## Staff > [!team-member-left] Chiel van Heerwaarden (group leader) > > ![[chiel.png|180]] In my research group at [Wageningen University](https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/chair-groups/environmental-sciences/meteorology-and-air-quality-group.htm) we study boundary-layer turbulence and (moist) convection over land and the role of land-atmosphere interactions and radiation therein. Our main tools are detailed computer simulations and high-resolution field observations. Our research is a mix of fundamental research, and applications towards solar energy, water management, and wildfire management. We maintain and develop own open-source 3D simulation tool [[MicroHH]] and our [GPU ray tracing code](https://github.com/microhh/rte-rrtmgp-cpp), and built new instruments to measure solar irradiance. ^team-Chiel > [!team-member-right] Bart van Stratum (researcher) > **Funding:** [[SLOCS]] > > **Personal website:** [vanstratum.com](https://www.vanstratum.com/) > > ![[bart.jpg|180]] I am one of the lead developers of [[MicroHH]] and the designer of the [[Publications#^vanStratum2023|(LS)2D]] tool. In the [[SLOCS]] project, we plan to simulate long time series of real weather using MicroHH, with a specific interest in the surface solar irradiance time scales that such a model setup can capture. To simulate real weather more accurately, we implemented the option to use open boundary conditions and nesting in [[MicroHH]], and are exploring the benefits of this setup over simulations with doubly-periodic boundary conditions. > [!team-member-left] Menno Veerman (postdoc) > **Funding:** [[nextGEMS]], [[SLOCS]] > > **Years:** 2018-2023 (PhD), 2023-now (postdoc) > > ![[menno.png|180]] The aim of my research is to better understand the complex interactions between clouds, solar radiation, and the Earth's surface. Within [[SLOCS]], I work on developing radiative transfer models that are very accurate, yet fast enough to be integrated in high-resolution simulations of the atmosphere. That way, we can learn not only how clouds drive irradiance variability, but also how irradiance variability drives clouds. In addition, I work on analyzing the [[nextGEMS]] model data to see how well the next generation of global models represent the surface fluxes of radiation. ^team-Menno ## PhD students > [!team-member-right] Mirjam Tijhuis (PhD student) > **Funding**: [[SLOCS]] [WIMEK Honours research programme](https://www.wur.nl/en/education-programmes/phd-programme/graduate-schools/www.wur.nlwimek/funds-and-fellowships/wimek-honours-research-programme.htm) > > **Years:** 2021-now > > ![[mirjam.png|180]] I work on modelling solar radiation, more specifically, my focus is on finding simple and fast methods to model the variability of radiation at the surface. To this end, I work with 3D simulation of cumulus clouds with [[MicroHH]] with simple radiative transfer calculations and I compare my model simulations to observations. I’m developing a method that can be used to add more realism to these simple radiative transfer calculations. ^team-mirjam > [!team-member-left] Job Wiltink (PhD student) > **Funding**: [KNMI](https://knmi.nl) > > **Years:** 2022-now > > ![[job.png|180]] My research focuses on improving short-term (2-6 hours ahead) UV and solar radiation forecasts using satellite observations. Satellites can provide data for large and remote areas. However, compared to ground observations, they are often lacking in terms of spatial and temporal resolution. I work on methods to enhance the spatial resolution of satellite retrievals and include estimates of high-frequency fluctuations of solar radiation in the forecast. > [!team-member-right] Sarah Warnau (PhD student) > **Funding**: [Wetsus](https://wetsus.nl) > > **Years:** 2022-now > > ![[sarah.png|180]]I research the possibility of making more fresh water available for dry regions using sea water but by enhancing rainfall. The idea is that if we technologically enhance sea water evaporation under the right conditions, in the right place, and at the right time, we can trigger deep convective rainfall over land. How this could work from a meteorological point of view is what I am working on in my PhD project. This project is a collaboration between Wageningen University and [Wetsus](https://wetsus.nl), a centre for sustainable water technology, where the technological side of the question