Robin Smith

I'm a Senior Research Scientist in the NCAS-Climate part of the University of Reading's Meteorology department. I'm currently part of the core team of scientists and developers working with 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, especially with land ice and sea level. 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 previous glacial cycles.
Publications
(list mostly generated from centaur.reading.ac.uk)
2022
Siahaan, A., Smith, R.
2021
Smith, R. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778, Mathiot, P., Siahaan, A., Lee, V., Cornford, S. L., Gregory, J. M., Payne, A. J., Jenkins, A., Holland, P. R., Ridley, J. K. and Jones, C. G.
(2021)
Coupling the U.K. Earth System Model to dynamic models of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 13 (10).
e2021MS002520.
ISSN 1942-2466
doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021MS002520
Smith, R. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778, George, S.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0396-0299 and Gregory, J. M.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1296-8644
(2021)
FAMOUS version xotzt (FAMOUS-ice): a general circulation model (GCM) capable of energy- and water-conserving coupling to an ice sheet model.
Geoscientific Model Development, 14 (9).
pp. 5769-5787.
ISSN 1991-9603
doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-5769-2021
Edwards, T. L., Nowicki, S., Marzeion, B., Hock, R., Goelzer, H., Seroussi, H., Jourdain, N. C., Slater, D., Turner, F., Smith, C. J., McKenna, C. M., Simon, E., Abe-Ouchi, A., Gregory, J. M., Larour, E., Lipscomb, W. H., Payne, A. J., Shepherd, A., Agosta, C., Alexander, P., Albrecht, T., Anderson, B., Asay-Davis, X., Aschwanden, A., Barthel, A., Bliss, A., Calov, R., Chambers, C., Champollion, N., Choi, Y., Cullather, R., Cuzzone, J., Dumas, C., Felikson, D., Fettweis, X., Fujita, K., Galton-Fenzi, B. K., Gladstone, R., Golledge, N. R., Greve, R., Hattermann, T., Hoffman, M. J., Humbert, A., Huss, M., Huybrechts, P., Immerzeel, W., Kleiner, T., Kraaijenbrink, P., Le clec'h, S., Lee, V., Leguy, G. R., Little, C. M., Lowry, D. P., Malles, J.-H., Martin, D. F., Maussion, F., Morlighem, M., O'Neill, J. F., Nias, I., Pattyn, F., Pelle, T., Price, S., Quiquet, A., Radić, V., Reese, R., Rounce, D. R., Ruckamp, M., Sakai, A., Shafer, C., Schlegel, N.-J., Shannon, S., Smith, R. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778, Straneo, F., Sun, S., Tarasov, L., Trusel, L. D., Breedam, J. V., van de Wal, R., van den Broeke, M., Winkelmann, R., Zekollari, H., Zhao, C., Zhang, T. and Zwinger, T.
(2021)
Projected land ice contributions to 21st century sea level rise.
Nature, 593.
pp. 74-82.
ISSN 0028-0836
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03302-y
Smith, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778, George, S.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0396-0299 and Gregory, J.
(2021)
FAMOUS version xotzt (FAMOUS-ice): a GCM capable of energy-
and water- conserving coupling to an ice sheet model.
Geoscientific Model Development, 14 (9).
pp. 5769-5787.
ISSN 1991-9603
doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-5769-2021
Blaker, A. T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5454-0131, Joshi, M.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2948-2811, Sinha, B., Stevens, D. P.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7283-4405, Smith, R. S.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778 and Hirschi, J. J.-M.
(2021)
FORTE 2.0: a fast, parallel and flexible coupled climate model.
Geoscientific Model Development, 14 (1).
pp. 275-293.
ISSN 1991-9603
doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-275-2021
2020
Gregory, J., George, S. E. and Smith, R. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778
(2020)
Large and irreversible future decline of the Greenland ice-sheet.
The Cryosphere, 14 (12).
pp. 4299-4322.
