Prof. Simon Josey

Overview

2012 - present: Professor of Oceanography, NOC Marine Systems Modelling Group.

2010 - 2012: Associate Head, Marine Physics and Ocean Climate group (50 staff).

2007 - 2010: Co-Chair, Ocean Observing and Climate group (30 staff).

1993 – present : Scientist at the National Oceanography Centre and forerunner institutes.

1992-1993: Royal Society Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

1988-1991: University of Sussex, D. Phil. on the Evolution of Spiral Galaxies.

1984-1987: Queen Mary, University of London B. Sc. (Hons.) 1st Class, Physics and Astronomy.

Main Research Interests: Air-sea heat and water fluxes, their ocean impacts, role of the ocean in the climate system.

Air-sea Heat and Water Fluxes. Recent examples:

a.) Variations in North Atlantic air-sea heat and water fluxes and their relationship to major modes of atmospheric variability (e.g. the East Atlantic pattern),

b.) Intense heat loss in dense water formation regions (e.g. the Irminger Sea using measurements with the Ocean Observatories Initiative surface flux mooring).

c.) Southern Ocean heat loss under open ocean and Marginal Ice Zone conditions.

Ocean Impacts

a.) The role of surface exchanges in causing climate system anomalies e.g. the 2014-16 North Atlantic cold anomaly.

b.) Relationship between variability in the North Atlantic overturning circulation and buoyancy loss at high latitudes.

c.) Large scale ocean heat loss controls on water mass formation e.g. SubAntarctic Mode water (SAMW) formation.

Role of the Ocean in the Climate System

a.) Ocean drivers of severe hurricane seasons including a new mechanism causing pre-season ocean warming and increased hurricane formation.

b.) Feedback of Atlantic surface temperature anomalies on European climate e.g. winter storminess and summer heatwaves.

c.) Influence of the ocean on changes in the global hydrological cycle  e.g. through modified evaporation.