Smith, Dr Robin S

Senior Research Scientist

Address

University of Reading

Department of Meteorology

University of Reading

Earley Gate

Whiteknights Road

Reading

RG6 6ET

 
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778
email
+44 118 378 3251  
Website
http://www.met.rdg.ac.uk/~robin  
email

I'm a Senior Research Scientist in the NCAS wing of the University of Reading's Meteorology department. I'm currently part of the core team of developers working on UKESM, the next-generation UK Earth System model. UKESM is a joint NERC/MetOffice project under the JWCRP . I lead the work to couple interactive ice sheets into UKESM, using the BISICLES adaptive mesh ice model. I also manage/develop/support/work with the FAMOUS Earth system model - a low resolution version of the atmosphere-ocean GCM HadCM3, to which optional carbon cycle and ice-sheet components have been added.

I'm interested in pretty much anything to do with large-scale climate and how different parts of the system interact. I also have a sideline in bringing thought experiments to life within the models I use: I've watched vegetation try to cope with ultra-CO2 conditions, spun the Earth backwards and simulated Waterworlds totally covered by ocean.

Aside from the UKESM project, I've worked on the stability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and investigations of various aspects of the climate system over the last glacial cycle, especially the ice sheets.

Picture of Smith, Dr Robin S

Publications

  • de Mora, Lee; Sellar, Alistair; Yool, Andrew; Palmieri, Julien; Smith, Robin S.; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Parker, Rob J.; Walton, Jeremy; Blackford, Jeremy C.; Jones, Colin G.; Supplementary material to \"Earth System Music: the methodology and reach of music generated from the United Kingdom Earth System Model\". [doi:10.5194/gc-2019-28-supplement] Jan 2020
  • de Mora, Lee; Sellar, Alistair; Yool, Andrew; Palmieri, Julien; Smith, Robin S.; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Parker, Rob J.; Walton, Jeremy; Blackford, Jeremy C.; Jones, Colin G.; Earth System Music: the methodology and reach of music generated from the United Kingdom Earth System Model. [doi:10.5194/gc-2019-28] Jan 2020
  • Sellar, Alistair; Jones, Colin G.; Mulcahy, Jane; Tang, Yongming; Yool, Andrew; Wiltshire, Andy; O'Connor, Fiona; Stringer, Marc; Hill, Richard; Palmieri, Julien; Woodward, Stephanie; de Mora, Lee; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Rumbold, Steven T.; Kelley, Douglas I.; Ellis, Rich; Johnson, Colin E.; Walton, Jeremy; Abraham, NL; Andrews, Martin B.; Andrews, Timothy; Archibald, A. T.; Berthou, Ségolène; Burke, Eleanor; Blockley, Ed; Carslaw, Ken; Dalvi, Mohit; Edwards, John; Folberth, Gerd A.; Gedney, Nicola; Griffiths, Paul; Harper, Anna B.; Hendry, Maggie A.; Hewitt, Alan J.; Johnson, Ben T.; Jones, Andy; Jones, Chris D.; Keeble, James; Liddicoat, Spencer; Morgenstern, Olaf; Parker, Rob J.; Predoi, Valeriu; Robertson, Eddy; Siahaan, Antony; Smith, Robin S.; Smith, Robin; Woodhouse, Matthew T.; Zengast, Guang; Zerroukat, Mohamed; UKESM1: Description and Evaluation of the U.K. Earth System Model. Journal Of Advances In Modeling Earth Systems, 11 (12) , 4513--4558, [doi:10.1029/2019ms001739] Dec 2019