is also being researched. ^team-Sarah > [!team-member-left] Tristan Roelofs (PhD student) > **Funding**: [[EWED]] > > **Years:** 2024-now > > ![[tristan.png|180]] Understanding the wildfire-atmosphere interactions during extreme wildfires and its subsequent impact on wildfire spread is the main topic of my PhD. To achieve this I will collaborate with Fire services from Catalonia, Norwegian, Greece and the Netherlands to collect soundings inside smoke plumes as part of the EWED project. Additionally, I will perform high resolution simulation of wildfire-induced plumes (e.g. Santa Coloma de Quaralt fire of 2021). ^team-Tristan > [!team-member-right] Bernard Postema (PhD student) > **Funding**: [Whiffle](https://whiffle.nl) > > **Years:** 2024-now > > ![[bernard.jpg|180]] Atmospheric motion shows a cascade of scales: from weather systems, to fronts, to clouds, to turbulence. It has also been said (in this form by Edward Lorenz) that the flap of a sea gull’s wing can forever change the course of the weather. In my PhD project, I intend to study this ‘multi-scale’ nature of the atmosphere, using the tool of real-weather large-eddy simulation (LES). Working jointly at [Whiffle](https://whiffle.nl) (Delft) and in this group, we hope to advance real-weather LES by gaining insight into the full spectrum of atmospheric flow and predictability at different scales. ^team-Bernard > [!team-member-left] Marloes van Driel (PhD student) > **Funding**: [WUR](https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/chair-groups/environmental-sciences/meteorology-and-air-quality-group.htm) > > **Years:** 2024-now > > **Main advisor:** Martin Janssens > > ![[marloes.jpg|180]] Tropical shallow clouds tend to organize in mesoscale patterns up to sizes of 200 kms. These patterns have different properties, for example in terms of how much sunlight they block and how much of Earth's heat-radiation they block. We want to understand how these patterns form and when they disappear. Moreover, we aim to understand which environment is favorable for which pattern, with such information we want to predict the response of these patterns to the changing climate. ^team-Marloes ## Former team members (since 2023) > [!team-member-right] Wouter Mol (PhD student) > **Funding**: [[SLOCS]] > > **Years:** 2020-2024 > > **Personal website:** [woutermol.com](https://woutermol.com) > > ![[wouter.png|180]] In the [[SLOCS]] project, I work on observing solar irradiance variability on the scale of clouds using a spatial network of low-cost custom made radiometers. I use these spatial observations and existing solar radiation datasets to better understand what clouds are doing with solar radiation at the small, intra-day scales. But also, these observations serve as validation for numerical modelling. ^team-Wouter > [!team-member-left] Robin Stoffer (PhD student) > **Funding:** [WIMEK Honours research programme](https://www.wur.nl/en/education-programmes/phd-programme/graduate-schools/www.wur.nlwimek/funds-and-fellowships/wimek-honours-research-programme.htm) > > **Years:** 2018-2024 > > ![[robin.png|180]] My research explores how machine learning techniques can be used to model (near-)surface turbulent fluxes in the atmospheric boundary layer with higher accuracy. Specifically, I explore the potential of machine learning techniques for modelling 1) sub-grid turbulence in partly-resolved [[MicroHH]] simulations and 2) the actual surface evapotranspiration as measured (by eddy-covariance systems) at irrigated fields in the desert. In both cases, we find that machine learning techniques show promise, but also challenges still need to be overcome. ## Published PhD-theses 1. Wouter Mol (2024): *[Sunlight variations under broken clouds](https://edepot.wur.nl/660879)*. 2. Menno Veerman (2023): *[Simulating sunshine on cloudy days](https://edepot.wur.nl/634325)*. 3. Anja Ražnjević (2023): *[High-resolution modelling of plume dispersion](https://edepot.wur.nl/634327)*. 4. Frank Kreuwel (2023): *[Every ray counts!](https://edepot.wur.nl/582807)*. 5. Imme Benedict (2020): *[Atmospheric moisture transport and river runoff in the mid-latitudes](https://edepot.wur.nl/529303)*. 6. Irina Petrova (2017): *[Understanding soil moisture - precipitation coupling on mesoscales using observations over North Africa](https://pure.mpg.de/pubman/faces/ViewItemOverviewPage.jsp?itemId=item_2399973)*.