ISSN 1994-0424
doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4299-2020
Seroussi, H., Nowicki, S., Payne, A. J., Goelzer, H., Lipscomb, W. H., Abe-Ouchi, A., Agosta, C., Albrecht, T., Asay-Davis, X., Barthel, A., Calov, R., Cullather, R., Dumas, C., Galton-Fenzi, B. K., Gladstone, R., Golledge, N. R., Gregory, J., Greve, R., Hattermann, T., Hoffman, M. J., Humbert, A., Huybrechts, P., Jourdain, N. C., Kleiner, T., Larour, E., Leguy, G. R., Lowry, D. P., Little, C. M., Morlighem, M., Pattyn, F., Pelle, T., Price, S. F., Quiquet, A., Reese, R., Schlegel, N.-J., Shepherd, A., Simon, E., Smith, R., Straneo, F., Sun, S., Trusel, L. D., Van Breedam, J., van de Wal, R. S. W., Winkelmann, R., Zhao, C., Zhang, T. and Zwinger, T. (2020) ISMIP6 Antarctica: a multi-model ensemble of the Antarctic ice sheet evolution over the 21st century. The Cryosphere, 14 (9). pp. 3033-3070. ISSN 1994-0424 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3033-2020
Goelzer, H., Nowicki, S., Payne, A., Larour, E., Seroussi, H., Lipscomb, W. H., Gregory, J., Abe-Ouchi, A., Shepherd, A., Simon, E., Agosta, C., Alexander, P., Aschwanden, A., Barthel, A., Calov, R., Chambers, C., Choi, Y., Cuzzone, J., Dumas, C., Edwards, T., Felikson, D., Fettweis, X., Golledge, N. R., Greve, R., Humbert, A., Huybrechts, P., Le clec'h, S., Lee, V., Leguy, G., Little, C., Lowry, D. P., Morlighem, M., Nias, I., Quiquet, A., Rückamp, M., Schlegel, N.-J., Slater, D. A., Smith, R. S., Straneo, F., Tarasov, L., van de Wal, R. and van den Broeke, M. (2020) The future sea-level contribution of the Greenland ice sheet: a multi-model ensemble study of ISMIP6. The Cryosphere, 14 (9). pp. 3071-3096. ISSN 1994-0424 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3071-2020
de Mora, L., Sellar, A. A., Yool, A., Palmieri, J., Smith, R. S., Kuhlbrodt, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2328-6729, Parker, R. J., Walton, J., Blackford, J. C. and Jones, C. G.
(2020)
Earth system music: music generated from the United Kingdom Earth System Model (UKESM1).
Geoscience Communications, 3.
pp. 263-278.
ISSN 2569-7110
doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-3-263-2020
de Mora, L., Sellar, A. A., Yool, A., Palmieri, J., Smith, R. S., Kuhlbrodt, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2328-6729, Parker, R. J., Walton, J., Blackford, J. C. and Jones, C. G.
(2020)
Earth system music: the methodology and reach of music generated from the United Kingdom earth system model.
Geoscience Communications, 3.
pp. 263-278.
ISSN 2569-7110
doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-3-263-2020
Nowicki, S., Goelzer, H., Seroussi, H., Payne, A. J., Lipscomb, W. H., Abe-Ouchi, A., Agosta, C., Alexander, P., Asay-Davis, X. S., Barthel, A., Bracegirdle, T. J., Cullather, R., Felikson, D., Fettweis, X., Gregory, J. M., Hattermann, T., Jourdain, N. C., Kuipers Munneke, P., Larour, E., Little, C. M., Morlighem, M., Nias, I., Shepherd, A., Simon, E., Slater, D., Smith, R. S., Straneo, F., Trusel, L. D., van den Broeke, M. R. and van de Wal, R. (2020) Experimental protocol for sea level projections from ISMIP6 stand-alone ice sheet models. The Cryosphere, 14. pp. 2331-2368. ISSN 1994-0424 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2331-2020
Smith, R. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-7778, George, S.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0396-0299 and Gregory, J. M.
(2020)
FAMOUS version xotzb (FAMOUS-ice): a GCM capable of energy- and water-conserving coupling to an ice sheet model.
Geoscientific Model Development Discussions.