  • Sellar, Alistair; Jones, Colin G.; Mulcahy, Jane; Tang, Yongming; Yool, Andrew; Wiltshire, Andy; O'Connor, Fiona; Stringer, Marc; Hill, Richard; Palmieri, Julien; Woodward, Stephanie; de Mora, Lee; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Rumbold, Steve; Kelley, Douglas I.; Ellis, Rich; Johnson, Ben T.; Walton, Jeremy; Abraham, NL; Andrews, Martin B.; Andrews, Timothy; Archibald, A. T.; Berthou, Ségolène; Burke, Eleanor; Blockley, Ed; Carslaw, Ken; Dalvi, Mohit; Edwards, John; Folberth, Gerd A.; Gedney, Nicola; Griffiths, Paul; Harper, Anna B.; Hendry, Maggie A.; Hewitt, Alan J.; Johnson, Ben; Jones, Andy; Jones, Chris D.; Keeble, James; Liddicoat, Spencer; Morgenstern, Olaf; Parker, Rob J.; Predoi, Valeriu; Robertson, Eddy; Siahaan, Antony; Smith, Robin S.; Swaminathan, Ranjini; Woodhouse, Matthew T.; Zengast, Guang; Zerroukat, Mohamed; UKESM1: Description and evaluation of the UK Earth System Model. Journal Of Advances In Modeling Earth Systems [doi:10.1029/2019ms001739] Oct 2019
  • Liu, Xiaodong; Dong, Buwen; Yin, Zhi-Yong; Smith, Robin S.; Guo, Qingchun; Continental drift, plateau uplift, and the evolutions of monsoon and arid regions in Asia, Africa, and Australia during the Cenozoic. Science China Earth Sciences, 62 (7) , 1053--1075, [doi:10.1007/s11430-018-9337-8] Mar 2019
  • Sellar, Alistair; Jones, Colin G.; Mulcahy, Jane; Tang, Yongming; Yool, Andrew; Wiltshire, Andy; O'Connor, Fiona; Stringer, Marc; Hill, Richard; Palmieri, Julien; Woodward, Stephanie; de Mora, Lee; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Rumbold, Steven T.; Kelley, Douglas I.; Ellis, Rich; Johnson, Colin E.; Walton, Jeremy; Abraham, NL; Andrews, Martin B.; Andrews, Timothy; Archibald, A. T.; Berthou, Ségolène; Burke, Eleanor; Blockley, Ed; Carslaw, Ken; Dalvi, Mohit; Edwards, John; Folberth, Gerd A.; Gedney, Nicola; Griffiths, Paul; Harper, Anna B.; Hendry, Maggie A.; Hewitt, Alan J.; Johnson, Ben T.; Jones, Andy; Jones, Chris D.; Keeble, James; Liddicoat, Spencer; Morgenstern, Olaf; Parker, Rob J.; Predoi, Valeriu; Robertson, Eddy; Siahaan, Antony; Smith, Robin S.; Swaminathan, Ranjini; Woodhouse, Matthew T.; Zengast, Guang; Zerroukat, Mohamed; UKESM1: Description and Evaluation of the U.K. Earth System Model. Journal Of Advances In Modeling Earth Systems [doi:10.1029/2019ms001739] 2019
  • Sellar, Alistair; Jones, Colin G.; Mulcahy, Jane; Tang, Yongming; Yool, Andrew; Wiltshire, Andy; O'Connor, Fiona; Stringer, Marc; Hill, Richard; Palmieri, Julien; Woodward, Stephanie; de Mora, Lee; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Rumbold, Steven T.; Kelley, Douglas I.; Ellis, Rich; Johnson, Colin E.; Walton, Jeremy; Abraham, NL; Andrews, Martin B.; Andrews, Timothy; Archibald, A. T.; Berthou, Ségolène; Burke, Eleanor; Blockley, Ed; Carslaw, Ken; Dalvi, Mohit; Edwards, John; Folberth, Gerd A.; Gedney, Nicola; Griffiths, Paul; Harper, Anna B.; Hendry, Maggie A.; Hewitt, Alan J.; Johnson, Ben T.; Jones, Andy; Jones, Chris D.; Keeble, James; Liddicoat, Spencer; Morgenstern, Olaf; Parker, Rob J.; Predoi, Valeriu; Robertson, Eddy; Siahaan, Antony; Smith, Robin S.; Swaminathan, Ranjini; Woodhouse, Matthew T.; Zengast, Guang; Zerroukat, Mohamed; UKESM1: Description and Evaluation of the U.K. Earth System Model. Journal Of Advances In Modeling Earth Systems [doi:10.1029/2019ms001739] 2019
