Burns, P., J. Shipton, D. Acreman and B. Wingate.
Frequency interactions of nonlinear resonance in the persistence of density layers as a low-frequency bandwidth
(submitted to Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics)
Burns, P. and M.-L. Timmermans.
Exploring the role of internal waves in the creation and persistence of layers in the Arctic Ocean pycnocline
Burns, P., M. Juniper and B. Wingate.
Exploring the effects on layer structures of interactions between linear and nonlinear resonance
Burns, P. and J. Bruun.
A dynamical systems perspective of long-lived density layers and relationships to nonlinear resonance theory
Burns, P., V. Timmermann and J. Yearsley. 2020.
Meteorological factors associated with the timing and abundance of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus spore release.
International Journal of Biometeorology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-021-02211-z
Prat-Guitart, N., C. M. Belcher, D. K. Thompson, P. Burns and J. M. Yearsley. 2017.
Fine-scale distribution of moisture in the surface of a degraded blanket bog and its effects on the potential spread of smouldering fire.
Ecohydrology. 10(8):1-11,
https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1898
Chemel, C., and P. Burns. 2015.
Pollutant Dispersion in a Developing Valley Cold-Air Pool. Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 154(3):391-408
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-014-9984-5
Burns, P., and C. Chemel. 2015. Interactions between Downslope Flows and a Developing Cold- Air Pool.
Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 154(1):57-80
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-014-9958-7
Burns, P., and C. Chemel. 2014. Evolution of Cold-Air-Pooling Processes in Complex Terrain.
Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 150:423-447,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-013-9885-z
Date: 2019–current
Job title: Research Fellow (Researcher Co-I)
Supervisor: Prof B. Wingate
Location: University of Exeter (UoE), Centre for Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics (CGAFD)
Project title: On the way to the limit: mathematics of fast-slow coupling in PDEs
Description: Research focused on demonstrating that nonlinear resonance causes the persistence of
layer-type structures in fluids. Research methods include mathematics
(e.g. solving PDEs, asymptotics, nonlinear resonance analysis) and computer coding
(e.g. Shell script, Python, R) including setting up and running spectral methods and finite
element methods models on the Isca High Performance Computer (HPC) system.
Duties include publishing peer-reviewed research papers, presenting work at international
conferences, developing new science collaborations, teaching, data/risk management, helping to secure
new research funding, completing training courses, managing project finances.
See for some examples of this work.
Date: 2016–2019
Job title: Research Fellow
Supervisor: Prof B. Wingate
Location: UoE, CGAFD
Project title: Nonlinear resonance in the persistence of layers in stably-stratified fluids
Description: As above.
Date: 2015–2016
Jon title: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Supervisor: Dr J. Yearsley
Location: University College Dublin, Ireland
Project title: Assessing Ireland's risk to airborne spread of ash dieback disease with Lagrangian stochastic models
Description: This work focused on using Lagrangian atmospheric modelling; the NAME (Numerical
Atmospheric-dispersion Modelling Environment) model, developed by the UK Met Office, was used
for the work. NAME was compiled and run on the UCD Sonic HPC system. The model setup
used observations of pathogen distributions requiring statistical skills. Model results were analysed
(using Python, IDL and R) and presented to Irish policy makers and forest management officials.
Date: 2004–2009
Job title: Hydrographic/Geomatic Surveyor
Description: I worked as a team member and independently when required, to capture the shape and composition of the
ocean floor (e.g., using ship-mounted and towed sonar arrays) and land surface.
Date: 2010–2015
Qualification: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy, Physics)
Project title: Interactions between downslope flows and a developing cold-air pool
Supervisor: Dr C. Chemel
Location: University of Hertfordshire (UH), School of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics (PAM)
Description: Eessential work for the development of a parameterisation scheme to account for cold-air
pooling processes in operational weather prediction models. Research included Eulerian atmospheric modelling using the
Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF). The WRF model was compiled and run on the UH Star HPC system with
observations used to set model initial conditions. I attended the PAM MSc course Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.
