Press Releases

Reading postgrad student wins Meteorology prize – University of Reading

Release Date : 31 March 2009

A University of Reading postgraduate student has been awarded the Fugro GEOS Postgraduate Award for Students in Meteorology and Oceanography – MSc section.

Amanda Maycock, studying in the University's Department of Meteorology, was the recipient of the Award on 31 March for her MSc dissertation on the role of the stratosphere in seasonal forecasting.

Amanda Maycock said: "I was delighted to learn that I had won the award for my work on seasonal forecasting and the stratosphere. It was fascinating to work in an area of such active interest in the meteorological community. Several recent studies have highlighted the stratosphere as a possible source of predictability for seasonal forecasts. It is therefore important to assess how the stratospheric circulation is currently represented in seasonal forecasting models.

"The most important conclusion from my thesis was that in some seasonal forecasting models the representation of the circulation in the stratosphere is unrealistic. This is potentially important for improving the skill of seasonal forecasts, given evidence from other studies which have shown that the circulation in the stratosphere can influence that in the troposphere."

Originally from Coventry, after completing her MSc at the University of Reading, Amanda has remained at the University, studying for a PhD investigating the impact of stratospheric water vapour anomalies on climate.

Amanda was presented with her Award and a cheque for £500 at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

ENDS

Further information from Alex Brannen, Media Relations Manager, University of Reading on 0118 378 7388

Notes to editors:

The University of Reading's Department of Meteorology is internationally renowned for its excellent teaching and research in atmospheric, oceanic and climate science. Established in 1965, it is the only UK university which offers a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in meteorology.

In 2006 Meteorology at Reading was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 75% of its research was graded as world leading or internationally excellent.

Fugro GEOS specialises in providing extensive marine meteorological support to the offshore industry. These services range from 3 to 5-day site-specific forecasts of wind, wave and weather, to comprehensive weather-related engineering desk studies for operational planning.