Professor Ian Brooks

Profile

Ian Brooks obtained a PhD from UMIST where he studied the cloud microphysical processes leading to thunderstorm electrification. He then spent 8 years at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, first as a PDRA and then as associate project scientist, working on various problems in marine boundary layer meteorology: turbulent processes in marine stratocumulus, radar ducting, coastally trapped flows, and entrainment processes. He moved to Leeds in 2002.

Research interests

• Boundary layer meteorology
• Air-sea interaction
• Arctic meteorology and climate, turbulent processes

My research interests are primarily in boundary layer processes, in particular turbulent air-sea exchange, entrainment, and Arctic boundary layers. Most of this work is based on in-situ measurements; I have extensive experience in many aspects of field measurement - aircraft based measurements, oceanographic research cruises, and surface based campaigns. I have undertaken fieldwork all over the world from the central Arctic Ocean to the Weddell Sea, and from the Persian Gulf to the South China Sea. While primarily an observational specialist, recent work has increasingly utilised numerical models (in collaboration), notably the UK Met Office Large Eddy Simulation and Unified Models.

Current research projects include studies of Arctic boundary layers processes and clouds, and surface turbulent fluxes over sea ice; a study of the surface energy budget over the Greenland ice cap, and ongoing work on air-sea interaction.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
• BSc, Pure and Applied Physics, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology

Research groups and institutes

• Atmospheric and Cloud Dynamics
• Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science

Current postgraduate researchers

• Vania Lopez
• Rosie Danks