You will work on analyzing and improving the TROPOMI CH4 and GOSAT-2 CH4 and CO2 data products. CO2 and CH4 are the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Monitoring their emissions using satellite observations will provide an important aspect of future climate monitoring.

TROPOMI is the single payload instrument of the Copernicus Sentinel 5 Precursor mission and SRON developed operational data processing algorithms for this mission. GOSAT-2 is a satellite of the Japanese space agency JAXA to observe greenhouse gases and SRON provides the GOSAT-2 CO2 and CH4 data product to the COPERNICUS Atmospheric Monitoring Services CAMS.

Your position and team
You will be part of our team of 8 scientists working on trace gas retrieval in the Earth Science Group (ESG) of SRON. The ESG consists of approximately 30-40 scientists (permanent, postdocs, PhD students) who work on the data processing and interpretation of satellite instruments as well as the definition of new instrumentation and guiding the development. Our team develops algorithms for trace gas remote sensing, for operational data processing and validation, and gives scientific guidance during the implementation phase of future missions.

Your project
You will work on CH4 data retrieval from TROPOMI, the retrieval of CO2 and CH4 from GOSAT-2 shortwave infrared measurements, and the analysis and improvement of the data products.  This work you will perform within our SRON team in close collaboration with our project partners, the European Space Agency (ESA), and CAMS the European Union’s Earth observation program.  Your tasks include

• Improving the TROPOMI CH4 data product including operational support and reporting to ESA.
• Support the development of a new operational near-real-time TROPOMI CH4 data product by applying new AI methods for data filtering.
• Improving and validating the CO2 and CH4 data products from GOSAT-2 including documentation and communication with CAMS and other project partners.
• Intercomparison of the CH4 measurements from TROPOMI and GOSAT-2 to understand and correct biases.

You will present your results to the project team, our colleagues at the space agency, at conferences, and in peer-reviewed journals. 

We are looking for a person with a PhD in (atmospheric) physics or similar. Very good programming skills in Python, C++ and/or Fortran are required, and a clear asset will be experienced in atmospheric remote sensing. Good English language skills (speaking and writing) and the ability to work in a team and independently are necessary for this position. 

The position we offer at SRON is a full-time position in which you will be employed by NWO-I

(The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Institutes) for a period of 2 years. The extension of this period with another 2 years depends on external funding. The salary will be in accordance with NWO salary scale 10 with a maximum of € 5.141,– gross per month on a full-time basis (depending on your level of education and experience). Compensation for commuting expenses will be provided.

NWO has good secondary employment conditions such as:

• An end-of-year bonus of 8,33% of the gross yearly salary;
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross yearly salary;
• 42 days of vacation leave a year on a full-time basis;
• An excellent pension scheme;
• Options for (additional) personal development;
• Excellent facilities for parental leave;
• Ample training opportunities;
• Possibility of flexible working hours;

SRON institute of space research

SRON is the Netherlands Institute for Space Research. Based at locations in Leiden and Groningen, SRON combines fundamental scientific research, technology innovation, and instrumentation development to enable breakthroughs in astrophysics, exoplanet research, and earth atmospheric research from space. In partnership with leading international partners and space agencies such as ESA, NASA and JAXA, SRON provides scientific and technological contributions to international space missions as well as expertise and support to the Dutch and international scientific communities.

SRON is the national base for the Netherlands participation in the ESA science program. On the national level, it works in close collaboration with the Dutch universities, other NWO institutes, and governmental agencies to pursue a cohesive agenda for space-based research.