ISSN 1991-9603
doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2020-207
(In Press)
2019
Wood, R. A., Rodríguez, J. M., Smith, R. S., Jackson, L. C. and Hawkins, E. (2019) Observable, low-order dynamical controls on thresholds of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Climate Dynamics, 53 (11). pp. 6815-6834. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-019-04956-1
Shannon, S., Smith, R., Wiltshire, A., Payne, T., Huss, M., Betts, R., Caesar, J., Koutroulis, A., Jones, D. and Harrison, S. (2019) Global glacier volume projections under high-end climate change scenarios. The Cryosphere, 13. pp. 325-350. ISSN 1994-0424 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2018-35
Dentith, J. E., Ivanovic, R. F., Gregoire, L. J., Tindall, J. C. and Smith, R. (2019) Ocean circulation drifts in multi-millennial climate simulations: the role of salinity corrections and climate feedbacks. Climate Dynamics, 52 (3-4). pp. 1761-1781. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-018-4243-y
Liu, X., Dong, B., Yin, Z., Smith, R. and Guo, Q. (2019) 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). pp. 1053-1075. ISSN 1869-1897 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-018-9337-8
Sellar, A. A., Jones, C. G., Mulcahy, J., Tang, Y., Yool, A., Wiltshire, A., O'Connor, F. M., Stringer, M., Hill, R., Palmieri, J., Woodward, S., De Mora, L., Kuhlbrodt, T., Rumbold, S., Kelley, D. I., Ellis, R., Johnson, C. E., Walton, J., Abraham, N. L., Andrews, M. B., Andrews, T., Archibald, A. T., Berthou, S., Burke, E., Blockley, E., Carslaw, K., Dalvi, M., Edwards, J., Folberth, G. A., Gedney, N., Griffiths, P. T., Harper, A. B., Hendry, M. A., Hewitt, A. J., Johnson, B., Jones, A., Jones, C. D., Keeble, J., Liddicoat, S., Morgenstern, O., Parker, R. J., Predoi, V., Robertson, E., Siahaan, A., Smith, R. S., Swaminathan, R., Woodhouse, M. T., Zeng, G. and Zerroukat, M. (2019) UKESM1: description and evaluation of the UK Earth System Model. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 11 (12). pp. 4513-4558. ISSN 1942-2466 doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001739
2017
Jackson, L. C., Smith, R. S. and Wood, R. A. (2017) Ocean and atmosphere feedbacks affecting AMOC hysteresis in a GCM. Climate Dynamics, 49 (1-2). pp. 173-191. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-016-3336-8
Joshi, M., von Glasow, R., Smith, R. S., Paxton, C. G.M., Maycock, A. C., Lunt, D. J., Loptson, C. and Markwick, P. (2017) Global warming and ocean stratification: a potential result of large extraterrestrial impacts. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (8). pp. 3841-3848. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073330
Liu, X., Dong, B., Yin, Z.-Y., Smith, R. S. and Guo, Q. (2017) Continental drift and plateau uplift control origination and evolution of Asian and Australian monsoons. Scientific Reports, 7. 40344. ISSN 2045-2322 doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep40344
2016
Williams, P. D., Howe, N. J., Gregory, J. M., Smith, R. S. and Joshi, M. M. (2016) Improved climate simulations through a stochastic parameterization of ocean eddies. Journal of Climate, 29 (24). pp. 8763-8781. ISSN 1520-0442 doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0746.1
Hawkins, E., Smith, R. S., Gregory, J. M. and Stainforth, D. A. (2016) Irreducible uncertainty in near-term climate projections. Climate Dynamics, 46 (11). pp. 3807-3819. ISSN 1432-0894 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-015-2806-8
Hoogakker, B. A. A., Smith, R. S., Singarayer, J. S., 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. and Tzedakis, C. (2016) Terrestrial biosphere changes over the last 120 kyr. Climate of the Past, 12 (1). pp. 51-73. ISSN 1814-9324 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-12-51-2016
2015
Liu, X., Guo, Q., Guo, Z., Yin, Z.-Y., Dong, B. and Smith, R. (2015) Where were the monsoon regions and arid zones in Asia prior to the Tibetan Plateau uplift? National Science Review, 2 (4). pp. 403-416. ISSN 2053-714X doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwv068
Hoogakker, B. A. A., Smith, R. S., Singarayer, J. S., Marchant, R., Prentice, I. C., Allen, J., Anderson, R. S., Bhagwat, S. A., Behling, H., Borisova, O., Bush, M., Correa-Metrio, A., de Vernal, A., Finch, J. M., Frechette, B., Lozano-Garcia, S., Gosling, W. D., Granoszewski, W., Grimm, E. C., Gruger, E., Hanselman, J., Harrison, S. P., Hill, T. R., Huntley, B., Jimenez-Moreno, G., Kershaw, P., Ledru, M.-P., Magri, D., McKenzie, M., Muller-Nakagawa, U., Nakagawa, T., Novenko, E., Penny, D., Sadori, L., Scott, L., Stevenson, J., Valdes, P. J., Vandergoes, M., Velichko, A., Whitlock, C. and Tzedakis, C. (2015) Terrestrial biosphere changes over the last 120 kyr and their impact on ocean δ 13C. Climate of Past Discussions, 11. pp. 1031-1091. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/cpd-11-1031-2015
Exarchou, E., Kuhlbrodt, T., Gregory, J. M. and Smith, R. S. (2015) Ocean heat uptake processes: a model intercomparison. Journal of Climate, 28 (2). pp. 887-908. ISSN 1520-0442 doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00235.1
2014
