Dr Andrew Jones
Andrew conducts research in atmospheric dispersion, including development of the Met Office's Numerical Atmospheric-dispersion Modelling Environment (NAME).
Areas of expertise
- Scientific and technical development of Met Office Dispersion Model
- Handling uncertainties in dispersion predictions
- Concentration fluctuations in dispersing plumes
- Met Office Dispersion Model training and outreach
Current activities
Andrew works as a senior scientist in the Atmospheric Dispersion Research and Response Group. The primary purpose of his work is to deliver and apply scientific research in atmospheric dispersion modelling in order to enhance the Met Office's capability in this field and improve the quality of its products, predictions and advice to customers.
Andrew is a principal developer of Met Office Dispersion Model. His specialist area of interest is the representation of uncertainties in dispersion model predictions, especially the uncertainty propagating through the meteorological inputs to a dispersion model. Active research includes the use of ensemble methods, such as multi-model and Ensemble Prediction System-based techniques, to assess and quantify such uncertainties.
Currently, Andrew is working on a 3-year research project with the University of Southampton and Dstl that is applying statistical design and analysis concepts for quantification and reduction of meteorological uncertainties in dispersion predictions. He is also the UK representative to the European Commission's ENSEMBLE initiative, a demonstration multi-model system for regional-scale dispersion applications.
Career background
Andrew has worked on atmospheric dispersion modelling since he joined the Met Office in 1998.
Initially, his research focused on short-range atmospheric dispersion problems where he developed a specific expertise in modelling the short-period concentration fluctuations seen in dispersing plumes. Andrew had become fully involved in our Met Office Dispersion Model development activities by 2001, and since that time has been responsible for developing several sections of the model code, including its representation of short-period concentration fluctuations and its chemistry scheme.
Between 2006 and 2008, Andrew contributed to the Man-Made Risks component of the European Union Framework Programme 6 PREVIEW project, developing a demonstration user-service for industrial accident modelling.
Andrew holds a PhD from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, for research in the field of group representation theory (pure mathematics) and before joining the Met Office worked as a post-doctoral research assistant at University College Swansea and later at the University of York.