Climate Applications Scientist

at  European Space Agency

Climate Applications Scientist
Job Requisition ID: 19263
Date Posted: 30 January 2025
Closing Date: 20 February 2025 23:59 CET/CEST
Publication: Internal & External
Type of Contract: Permanent
Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes
Workplace:Harwell, GB
Grade Band: A2 - A4

DESCRIPTION

Climate Applications Scientist with a specialisation in land surface and terrestrial carbon and water cycles, leading a dedicated portfolio of projects in the ESA Actionable Climate Information Section, Climate and Long-Term Action Division, Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
ESA’s Actionable Climate Information Section in the Earth Observation Directorate is the focal point of the Agency’s climate-related activities. It is based at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT), Harwell in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
The Section aims to increase the availability and use of global, satellite-based Earth observation data for decision-making. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is driving international efforts to combat climate change by limiting the rise in global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as set out in the Paris Agreement. In response to the UNFCCC requirements for the systematic monitoring of the climate system, ESA launched the Climate Change Initiative (CCI) research programme in 2008.
Through the CCI, ESA is developing a suite of global data records of key components of the climate system, known as Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). The climate-quality datasets produced by the CCI are a major contribution to the evidence base used to understand climate change, which drives international action. Climate modellers use the ECVs to study drivers, interactions and feedbacks due to climate change, as well as reservoirs, teleconnections, tipping points and fluxes of energy, water and carbon, while predicting future change.
The CCI also addresses the R&D required to support the UNFCCC Paris Agreement reporting requirements for signatories. Another major focus of the CCI is to connect the climate observation and modelling communities.
For further information, see www.climate.esa.int.

EDUCATION

A PhD, preferably related to Earth System Science in general and/or the land surface, or any other appropriate scientific field, is required for this post.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

At least three years’ work experience post-PhD in related remote-sensing applications development, research, or another relevant position.
Particular importance will be attached to your personal scientific ability, peer credibility, flexibility and adaptability.
You must be capable of working effectively in a team with minimum supervision, and have excellent communication and presentation skills. Technical and computational knowledge (including machine learning) geared to climate would be an asset.
Interacting with the various stakeholders relevant to this position will involve a certain amount of travel. You should therefore be prepared to travel frequently.

Reporting to the Head of the Actionable Climate Information Section, you will work to expand the awareness, use and scientific impact of long-term satellite Earth observation (EO) data records for climate science and applications, with a main focus on land surface and terrestrial carbon and water cycles, as well as for other Earth system domains.
You will support and advise on the detailed scientific goals of the various international scientific and operational user communities concerned with international climate research, modelling, adaptation and mitigation activities.

Your main tasks will involve :

• deriving technical specifications for EO-based information related to the terrestrial carbon and water cycles and land surface, including their interactions with the atmosphere, with specific reference to the requirements of climate users, e.g. long-term stability, accuracy, consistency, availability, error-characterisation and compatibility with climate observations from other space and non-space sources;
• establishing dialogue with specialised climate user communities, analysing their needs for the satellite-based observation of the climate system, assessing their feedback on available EO-based information;
• initiating and monitoring R&D projects to enhance ESA’s capability to generate Climate Data Records that respond to user needs for climate monitoring, reanalysis, modelling, attribution, prediction, trend assessment and data assimilation;
• validating the results of such developments with the corresponding climate users;
• promoting the use of EO data to support the UNFCCC Global Stocktake commitments decided at COP 21, Paris in 2015;
• cooperating with internal and external partner organisations to transfer capabilities developed in a research and demonstration context into an operational and policy driven framework;
• maintaining links and ensuring coherence with the relevant activities of ESA Member States and international partner organisations;
• contributing to the Agency’s public communication on EO;
• supporting the work of Young Graduate Trainees and Research Fellows.