The Physical Oceanography Research Group (PO.Res.Grp) established within the Dept. of Geosciences at the University of Malta has been entrusted to support the Environment Resources Authority (ERA) in Action A.7 of a preparatory action of the LIFE RBMP project, LIFE 16 IPE MT 008: Optimising the implementation of the 2nd RBMP in the Malta River Basin District.
The expected outcomes contemplate:
- the design of a marine data acquisition system of operational automated observing platforms for routine long term and real time monitoring for the Maltese Islands to complement the existing local in situ station observations, comprising the setting up of a first phase of operational installations at sea, and
- the development of a comprehensive marine modelling system to serve as a tool to provide a baseline oceanographic characterisation of Maltese waters down to coastal scales, contributing to the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), with particular focus to the adequate assessment of hydrographical changes.
In the design phase to be completed by the end of 2018, the networking with international experts in ocean observations and modelling, in particular experts that have already been engaged and have a track record in operational oceanography systems, will be sought through a dedicated expert WG which is being set up through this Call for Expression of Interest.
The WG will be composed of two interacting units, one concerning marine observations and operational data acquisition systems, and another unit dealing with the numerical modelling backbone needed to simulate the marine environment in all its ecosystem components down to the local coastal scales. Applicants to join this WG are expected to have already been engaged at expert and practical level in such systems as proved through their CV and publications, or through direct contacts in previous collaborative work with the PO.Res.Grp.
Applicants are expected to support the WG in their own personal capacity and will not be remunerated, but the WG is empowered to assign and approve the engagement and remuneration of a member or group of members of the WG to do specific tasks or assessments agreed by the WG. The WG will meet and deliver through remote conference sessions in addition to exchanges by electronic means. The WG will be chaired by Prof. Aldo Drago who is the person assigned by ERA to coordinate this work.
The WG will be composed of two interacting units, one concerning marine observations and operational data acquisition systems, and another unit dealing with the numerical modelling backbone needed to simulate the marine environment in all its ecosystem components down to the local coastal scales. Applicants to join this WG are expected to have already been engaged at expert and practical level in such systems as proved through their CV and publications, or through direct contacts in previous collaborative work with the PO.Res.Grp.
Applicants are expected to support the WG in their own personal capacity and will not be remunerated, but the WG is empowered to assign and approve the engagement and remuneration of a member or group of members of the WG to do specific tasks or assessments agreed by the WG. The WG will meet and deliver through remote conference sessions in addition to exchanges by electronic means. The WG will be chaired by Prof. Aldo Drago who is the person assigned by ERA to coordinate this work.
Applications should be addressed to Prof. Aldo Drago, Head of the Physical Oceanography Research Group, Room 315, Chemistry Building, Department of Geosciences, University of Malta or by email to aldo.drago@um.edu.mt. Applicants will need to submit their CV and briefly indicate how they can contribute to this WG.
Applicants are asked to send in their expressions of interest before 16 August 2018. This call will remain open until 30 October 2018 in order to allow further members of the WG to join according to the needs of the project.