Date: 2009–2010
Qualification: MSc Meteorology
Location: University of Reading
Award: Distinction
Modules: Mathematics, Atmospheric Physics (thermodynamics, cloud physics,
boundary-layer physics, radiative transfer), MATLAB & Fortran, Boundary-Layer
Meteorology & Micrometeorology, Measurements & Instrumentation,
Remote Sensing, Oceanography, Climate Change, Mid-latitude and
tropical weather systems.
Dissertation title: Convectively-generated internal gravity waves.
Date: 2000–2004
Qualification: BSc (Hons) Marine Science
Location: Southampton Solent University
Award: Upper Second Class (2:1)
Modules: Meteorology, Oceanography, Statistics, Marine Navigation,
Hydrographic Surveying, Geographical Information Systems & Remote
Sensing, Law of the Sea.
Lecturer for the MSc course `Waves, Instabilities and Turbulence' within the Mathematics Department at UoE. I delivered the first part of the module (entitled `Waves') and gave 12 lectures in total to a class of around 25 students. I helped to define the module coursework and exams and marked the student `Waves' coursework. We received excellent student feedback and were invited to present out teaching methods to the other academic staff within the college. Before this work I completed the teacher training course Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LTHE), stage 1. I also contributed to the teaching during my PhD and whilst at UCD in Ireland.
I assisted in the supervision of the following MSc student projects:
J. Reji, Investigating heat transport in resonant stratified layer formation, UoE, 2019–2020
M. Juniper, Resonance in the formation of stratified layers, UoE, 2018–2019
S. Jones, Chaotic energy-conserving convection models at atmospheric Reynold numbers, UoE, 2016–2017
S. Lawrence, Chaotic energy-conserving convection models at atmospheric Reynold numbers, UoE, 2016–2017
N. Loureiro,
Developing a quality control and analysis system for meteorological observations in southwest Angola, UCD, 2015
Co-lead the Maths at the Beach field trip, part of UoE's 2021 Festival of Discovery, to inspire interest in fluid dynamics and oceanography.
Exeter Climate Systems (XCS) seminar, UoE, 2021
The Challenger Society for Marine Science, Ocean Modelling Group Meeting, 2021 (Session chair)
Exeter Climate Systems (XCS) seminar, UoE, 2021
CGAFD, UoE, 2020
UK Fluids Network conference Dynamics of Rotating Fluids, University of Oxford, 2020
The 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD),
Seattle, USA, 2019 (Session chair)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Mathematical Sciences meeting, UoE, 2019 (Poster)
Firedrake Workshop, Imperial College London, 2018
CGAFD, UoE, 2018
CGAFD, UoE, 2016
FP1103 COST Action FRAXBACK Final Conference, Riga, Latvia, 2016
NAME User Workshop conference, UK Met Office, Exeter, 2015
School of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics (PAM), UH, 2014
European Meteorological Society (EMS), Reading, 2013
International Conference on Alpine Meteorology (ICAM), Slovenia, 2013
Prof B. Wingate (PI), Dr C. Cotter (Co-I), Dr B. Cheng (Co-I), Dr D. Acreman (Co-I), Dr P. Burns (Researcher Co-I), Dr J. Shipton (Researcher Co-I), On the way to the limit: mathematics of fast-slow coupling in PDEs, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), 1,043,224 GBP @ FeC, 2019.
Dr P. Burns, Dr J. Yearsley, Understanding plant-pathogen dispersal using numerical atmospheric modelling and data assimilation, Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship, 80,360 GBP, 2016
Anti-Casualisation officer for Exeter branch of University and College Union (UCU), since 2021
Member of the Institute of Physics (IOP), since 2021
Committee member for IOP Nonlinear and Complex Physics group, since 2021
Member of the UCU, since 2020
Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society (FRMetS), since 2020
Member of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), since 2020
Member of the Challenger Society for Marine Science, since 2020
Member of the American Physical Society (APS), since 2019
Reviewer for the journal Computers and Fluids, 2018