Dr Melissa Brooks
Global model development scientist
Areas of expertise
- Clouds and atmospheric radiation
- Land-surface processes
- Dust and other aerosols
- Technical aspects of evaluating model changes
Publications by Melissa Brooks
Current activities
Melissa works to develop the Global Atmosphere configuration of the the Unified Model used in the Met Office numerical weather prediction models by diagnosing problems in operational weather and/or climate forecasting system, and working to provide solutions either directly or by liaising with the wider research community within the Met Office, Universities or other external collaborators. When model changes are proposed these are then tested and extensively trialled before moving forward towards operational implementation. In particular she works with changes from radiative perspective, looking at clouds and cloud processes, radiation, the land surface and aerosols.
In order to help with the evaluation of trials of possible model change Melissa is the code owner and main developer of a package of diagnostic software tools to help Met Office scientists evaluate tests of proposed changes to the forecast model.
Melissa also develops the capability of the operational weather forecasting model to provide forecasts of dust storms in arid and semi-arid regions.
Career background
Melissa has been a member of the Global Atmosphere Model Development group since she joined the Met Office in 2004. Prior to joining the Met Office she completed a PhD at the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading. Her PhD used cloud radar and lidar observations to evaluate weather forecasting and climate models under the CloudNET project.