Postdoctoral researcher (M/F) in paleoclimate modelling

Job Description

Missions

The Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France) is looking for a postdoctoral scholar to numerically investigate the ocean-atmosphere multi-millennial transient dynamical response to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, 56 Ma) event.

Activity

The main objective of the postdoctoral research will be to use the IPSL-CM5A2 Earth System Model to simulate the evolution of the global ocean circulation during the PETM over several thousand years, under various scenarios of carbon input into the ocean-atmosphere system, whilst accounting for or disregarding Earth's orbital variations. An important aspect will be to characterise the transient dynamics of this evolution, particularly regarding deep ocean ventilation. Another aspect will be to compare the results of the various simulations obtained with data from marine sedimentary archives to determine the most likely scenario, with the aim of placing constraints on the timing of carbon injection into the surface components of the Earth system during the PETM.

Your Profil

Skills

The candidate must have a PhD in Earth System Sciences or Climate modelling. Experience in numerical modelling (ideally involving an ocean or an Earth system model) is required. Excellent communication skills in English (written and oral) and the ability to work independently are recommended.

Your Work Environment

The candidate will be part of the Climate Modelling team at LSCE (https://www.lsce.ipsl.fr/climat-cycles/clim/), whose members study the Earth's climate across all timescales using numerical modelling.

Scientific context
The anthropogenic perturbation affects all components of the Earth system, including the ocean and associated marine life. The future trend in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the ocean is a crucial indicator, as dissolved oxygen is essential for the existence of complex marine life. However, measurements taken in the ocean indicate a decline in this amount of dissolved oxygen (deoxygenation) since the 1960s. Furthermore, numerical projections of how this deoxygenation will evolve over the next century and beyond are highly uncertain.
The ANR-funded PROCOPE project aims to study a sudden warming event from Earth's geological past, the PETM (which occurred 56 million years ago), during which global average temperatures rose by around 5°C and which was marked by significant deoxygenation. This event is particularly interesting because it is the event in the geological record that most closely resembles the anthropogenic perturbation. It is characterised by a massive injection of carbon into the ocean-atmosphere system, the cause of which remains a matter of debate (massive volcanism linked to the formation of an igneous province, destabilisation of methane hydrates, orbital forcing, etc.), but for which estimates of the quantity injected are close to the projections anticipated under the IPCC's worst-case scenarios (RCP8.5 – SSP5-8.5). Furthermore, for a natural event, this perturbation is very brief given its scale, as estimates derived from the interpretation of the fossil record and carbon cycle models suggest a duration ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 years. This event therefore occurred without any feedback or influence from changes linked to the evolution of Earth's palaeogeography.
The aim of this project is therefore to study the PETM carbon injection phase using a model comparable to those used to produce future projections of climate and ocean oxygenation. This model is more complex and has a higher resolution than those previously used to tackle this event, which will allow for the appropriate consideration of ocean-atmosphere interactions as well as a previously mostly unexplored forcing factor: orbital variability.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

From 3131,32 € to 3569,85 € gross per year, based on CNRS salary scale and experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

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