Applications are invited for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Cryospheric Science Lab at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD and the University of Maryland, College Park.
Project Description:
Passive microwave imagery has a long heritage of providing consistent, near-complete, long-terms observations of sea ice concentration. However, low spatial resolution, and correlation of emission properties between frequencies, variability in surface emission (e.g., surface melt) limit capabilities and results in ambiguities in the microwave signal that can lead to large uncertainties. There is potential to remove some of these limitations through the use of improved atmospheric and surface data and emissivity models, as well through combining passive microwave imagery with other sources, such as visible/infrared and active microwave (scatterometer, SAR) data. These additional sources can provide independent information on the sea ice surface to better resolve ambiguities. The focus of this project is to investigate new methodologies to estimate sea ice properties from passive microwave data. These will include data fusion methods, radiative transfer and surface emission modeling. It will pull together atmospheric data and other surface data sources and investigate ways to optimally integrate them into a multi-sensor product that can support operational modeling and other near-real-time applications, as well as to illuminate improvements in passive microwave fields that yield improved concentration estimates while providing a long-term, consistent climate record.
A successful candidate is expected to have a strong background in: satellite remote sensing data; proficient programming skills; advanced analysis methods such as data fusion techniques, neural networks, and forward models; a collaborative work environment.
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Walt Meier by 9 January 2015 with a cover letter and CV at walt.meier@nasa.gov, 301-614-6572.
