Postdoctoral Researcher

ICARUS
2.5 Laraghbryan House
Tel: +353 1 7086546
Fax: +353 1 7083573 
Email: priscilla.a.mooney@nuim.ie

Office Hours

Biography

Dr. Priscilla A. Mooney received the B.Sc. in Experimental Physics and Mathematical Physics from the National University of Ireland Maynooth in 2004. She was subsequently awarded her PhD in Experimental Physics from NUI Maynooth in 2007 for her work on asymmetrical heat transfer in the vicinity of the water density maximum. After this, she worked as a post-doctoral researcher at ICARUS on regional climate modelling. In 2010, she began working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford on coupled Atmosphere-wave-ocean systems. Priscilla continues working on this research at ICARUS.

Research Interests

Dr. Priscilla A. Mooney's research interests are mainly in climate modelling from global to regional scales. She is currently investigating the impact of parameterization schemes on climate simulations and is involved in the development and application of a coupled dynamical atmosphere-wave ocean model which seeks to improve the methodology for estimating wave energy resources.

Funded Research and Awards

2011-2013: Environmental Protection Agency - STRIVE Climate Change Research Programme (Role: Co-PI) with Dr. Rowan Fealy (PI) and Dr. Frank J. Mulligan (Co-PI).

2010-2013: IRCSET - Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship in Science Engineering and Technology.

2009: NUIM Strategic Innovation Fund II International Strand Mobility Funds.

2004-2007: Embark Postgraduate Scholarship from the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology.

2004-2005: National University of Ireland Maynooth Science and Engineering Postgraduate Scholarship.

External Assignments and Professional Associations

Reviewer for Nature

Member of Geographical Society of Ireland

Member of the European Geosciences Union

Member of the Institute of Physics

Peer-Review Publications

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, Evaluation of the sensitivity of the Weather Research and Forecasting model to parameterization schemes for regional climates of Europe over the period 1990-1995, Journal of Climate (in press)

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, Comparison of ERA-Interim, ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data with observed surface air temperatures over Ireland, International Journal of Climatology, Vol. 31, 4, p545-557 (2011).

M.F. Cawley, P.A Mooney, P. O'Connor, Asymmetrical heat transfer through composites of water and aqueous solutions due to the presence of the density maximum, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 51, 1-2, p224-236 (2008).

M.F. Cawley, D. McGlynn, P.A. Mooney, Measurement of the temperature of density maximum of water solutions using a convective flow technique, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Vol. 49, 11-12, p1763-1772 (2006).

Recent Conference Papers and Public Presentations

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, Sensitivity of regional climates of Europe to WRF physics, 13th Annual WRF Users’ Workshop, Boulder (June 25-29, 2012).

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, DELTA: Developing high resolution Decadal and Long Term climate projections for IrelAnd, Poster, EGU General Assembly 2012, Vienna (April 22-27, 2012)

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, A preliminary study on the influence of WRF physics on climate indices, 2nd NCAS NCAR WRF workshop, Edinburgh (October 24- 28, 2011).

F.J. Mulligan, P.A. Mooney, R. Fealy, Regional climate simulations over Europe: Sensitivity of surface variables to microphysics, longwave radiation and land surface model, 2nd NCAS NCAR WRF workshop, Edinburgh (October 24- 28, 2011).

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, Assessment of WRF physical parameterisations for regional climate simulations over the CORDEX European domain, Poster, World Climate Research Programme Open Science Conference, Denver, (October 24- 28, 2011).

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, Sensitivity of surface temperature and precipitation to a selection of parameterisation schemes, 2nd NorWRF conference, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway (September 5-9, 2011).

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, Regional climate simulations of Europe: Sensitivity of surface variables to microphysics and longwave radiation, Conference proceedings, 13th Annual WRF Users' Event, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, (June 20-24,2011).

R. Fealy, P.A. Mooney, A. Foley, F.J. Mulligan, Truth Machines or Toys: Repositioning climate models for adaptation, PRTLI Cycle 4 Environment Graduate Programme Summer School, University of Limerick, Ireland, (May 26-28, 2010).

P.A. Mooney, F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, Modelling the climate of Ireland using the Weather Research and Forecasting model, Conference of Irish Geographers, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland (April 30 - May 2, 2010).

F.J. Mulligan, P.A. Mooney, R. Fealy, Surface air temperatures at 2m over Ireland - A comparison with reanalysis data (ERA-40, ERA-Interim and NCEP/NCAR), Conference of Irish Geographers, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland (April 30 - May 2, 2010).

P.A. Mooney,  F.J. Mulligan, R. Fealy, Regional climate modelling using the Weather Research and Forecasting model, Poster, UK Polar Network Workshop - Investigating Variability in Polar Climates: Past, Present and Future, University of Leeds, United Kingdom (April 8 - 9, 2010).