Dr Frances Beckett
Frances models the transport of volcanic ash using the Met Office's Numerical Atmospheric-dispersion Modelling Environment (NAME).
Areas of expertise
Frances' areas of expertise include:
- Volcanology
- Volcanic ash dispersion modelling
Publications by Frances Beckett
Current activities
Frances works on the development and application of the Met Office Dispersion Model (NAME) to forecast the transport of volcanic ash clouds. Her current research focuses on modeling the sedimentation of volcanic ash particles in the atmosphere, modelling the remobilization of volcanic ash deposits and investigating the sensitivity of dispersion model predictions to source parameters, inlcuding Particle Size Distributions (PSDs) and Mass Eruption Rates (MERs). Frances also develops and maintains the operational systems used by the London VAAC to forecast the dispersion of volcanic ash clouds, pulling through science into operations, and provides scientific advice and guidance to forecasters.
Career background
Frances has worked in the Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Quality Group since joining the Met Office in 2012. Prior to this Frances completed a PhD in Physical Volcanology at the University of Bristol on buoyancy driven flow and implications for degassing processes at basaltic volcanoes. Frances has an MSci in Environmental Geoscience from the University of Bristol.