  • Wood, Richard A.; Rodríguez, José M.; Smith, Robin S.; Jackson, Laura C.; Hawkins, Ed; Observable, low-order dynamical controls on thresholds of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Climate Dynamics, 53 (11) , 6815--6834, 2019
  • Shannon, Sarah; Smith, Robin S.; Wiltshire, Andy; Payne, Tony; Huss, Matthias; Betts, Richard; Caesar, John; Koutroulis, Aris; Jones, Darren; Harrison, Stephan; Global glacier volume projections under high-end climate change scenarios. The Cryosphere, 13 (1) , 325--350, [doi:10.5194/tc-13-325-2019] 2019
  • Dentith, Jennifer E.; Ivanovic, Ruza F.; Gregoire, Lauren J.; Tindall, Julia C.; Smith, Robin S.; Ocean circulation drifts in multi-millennial climate simulations: the role of salinity corrections and climate feedbacks. Climate Dynamics [doi:10.1007/s00382-018-4243-y] May 2018
  • Joshi, Manoj; von Glasow, Roland; Smith, Robin S.; Paxton, Charles G. M.; Maycock, Amanda C.; Lunt, Daniel J.; Loptson, Claire; Markwick, Paul; Global warming and ocean stratification: A potential result of large extraterrestrial impacts. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (8) , 3841–3848, [doi:10.1002/2017gl073330] Apr 2017
  • Liu, Xiaodong; Dong, Buwen; Yin, Zhi-Yong; Smith, Robin S.; Guo, Qingchun; Continental drift and plateau uplift control origination and evolution of Asian and Australian monsoons. Scientific Reports, 7, 40344, [doi:10.1038/srep40344] Jan 2017
  • Williams, Paul D.; Howe, Nicola J.; Gregory, Jonathan M.; Smith, Robin S.; Joshi, Manoj M.; Improved Climate Simulations through a Stochastic Parameterization of Ocean Eddies. Journal Of Climate, 29 (24) , 8763–8781, [doi:10.1175/jcli-d-15-0746.1] Dec 2016
  • Jackson, L. C.; Smith, Robin S.; Wood, R. A.; Ocean and atmosphere feedbacks affecting AMOC hysteresis in a GCM. Climate Dynamics, 49 (1-2) , 173–191, [doi:10.1007/s00382-016-3336-8] Oct 2016
  • Hoogakker, B. A. A.; Smith, Robin S.; Singarayer, JS; Marchant, R.; Prentice, I C; Allen, J. R. M.; Anderson, R. S.; Bhagwat, S. A.; Behling, H.; Borisova, O.; Bush, M.; Correa-Metrio, A.; de Vernal, A.; Finch, J. M.; Fréchette, B.; Lozano-Garcia, S.; Gosling, W. D.; Granoszewski, W.; Grimm, E. C.; Grüger, E.; Hanselman, J.; Harrison, S. P.; Hill, T. R.; Huntley, B.; Jiménez-Moreno, G; Kershaw, P.; Ledru, M. -P.; Magri, D.; McKenzie, M.; Müller, U.; Nakagawa, T.; Novenko, E.; Penny, D.; Sadori, L.; Scott, L.; Stevenson, J.; Valdes, P. J.; Vandergoes, M.; Velichko, A.; Whitlock, C.; Tzedakis, C.; Terrestrial biosphere changes over the last 120 kyr. Climate Of The Past, 12, 51-73, [doi:10.5194/cp-12-51-2016] 2016
  • Liu, Xiaodong; Guo, Qingchun; Guo, Zhengtang; Yin, Zhi-Yong; Dong, Buwen; Smith, Robin S.; Where were the monsoon regions and arid zones in Asia prior to the Tibetan Plateau uplift?. National Science Review, 2 (4) , 403–416, [doi:10.1093/nsr/nwv068] Oct 2015
  • Hawkins, Ed; Smith, Robin S.; Gregory, Jonathan M.; Stainforth, David A.; Irreducible uncertainty in near-term climate projections. Climate Dynamics [doi:10.1007/s00382-015-2806-8] Sep 2015
  • Liu, Xiaodong; Guo, Qingchun; Guo, Zhengtang; Yin, Zhi-Yong; Dong, B.W.; Smith, Robin S.; Where were the monsoon regions and arid zones in Asia prior to the Tibetan Plateau uplift?. National Science Review, 2, 403-416, [doi:10.1093/nsr/nwv068] 2015
