachelor’s study in 2018, my home state of Kerala, India was hit by one of the worst flood reported in the state in nearly a century. It got me thinking of the direct and indirect effects of climate/weather extremes and sparked my interest in studying atmospheric science. Then later during my PhD at EDIPI when I got a chance to study extreme weather events, I didn’t have to think twice.

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why?

The book Wings of Fire (1999), by Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, and the movie The Man from Earth(2007) directed by Richard Schenkman have been very influential in my career. The former is an autobiography which made me believe in the power of belief, dreams and hope. The book has something for both academic and non-academic readers. It describes the journey of a great scientist/engineer and his passion for science and the development of his country. As for the movie, it really encourages one to question and think over every idea and theory and never to rest on easy assumptions and comfortable ideas that support our preconceived beliefs, but to remain open-minded and tolerant. I strongly believe these are some very important qualities one should hold together while pursuing a scientific career.

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?

While I am not working, I enjoy watching movies, reading comics, listening to music and occasional travelling with friends and family.

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently got a PhD position?

First and foremost advice is to pick a field and problem that excites you. Sometimes one might feel lost, but I believe PhD is an interesting yet complex journey. Hence one needs to constantly try to find the right balance, brush up the basics and keep moving forward.

What does your project focus on?

Understanding the mechanism of the mid – latitude atmospheric circulation called atmospheric blocking (Dynamical and thermodynamical processes involved in initialising  and maintaining circulation and its relation with temperature extremes in European region.

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes?

The ambiguity and reality of climate change and its adverse effects on humanity are both fascinating and alarming. The  most obvious consequence of climate change is the extreme weather events. Studying this might help us enhancing  existing our understanding of climate change. The physical aspects of these severe weather occurrences could advance our understanding and capacity to anticipate extreme weather events, In  future, we might also be able to come up with potential solutions to prevent  them.

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why?

• Pfahl S, Schwierz C, Croci-Maspoli M, Grams CM, Wernli H (2015) Importance of latent heat release in ascending air streams foratmospheric blocking. Nat Geosci 8:610–614
• Pfahl S, Wernli H (2012) Quantifying the relevance of atmosphericblocking for co-located temperature extremes in the Northern Hemisphere on (sub-)daily time scales. Geophys Res Lett39(12):L12807
• Pelly, J. L. and Hoskins, B. J.: A New Perspective on Blocking, J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 743–755, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2003)060<0743:ANPOB>2.0.CO;2, 2003.
• Steinfeld, D. and Pfahl, S.: The role of latent heating in atmospheric blocking dynamics: a global climatology, Clim. Dynam., 53,6159–6180, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-019-04919-6, 2019.

• Richard Feynman: The meaning of it all, the character of physical law , Lost lectures
• Wallace and Hobbs: Atmospheric Sciences
• James R Holton : Dynamics of atmospheric science

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?

Reading books, visiting art galleries and museums , historic art and sports.

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently got a PhD position?

When you work towards your research as doctorate student, you may relish the thrill of life, where each day begins with intriguing new questions  with your research study and  few days which will end with the pleasure and satisfaction of overcoming all the challenges encountered in locating the answers those questions.   Although  this may sounds a bit self-serving but you will realize some point that you are making a contribution to existing knowledge and understanding  sciences but addressing these questions.

What does your project focus on?

I am working on the predictability of extreme weather events like atmospheric blocking and windstorms using quasi geostrophic land atmospheric coupled model. Identifying the low frequency variabilities within the model will help us to identify whether the situation can be predicted or not.I am also looking forward to my secondment at Tel Aviv University  where I intend to use an analog method to explore synoptic scale processes in the Mediterranean region.

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes?

I became interested in meteorology after experiencing floods while I was pursuing my bachelor’s degree.Kerala was hit by heavy rainfall following a severe flood situation in 2018. It helped me to understand the value and possibilities of the field. I am also drawn to research since it allows me to make a contribution to society that will benefit people in their day-to-day lives. So, after earning my Bachelor of Science in Physics, I enrolled for a Master of Meteorology and later, this PhD, which will help me achieve my objectives and leave a signature behind.

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why?

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s autobiography, Wings of Fire, influenced me greatly in choosing this path. In this book, he, who is also known as India’s missile man, depicts his journey from a village boy to a great educationist, inspiring me to study hard despite facts such as my social status and economic factors that could otherwise be a reason for my failure. 

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?

Aside from research, I am passionate about music. In my spare time, I enjoy recording my own music and cover songs. Nature heals everything. After work, I am spending some time in our vegetable garden which gives me relaxation and happiness. Traveling and exploring different regions of Belgium is also making summer more interesting. I think these activities make my mind fresh and and assist me in dealing with the stress of my job.

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently got a PhD position?

Even though I have only been a PhD student for 10 months, I can tell you that you should not expect consistent progress in your studies. There will always be ups and downs. The only thing we needed to do was keep going. Never give up.Your hardwork will pay off at some point.

