Areas of expertise:

• Assimilation of GPS ZTD Observations into NWP models.
• Assimilation of space-based doppler wind lidar observations of wind into NWP models.

Current activities

Gemma is responsible for the development, maintenance and improvement of the observations processing and assimilation software for GPS ZTD observations. She also monitors the observation quality. GPS ZTD observations are received from across Europe and are assimilated into the NAE and UK models. Gemma is currently looking to receive data from a wider area to assimilate into the global model. The Met Office is a member of the EUMETNET GPS Water Vapour Programme, and Gemma is a member of the Expert team on promoting the use of GPS water vapour measurements.

In addition, Gemma is developing the observation processing and assimilation software for wind observations from space-based doppler wind lidars, namely ESA's Earth Explorer mission ADM Aeolus.

Career background

Gemma joined the Met Office in 2007, starting work in her current role. Prior to joining Gemma did an MSc in Applied Meteorology at Reading University with a Scholarship from the Royal Meteorological Society. She investigated the evolution of the 2006-2007 temperature anomalies in the equatorial Pacific for her dissertation. Before studying Meteorology, she did a Masters in Earth Sciences at Oxford University. There, her Masters research project investigated the potential of Ikaite to record past oceanic changes in the oxygen isotopic composition of water.