Jobs:Job-01741

Postdoc in critical zone modelling

Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), , France
Apply before: 20 December 2024

Posting: Position: Postdoc Apply before: 20 December 2024 Apply online: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR5563-SYLKUP-001/Default.aspx?lang=EN

We are offering for a postdoctoral position focusing on the conceptualisation of subsurface flows in a critical zone model, to continue inter-observatory modelling efforts within the OZCAR (French Critical Zone observatory Network) Research Infrastructure.

This is a 10-month fixed-term contract, with possibilities for extension, starting on 1 March 2025 at GET in Toulouse, France. Applications are due by 20 December. Candidates must apply online at https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR5563-SYLKUP-001/Default.aspx?lang=EN

Summary: In regional numerical models, the unsaturated zone is often represented by Nash cascades (reservoir model) for reasons for computational efficiency, whereas in catchment/local models it is described by the Richards equation. In this context, you will test several representations of aquifer recharge through the unsaturated zone in the EcH2O-iso model by merging and continuing developments already carried out in different versions of the model. You will assess the impact of these two representations on aquifer recharge as a function of the critical zone context (hydroclimatic, geological, land cover), and then look at how this in turn affects root water uptake along the regolith. The following scientific questions will be explored: how does the representation of recharge influence the dynamics of underground flows? How does this representation of recharge processes, coupled with the types of root profiles implemented in the EcH2O-iso model, impact root uptake? These questions could be addressed using numerical experiments on an idealised hillslope through a sensitivity analysis inspecting the simulation of the dynamics of water table levels, water storage in the profile, evapotranspiration components and water transit times in the profile and in outflows. Depending on the time available, this analysis could be transferred to experimental catchments in the OZCAR (Observatoires de la Zone Critique: Applications et Recherche, https://www.ozcar-ri.org/) research infrastructure, where the EcH2O-iso model has already been deployed.

Best regards,
Sylvain Kuppel, Agnès Rivière, Jean Marçais, Sylvain Weill and Marco Maneta

Sylvain Kuppel ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)
@ Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET)
ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sylvain-Kuppel) -- Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/scicirc.bsky.social)
Atelier d'écologie politique (https://atecopol.hypotheses.org/)

Scientifiques en Rébellion (https://scientifiquesenrebellion.fr/) / Scientist Rebellion (https://www.scientistrebellion.com/)

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Of interest for:

Critical Zone Focus Research Group