NCAS Scientist Dr Paul Williams from the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology, is to explore how state-of-the-art climate models can be improved after been appointed as a Royal Society University Research Fellow.

The Royal Society is the UK's national academy of science. Their University Research Fellowship scheme aims to provide outstanding scientists, who have the potential to become leaders in their chosen fields, with the opportunity to build an independent research career.

The prospect of significant climate change resulting from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions presents a major contemporary challenge. In October Dr Williams began work on 'Improving predictive climate models through stochastic parameterization'. Paul's five-year year project will improve state-of-the-art climate models by applying novel techniques that have proven very successful in the field of weather forecasting.

Dr Williams, who will be based in the National Centre for Atmospheric Science within Reading University, said: "Climate models are the main scientific tool used for predicting climate, but compared to observations they exhibit large systematic errors and insufficient natural variability across a broad range of timescales. There is an urgent need for the models to be improved, in order to reduce uncertainty in predictions of the future climate.

"Climate change is one of the most important challenges of our time. I have chosen to work in climate modelling because I find it fascinating that the secrets of our future climate are locked away in 200-year-old equations from classical physics. I am delighted to be receiving this accolade from the Royal Society, and I look forward to unlocking some of the secrets of our climate in the coming years."

To read more: University of Reading's press release