Alex West
Alex works on sea ice model evaluation and development, and sea ice monitoring
Areas of expertise
- Sea ice thermodynamics modelling and observations
- The Arctic Ocean climate system
Current activities
As part of the Polar Climate team, Alex’s responsibilities include producing monthly briefings on the state of the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice from June-October every year, and assisting with development of the sea ice component of the Met Office coupled climate model. Alex is also investigating ways of improving assessment of model simulation of Arctic climate, particularly by focussing on the links between surface radiation and sea ice, and by developing ways of assessing sea ice thermodynamics using observational devices called ice mass balance buoys.
Career background
Alex studied mathematics at the University of Cambridge (Fitzwilliam College) from 2005–2009, following his BA with the Certificate of Advanced Studies (aka Part 3). He joined the Met Office in September 2009 and has worked in the field of sea ice since this date. From 2012-2021 he also completed a part-time PhD at the University of Exeter in improving methods of climate model evaluation of sea ice.