About

Richard works on assimilation of observations into limited area models, with particular interest in cloud and precipitation.

Areas of expertise:

• Assimilation of observations into forecast models.
• Running and assessing forecast trials.

Publications 

Current activities

Richard is a scientist working on data assimilation. This involves developing, testing and implementing improvements to the way we assimilate observations into limited area (regional) forecast models. One area of work is on improving our use of observations of cloud and precipitation. Satellite images, surface reports and weather radar provide a wealth of data. Cloud and rain processes are dependent on many variables in the atmosphere (temperature, humidity, winds, etc). Their assimilation is most effective when it takes into account all these variables. How best to do this is still a subject of research.

The major part of Richard's work is now on a collaborative EU project EURO4M. The aim is to produce a high-quality regional analysis for studying and monitoring European climate.

Career background

Richard finished his maths degree in 1988 and started work at the Met Office. He worked for a year on the use of AVHRR satellite data in the analysis of sea surface temperature. The next ten years were spent developing the assimilation of data from
satellite radiometers. The major achievement was the direct assimilation of radiances from the TOVS instrument. In 2000 he moved to his current job in Assimilation and Ensembles.