  • Hawkins, Ed; Smith, Robin S.; Gregory, J. M.; Stainforth, D.; Irreducible uncertainty in near-term climate projections. Climate Dynamics [doi:10.​1007/​s00382-015-2806-8] 2015
  • Exarchou, Eleftheria; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Gregory, J. M.; Smith, Robin S.; Ocean heat uptake processes: a model intercomparison. Journal Of Climate, 28 (2) , 887-908, [doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00235.1] Jan 2015
  • Smith, Robin S.; Sutton, R.T.; Gregory, J. M.; The impact of salinity perturbations on the future uptake of heat by the Atlantic Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 41, 9072-9079, [doi:10.1002/2014GL062169] 2014
  • Liu, Zhengyu; Zhu, Jiang; Rosenthal, Yair; Zhang, Xu; Otto-Bliesner, Bette; Timmermann, Axel; Smith, Robin S.; Lohmann, G; Zheng, Weipeng; Timm, Oliver Elison; The Holocene temperature conundrum. Pnas, 111 (34) , E3501-E3505, [doi:10.1073/pnas.1407229111] 2014
  • Bouttes, N.; Gregory, J. M.; Kuhlbrodt, T.; Smith, Robin S.; The drivers of projected North Atlantic sea level change. Climate Dynamics, 43, 1531-1544, [doi:10.1007/s00382-013-1973-8] 2014
  • Eby, M.; Weaver, A. J.; Alexander, K.; Zickfeld, Kirsten; Abe-Ouchi, A.; Cimatoribus, A. A.; Crespin, E.; Drijfhout, S. S.; Edwards, N. R.; Eliseev, A. V.; Feulner, G.; Fichefet, T.; Forest, C.; Goosse, H.; Holden, P. B.; Joos, F.; Kawamiya, Michio; Kicklighter, D.; Kienert, H.; Matsumoto, K.; Mokhov, I. I.; Monier, E.; Olsen, S. M.; Pedersen, J. O. P.; Perrette, M.; Philippon-Berthier, G.; Ridgwell, A; Schlosser, A.; Schneider von Deimling, T.; Shaffer, G.; Smith, Robin S.; Spahnill, R.; Sokolov, A. P.; Steinacher, M.; Tachiiri, K.; Tokos, K.; Yoshimori, K.; Zeng, N.; Zhao, F.; Historical and idealized climate model experiments: an intercomparison of Earth system models of intermediate complexity. Climate Of The Past, 9, [doi:10.5194/cp-9-1111-2013] 2013
  • Jackson, L. C.; Schaller, N.; Smith, Robin S.; Palmer, M. D.; Vellinga, M.; Response of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation to a reversal of greenhouse gas increases. Climate Dynamics [doi:10.1007/s00382-013-1842-5] 2013
  • Williams, J. H. T.; Smith, Robin S.; Valdes, P J; Booth, B. B. B.; Osprey, A.; Optimising the FAMOUS climate model: inclusion of global carbon cycling. Geoscientific Model Development, 6, [doi:10.5194/gmd-6-141-2013] 2013
  • Williams, J. H. T.; Smith, Robin S.; Valdes, P. J.; Booth, B. B. B.; Osprey, A.; Optimising the FAMOUS climate model: inclusion of global carbon cycling. Geoscientific Model Development Discussions, 5 (4) , 3089--3129, [doi:10.5194/gmdd-5-3089-2012] Oct 2012
  • Smith, Robin S.; The FAMOUS climate model (versions XFXWB and XFHCC): description update to version XDBUA. Geoscientific Model Development, 5, 269-276, [doi:10.5194/gmd-5-269-2012] Feb 2012
  • Scholze, M.; Allen, J.; Collins, W. J.; Cornell, S.; Huntingford, C.; Joshi, M. M.; Lowe, J.; Smith, Robin S.; Wild, O.; Chapter: Earth system models: a tool to understand changes in the Earth system pages 129-159, In Understanding the Earth System: Global Change Science for Application, Cambridge University Press, 2012
