ECMWF STAGE

Robin Hogan

Principal Scientist
Research, Earth System Modelling, Physical Processes

Summary:

Robin is responsible for the representation of solar and infrared radiation in ECMWF's Integrated Forecasting System. Radiative processes provide the energy that drives the atmospheric circulation, and an accurate representation in forecast models is crucial for surface temperature forecasts as well as for pushing the boundaries of predictability. He is the European Co-Chair of the EarthCARE Joint ESA-JAXA Mission Advisory Group.

Professional interests:
  • Developing novel numerical methods for radiative transfer and particle scattering
  • Managing the CKDMIP project to evaluate and improve the treatment of gas optics in the radiation schemes used for weather and climate prediction
  • Cloud and precipitation remote sensing using radar and lidar, and their use in model evaluation
  • Cloud processes, boundary-layer meteorology, the stratosphere and other areas of atmospheric science
  • Developing the fast and user-friendly automatic differentiation software tool Adept

Some specific research questions currently being tackled:

  • How can we improve the accuracy and efficiency of the representation of gas optics in radiation schemes?
  • How can we improve the accuracy and flexibility of the representation of aerosols in radiation schemes?
  • How can we represent the effects of 3D radiative transfer efficiently in NWP models?
  • How can the radiative effects of urban and vegetated areas be represented in NWP models?
  • How can the synergy of instruments on board the forthcoming EarthCARE satellite be used optimally to retrieve cloud and precipitation properties?

The offline version of the ECMWF radiation scheme is available under the Apache open-source license.

Career background:
  • 2024-present: Principal Scientist, ECMWF, UK (95%)
  • 2014–2024: Senior Scientist, ECMWF, UK (95%)
  • 2010–present: Professor of Atmospheric Physics, Dept of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK (5% since April 2014)
  • 2011–2014: Head of Department for Research, Dept of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK
  • 2007–2010: Reader in Atmospheric Physics, Dept of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK
  • 2003–2007: Lecturer, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK
  • 1998–2002: Postdoctoral research scientist, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK
External recognitions
  • 2014: Henry G. Houghton Award, American Meteorological Society
  • 2012: Elected a commissioner of the International Radiation Commission
  • 2007: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society
  • 2005: L. F. Richardson Prize, Royal Meteorological Society