Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/N008111/1
Novel boundary element based solvers for light scattering from complex ice crystals
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor T Betcke, University College London, Mathematics
- Grant held at:
- University College London, Mathematics
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Radiative Processes & Effects
- Tropospheric Processes
- Climate & Climate Change
- Numerical Analysis
- Optical Phenomena
- Abstract:
- Global climate and weather models depend on accurate simulation of the light radiation effects of clouds. In order to better understand errors from cloudy short-wave radiative effects a better understanding of scattering and absorption from ice crystals is required. In the limit of very large particles, at solar wavelengths, approximate methods such as raytracing have shown to give good approximations. However, for smaller objects more accurate direct simulation techniques based on solving the Maxwell's equations are required. Currently, this is typically implemented using so-called T-matrix methods. However, these only work well for very simple ice crystal configurations and often fail for complex geometries. An alternative are boundary element methods (BEM). These are robust with respect to the geometry and allow the simulation of electromagnetic scattering from very complex objects. The disadvantage is that these methods are significantly more complicated to implement and apply efficiently. In recent years at University College London BEM++, an open-source BEM platform, has been developed that can also solve problems in electromagnetics. Based on this platform an initial study has been performed for the simulation of complex ice crystal configurations, demonstrating the great potential of BEM for scattering simulations from ice crystals in the atmospheric sciences. In this project we will build on this initial effort to develop a robust simulation environment for atmospheric scientists to numerically investigate and understand complex ice crystal models. In particular, the project focuses on the following areas: Fast BEM solvers for Maxwell problems. Developing fast BEM based solvers for Maxwell is non-trivial due to the highly oscillatory nature of the problem. In recent years significant advances have been made to deal with these highly oscillatory problems. Based on the BEM++ environment we will apply these techniques to complex ice crystal configurations and investigate their scalability to bridge the gap between high-frequency asymptotic approximations and the direct numerical solution of Maxwell's equations. Ice crystals with internal inhomogeneities. Based on coupling BEM with finite element methods (FEM) for inhomogeneous problems we will investigate the scattering from ice crystals with random inhomogeneities. This provides a more realistic model for ice crystal configurations than the standard homogeneous models, typically used. Complex multiple scattering configurations. Based on recent developments for reduced basis methods in electromagnetics we will extend the BEM based solution capabilities to arrays of ice crystals with random configurations. This is an exciting new simulation approach that will allow us to simulate complex multiple scattering phenomena between ice crystals. Although the project concentrates on atmospheric ice the methods developed can also be applied to externally and internally mixed aerosols. All developments in this project will be made available as open-source software for any interested researcher. The Partner Organisation is the Met Office, a world leading weather and climate centre based in Exeter. The Observational Based Research (OBR) group within the Met Office consists of approximately 50 research and technical staff. The aim of the group is to develop understanding of the atmosphere by challenging models with state-of-the-art observations. Three research teams within OBR are based at Exeter working on i) Aerosols, ii) Cloud Microphysics and iii) Radiative Transfer.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/N008111/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £106,090
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £19,474 | £11,000 | £75,619 |
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