An external view of the Met Office building at night.

Dr Adrian Hill

Current activities

Adrian is a scientist working on cloud microphysics and aerosol-cloud interactions in the cloud-scale modelling group. Adrian uses the Met Office Large Eddy Model in conjunction with a 1-D framework, KiD and a parcel model, to simulate a variety of cloud regimes and investigate the role of cloud microphysics and aerosols in the evolution of those regimes. These studies are used to improve our fundamental understanding of cloud microphysics and guide parameterization development for the Unified Model.

The current focus of Adrian's work into cloud microphysics is the use of the KiD 1-D framework to compare a variety of CRM microphysics schemes to understand how they behave in highly idealised test-cases when cloud drop number concentrations, or aerosol concentrations, are varied. Adrian is collaborating with Dr Ben Shipway on this work, which contributes to the GCSS microphysics intercomparison.


Adrian is heavily involved in the GCSS TWP-ICE CRM intercomparison, performing both the 3-D CRM simulations and 2-D forcing ensemble simulations for the SCM intercomparison. This work has involved close collaboration with colleagues at NASA GISS and Monash University.

Adrian is using the Met Office Large Eddy Model to investigate the turbulent generation of mixed phase clouds in idealised cases specifically designed for this study. The aim of this work is to improve our fundamental and theoretical understanding of the formation and maintenance of mixed phase clouds, and improve the representation of mixed phase clouds in the Unified Model.

Adrian is the current code owner of the Met Office Large Eddy Model and is keen to continue its development, so that it remains a state-of-the-research tool and the focus of collaboration with the academic and international community.

Career background

Adrian became a member of Atmospheric Processes and Parametrizations in August 2008. Prior to this Adrian completed his PhD in aerosol-cloud interactions and radiative transfer at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds in 2006. Adrian then went on to do a two year National Research Council post-doc with Graham Feingold at NOAA, Boulder. This post-doc focused on aerosol-cloud interactions in marine stratocumulus and turbulence. Adrian returned from the US to become a member of Atmospheric Processes and Parametrizations.

About Dr Adrian Hill

Adrian works on cloud microphysics and aerosol-cloud interactions.

Areas of expertise:

  • Cloud microphysics

  • Aerosol-cloud interactions

  • Atmospheric turbulence

  • Radiative transfer and clouds