PhD in Climate Modelling (M/F): Modelling the injection of stratospheric aerosols and its impact on the climate of France

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Despite efforts to limit global warming, particularly since the Paris Agreement came into force, the current rate of greenhouse gas emissions suggests that we will exceed the 2.0°C warming threshold above pre-industrial levels in the coming decades (UNEP Gap Report 2024). This situation is therefore sparking growing interest in climate intervention methods, and in particular in solar radiation management (SRM). However, the impacts of SRM remain poorly quantified today, with significant uncertainties regarding unintended effects such as changes in precipitation, effects on stratospheric ozone, additional effects should the application be halted, and other potential unexpected consequences for the climate system. In particular, at the regional level, the consequences for France of global SRM deployment are currently unknown. Among SRM methods, stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is one of the most frequently considered techniques and therefore warrants specific study.

The aim of this thesis will therefore be to estimate and understand the effects of applying SAI-based climate intervention methods on France's climate. To this end, the successful candidate will use a multi-scale climate modelling approach, ranging from global to regional, enabling, firstly, the production of global simulations with and without the injection of stratospheric aerosols worldwide, and then, secondly, the application of a downscaling process to the scale of France using a regional climate model driven by these global simulations. These regional simulations will enable a detailed study of the impacts on the climate of France, both in terms of average climate and extreme events (heatwaves, heavy rainfall, etc.).

The models used will be the CNRM global (Séférian et al. 2019) and regional (Nabat et al. 2020, Caillaud et al. 2021) climate models. These models already include the main components of the climate system, but they currently lack an explicit representation of stratospheric aerosols. An initial phase of the thesis will therefore involve implementing a stratospheric aerosol module (such as that of Chabrillat et al. 2025), thereby enabling the reproduction of the injections envisaged in climate intervention methods, and thus improving the current aerosol and chemistry schemes contained in the ACLIB library, to enable them to meet the thesis's objective (Tilmes et al. 2026). The second phase of the thesis will be devoted to carrying out and analysing climate simulations with and without SAI.

Your Work Environment

This PhD research project will be funded by the GEOSIC ANR project, included in the TRACCS programme. The project aims to provide a comprehensive overview of potential future climates that could result from climate change and climate intervention, taking into account the global social and geopolitical context, as well as the impact of these future climates on mitigation and adaptation scenarios.
The PhD student will be based in the GMGEC (Large-Scale Modelling and Climate Group) at the CNRM.

Constraints and risks

No particular constraints or risks

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

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.

CNRS

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