  • Kuhlbrodt, T.; Smith, Robin S.; Wang, Z.; Gregory, J. M.; The influence of eddy parameterizations on the transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in coupled climate models. Ocean Modelling, 52-53, 1-8, [doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2012.04.006] 2012
  • Sinha, B.; Blaker, A. T.; Hirschi, J. J. -M.; Bonham, SG; Brand, M.; Josey, S.; Smith, Robin S.; Marotzke, J.; Mountain ranges favour vigorous Atlantic Meridional Overturning.. Geophysical Research Letters, 39 (L02705) , [doi:10.1029/2011GL050485] 2012
  • Smith, Robin S.; Gregory, J. M.; The last glacial cycle: transient simulations with an AOGCM. Climate Dynamics, 38 (7) , 1545-1559, [doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1283-y] 2012
  • Hawkins, Ed; Smith, Robin S.; Allison, L. C.; Gregory, J. M.; Woollings, T.; Pohlmann, H.; de Cuevas, B.; Bistability of the Atlantic overturning circulation in a GCM and links to ocean freshwater transport. Geophysical Research Letters, 38, L10605, [doi:10.1029/2011GL047208] 2011
  • Smith, Robin S.; Gregory, J. M.; A study of the sensitivity of ocean overturning circulation and climate to freshwater input in different regions of the North Atlantic. Geophysical Research Letters, 36 (15) , [doi:10.1029/2009GL038607] 2009
  • Smith, Robin S.; Gregory, J. M.; Osprey, A.; A description of the FAMOUS (version XDBUA) climate model and control run. Geoscientific Model Development, 1 (1) , 53--68, [doi:10.5194/gmd-1-53-2008] Dec 2008
  • Smith, Robin S.; Marotzke, Jochem; Factors influencing anthropogenic carbon dioxide uptake in the North Atlantic in models of the ocean carbon cycle. Climate Dynamics, 31 (5) , 599--613, [doi:10.1007/s00382-008-0365-y] Jan 2008
  • Smith, Robin S.; Marotzke, J.; Factors influencing anthropogenic carbon dioxide uptake in the North Atlantic in models of the ocean carbon cycle.. Climate Dynamics, 31, 599-613, 2008
  • Smith, Robin S.; Dubois, Clotilde; Marotzke, Jochem; Global Climate and Ocean Circulation on an Aquaplanet Ocean–Atmosphere General Circulation Model. Journal Of Climate, 19 (18) , 4719--4737, [doi:10.1175/jcli3874.1] Sep 2006
  • Smith, Robin S.; Dubois, C; Marotzke, J.; Global climate and ocean circulation on an aquaplanet ocean-atmosphere general circulation model. Journal Of Climate, 19, 4719-4737, 2006
  • Smith, Robin S.; Dubois, C; Marotzke, J.; Ocean circulation and climate in an idealised Pangean OAGCM. Geophysical Research Letters, 31, [doi:10.1029/2004GL020643] 2004

Achievements / Science Highlights

  • Release of new standard versions of FAMOUS climate model, November 2011

Engagements

  • Engaging with the public as part of the University of Reading stand at the Berkshire Show, September 2010
  • Talk on Oceans and Climate given to the Geography Society at Dulwich College, March 2010
  • Contributed a blog entry for the BBC "23 degrees" series, February 2011
  • Activities with Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-school Group, "Observing the Weather", February 2012
  • Blog article on simulating the climate at www.climate-lab-book.ac.uk, December 2011
  • Talks on the climate system and high performance computing at Whitchurch Primary School, May 2015
  • NCAS/MetOffice UKESM exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition, July 2017
  • NCAS/MetOffice UKESM exhibit at NERC Into The Blue public event, October 2016