Smith, R. S., Sutton, R. and Gregory, J. M. (2014) The impact of salinity perturbations on the future uptake of heat by the Atlantic Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 41 (24). pp. 9072-9079. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GL062169
Bouttes, N., Gregory, J.M., Kuhlbrodt, T. and Smith, R.S. (2014) The drivers of projected North Atlantic sea level change. Climate Dynamics, 43 (5-6). pp. 1531-1544. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-013-1973-8
Liu, Z., Zhu, J., Rosenthal, Y., Zhang, X., Otto-Bliesner, B. L., Timmerman, A., Smith, R. S., Lohmann, G., Zheng, W. and Timm, O. E. (2014) The Holocene temperature conundrum. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111 (34). E3501-E3505. ISSN 0027-8424 doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1407229111
Jackson, L.C., Schaller, N., Smith, R.S., Palmer, M.D. and Vellinga, M. (2014) Response of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation to a reversal of greenhouse gas increases. Climate Dynamics, 42 (11-12). pp. 3323-3336. ISSN 1432-0894 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-013-1842-5
2013
Eby, M., Weaver, A.J., Alexander, K., Zickfeld, K., Abe-Ouchi, A., Cimatoribus, A.A., Crespin, E., Drijfhout, S.S., Edwards, N.R., Eliseev, A.V., Feulner, G., Fichefet, T., Forest, C.E., Goosse, H., Holden, P.B., Joos, F., Kawamiya, M., 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, R.S., Spahnill, R., Sokolov, A.P., Steinacher, M., Tachiiri, K., Tokos, K., Yoshimori, M., Zeng, N. and Zhao, F. (2013) Historical and idealized climate model experiments: an intercomparison of Earth system models of intermediate complexity. Climate of the Past, 9. pp. 1111-1140. ISSN 1814-9324 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-9-1111-2013
Williams, J.H.T., Smith, R.S., Valdes, P.J., Booth, B.B.B. and Osprey, A. (2013) Optimising the FAMOUS climate model: inclusion of global carbon cycling. Geoscientific Model Development, 6. pp. 141-160. ISSN 1991-9603 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-6-141-2013
2012
Kuhlbrodt, T., Smith, R. S., Wang, Z. and Gregory, J. M. (2012) The influence of eddy parameterizations on the transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in coupled climate models. Ocean Modelling, 52-53. pp. 1-8. ISSN 1463-5003 doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2012.04.006
Smith, R. (2012) The FAMOUS climate model (versions XFXWB and XFHCC): description update to version XDBUA. Geoscientific Model Development, 5 (1). pp. 269-276. ISSN 1991-9603 doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-5-269-2012
Sinha, B., Blaker, A., Hirschi, J., Bonham, S., Brand, M., Josey, S., Smith, R. and Marotzke, J. (2012) Mountain ranges favour vigorous Atlantic Meridional Overturning. Geophysical Research Letters, 39. L02705. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL050485
Smith, R. and Gregory, J. (2012) The last glacial cycle: transient simulations with an AOGCM. Climate Dynamics, 38 (7-8). pp. 1545-1559. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: 10.1007_s00382-011-1283-y
Scholze, M., Allen, I., Collins, B., Cornell, S. E., Huntingford, C., Joshi, M., Lowe, J., Smith, R. and Wild, O. (2012) Earth system models: a tool to understand changes in the Earth system. In: Cornell, S.E., Prentice, I.C. and House, J.I. (eds.) Understanding the Earth system: global change science for application. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 129-159. ISBN 9781107009363
2011
Hawkins, E., Smith, R. S., Allison, L. C., Gregory, J. M., Woollings, T. J., Pohlmann, H. and de Cuevas, B. (2011) Bistability of the Atlantic overturning circulation in a global climate model and links to ocean freshwater transport. Geophysical Research Letters, 38 (10). L10605. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL047208
2009
Smith, R. S. and Gregory, J. M. (2009) 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. L15701. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL038607
2008
Smith, R.S., Gregory, J.M. and Osprey, A. (2008) A description of the FAMOUS (version XDBUA) climate model and control run. Geoscientific Model Development, 1 (1). pp. 53-68.
Smith, R. S. and Marotzke, J. (2008) Factors influencing anthropogenic carbon dioxide uptake in the North Atlantic in models of the ocean carbon cycle. Climate Dynamics, 31 (5). pp. 599-613. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0365-y
2006
Smith, R. S., Dubois, C. and Marotzke, J. (2006) Global climate and ocean circulation on an aquaplanet ocean-atmosphere general circulation model. Journal of climate, 19 (18). pp. 4719-4737. ISSN 1520-0442 doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3874.1
2004
Smith, R.S., Dubois, C. and Marotzke, J. (2004) Ocean circulation and climate in an idealised Pangean OAGCM. Geophysical Research Letters, 31. L18207. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL020643
Smith, R.S. (2004) Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics under Idealised Continental Configurations in a Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Model." Southampton University PhD Thesis
2002
Sinha, B. and Smith, R.S. (2002) Development of a fast Coupled General Circulation Model (FORTE) for climate studies, implemented using the OASIS coupler. Southampton Oceanography Centre Internal Document 81