My project focuses on how the Gulf Stream affects atmospheric blocking and therefore effects extreme and persistent temperatures over Europe. An atmospheric block is a large scale structure in the upper troposphere that prevents weather pushing eastward. This creates persistent conditions that allow for cold and warm extremes to occur. My research looks at how Gulf Stream can create and supply anticyclonic air that is transported to the block via extra tropical cyclones, and that generates and maintains the atmospheric block. 

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes?

My background is in theoretical physics which allowed me to hone my problem solving skills. Although I loved this field, I wanted to apply it to something more tangible. When I realised that I could translate these skills to a climate dynamics problem, which would not only help predict future extremes and potentially protect people but also scratch the problem solving itch, I was only too keen to dive in. 

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why?

Without a doubt Edward Lorenz’s 1963 paper “Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow” was my intro into climate science. His ability to distill convection down to a very simple system that displays incredible complexity, which was also the first description of chaos, fascinated me. Coming from a degree that pushed Quantum Field Theory and General Relativity as the pinnacle of physics, it amazed me that such a simple classical system can display just as much nuance as these more popular fields. 

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?

Outside of my PhD I try to spend my spare time making music. I played piano, guitar and sang in choirs for many years but more recently I have thrown myself into electronic music. I get a lot of inspiration from maths and physics for my music and implement these ideas when writing. I even have a Lorenz attractor in my modular synth! You can check out my music here: https://jimbojonesdub.bandcamp.com

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently got a PhD position?

Make sure you have the right supervisor. In my opinion this is the most important aspect of a PhD. You can apply the skills you have to an a multitude of questions, but if your supervisor does not support and inspire you, then you will be climbing a very steep hill for at least 3 years!

What does your project focus on?

My project aims to attribute extreme extratropical cyclones to climate change, as part of the Extreme Event Attribution (EEA) field. EEA is an emerging field that evaluates how global
warming has influenced extreme events such as heat waves, droughts, floods and extratropical cyclones. In this project, we proportionate tools to determine how the human contribution to climate change has affected observed extreme extratropical cyclones, specifically those leading to wet and windy European extremes.

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes?

I was very concerned about how climate change can have devastating consequences by
modifying the atmospheric and oceanic circulation and changing the frequency and intensity of extreme events. Human influence on climate does not only consist of adding around 2 degrees to the mean earth temperature uniformly; it modifies the configuration of the fluid dynamics surrounding us. Understanding the mechanisms of such changes and being able to improve our knowledge and predictions of extreme events were crucial for me.

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why?

I watched climate-related films that contributed to my interest in the subject. For example, “The day after tomorrow (2004)” is a science fiction film about irreversible and abrupt climate change. It tells how global warming suddenly stops Atlantic Meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), an oceanic current that transports heat northward by moving warm water from lower to higher latitudes. In the film, an almost overnight ice age occurs, with New York City frozen solid when the AMOC stops. Despite the film being safely in the realm of science fiction, because in reality the AMOC collapse would occur on the scale of decades at the very fastest, the AMOC might slow down due to global warming. This film was one of the first that sparked my interest in climate dynamics.

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?

I enjoy walking the streets of Paris, visiting art museums, attending parties with my friends,
reading a book in a park, and doing “pique-piques” in the beautiful French gardens. I also enjoy practicing sports, including artistic roller skating, dancing and running.

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently got a PhD position?

To be engaged and committed, but most importantly, to have a healthy work-life balance;
having activities and people that satisfy you outside of work is essential to avoid stress as far as possible and to remind you that work is not everything. And if you are a woman, especially in STEM, do not underestimate yourself and try to be surrounded only by people who do not underestimate your capacity. Look for role models and aim high.

What does your project focus on?

I am studying extreme precipitation and wind events associated with atmospheric rivers. One of these regular rivers in the sky can carry as much water vapour as the Amazon river, so when an exceptional one makes landfall can lead to huge socioeconomic impacts. My work tries to understand how different physical processes (focusing on air-sea interactions) modulate the occurrence of atmospheric rivers and how these will change in a future climate.

What sparked your interest in climate/weather extremes?

I always enjoyed spending my time outdoors and it is very important to know if the weather would be good for the activities you want to do. For me learning to understand how the atmosphere and the ocean work was a very interesting process (still ongoing) to have even more fun later in the mountain or the ocean.

What book, paper or movie has been most influential to your career and why?

A book that was very influential for me was “Surf Science: An Introduction to Waves for Surfing” by Tony Butt. This book brought together my passion for surfing and forecasting waves with the actual science behind it and pushed me to keep learning about everything related.

What makes you happy when you are not working on your project?

As I already said I love spending time outdoors and practicing sports like surfing, hiking, ski mountaineering and climbing. Also, I have a big passion for music and a perfect evening for me would be listening to some live music with my friends.

What would you advise someone who wants to apply for a PhD or has just recently got a PhD position?

To be passionate about what you are doing it is important to keep motivated, but also it’s very important to have other interests. Don’t spend all day just working, your life is much more than your PhD.