Researcher profile: Chief Thunder Radar

The RV Investigator is Australia’s 94-metre ocean research vessel. It performs the major role of data collection within Australia’s National Marine Research capabilities. Everywhere the Investigator goes it maps the sea floor. Researchers from all over Australia and indeed the world conduct research on the ship. Each voyage has a new team of researchers and every voyage has a different focus. On the last voyage of 2019 we asked a few of them to tell us their story. There were quite a few surprises but they all had two things in common, curiosity and a desire to keep on learning.

Dr Alain Protat

Chief Thunder Radar

Occupation: Senior Principal Research Scientist

Fields: Radar meteorology

Organisation: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Enjoys: Connecting scientists and listening to my kids play music

I was born in France and have a lovely wife and three kids (16, 14, and 12). I moved to Australia in 2007 to work at BOM (Bureau of Meteorology). I lead the Radar Science and Nowcasting Team at BOM. I use radars at different frequencies and on different platforms (ground, ship, aircraft, satellite) to better understand cloud and convection (storm) processes. On this voyage I am the chief scientist, which means I have the biggest cabin but also a lot of responsibility.

Quick facts

• The dual polarising radar on the Investigator is one of the most advanced available and is used to help calibrate land-based radars.
• After all these years doing radar research, I am still passionate about my job, probably even more than before.

More information

Alain Protat profile

Weather radar on RV Investigator