Hector Lobeto, researcher at IHCantabria, awarded the prize for the best doctoral thesis in Physics of the Atmosphere and Ocean of the GEFAO of the Spanish Royal Society of Physics

The board of directors of the Atmospheric and Ocean Physics Specialist Group (GEFAO) of the Real Sociedad Española de Física (RSEF), has notified the awarding of the “Best Doctoral Thesis in Physical Oceanography” and the “Best Doctoral Thesis in Physics of the Atmosphere and Ocean 2023” to Héctor Lobeto Alonso who is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Marine Climate and Climate Change Group of the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria).

Hector Lobeto’s doctoral thesis is entitled “Study of the climatic variability of marine surface dynamics: extremes and effect of climate change”; it was developed within the Doctoral Program in Coastal Engineering, Hydrobiology and Management of Aquatic Systems (IH2O), of the Universidad de Cantabria (UC).

In his doctoral thesis, Héctor Lobeto has developed new methods and climate products to improve the characterization of marine surface dynamics at regional and global scales. In particular, the thesis focuses on wave and sea level, as both dynamics are crucial for impact assessment in open ocean and coastal areas. “Given its marked relevance, the analysis of extreme wave and sea level events plays a key role in this thesis. In addition, climate variations at different time scales are evaluated, with special emphasis on long-term variations induced by the effect of climate change”, explains Héctor Lobeto.

Prior to obtaining his doctoral degree, Hector Lobeto trained as a civil engineer at the University of Cantabria (2010-2014). At the same university, he obtained a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (2014-2016) and a Master’s degree in Coastal and Port Engineering (2016-2017). In these two master’s degree programs he received the Extraordinary End of Degree Award.

Call for entries and awards ceremony of the GEFAO – RSEF

In November 2023, the GEFAO Governing Board announced, for the first time, the awards in the categories of “Doctoral Thesis” and “Distinguished Career”, with the aim of recognizing and rewarding outstanding work and significant contribution in the field of atmospheric and ocean physics, thus promoting excellence, innovation and dedication in this area of research.

In the category for the best Doctoral Thesis, the call announced two awards: one for “Best Doctoral Thesis in Physics of the Atmosphere” and the other for “Best Doctoral Thesis in Physical Oceanography”. To one of these two winning theses, the tribunal also awarded the prize for “Best Doctoral Thesis in Physics of the Atmosphere and Ocean”. This prize was awarded to Héctor Lobeto, who had previously been recognized with the award for “Best Doctoral Thesis in Physical Oceanography”.

In addition, the GEFAO will propose Hector Lobeto’s candidacy as a representative for the RSEF‘s call for the best doctoral thesis award, in an event to be held soon.

The award panel for these awards was made up of members of the GEFAO Board of Directors, whose names were published together with the award minutes. The news about these awards will be published soon in the RSEF Bulletin.

The awards will be presented to Héctor Lobeto during the XXXIX Biennial of the Spanish Royal Society of Physics, to be held in mid-July this year in Donostia, where Héctor Lobeto has been invited to give a lecture during the GEFAO seminar.

The complete content of Héctor Lobeto Alonso’s doctoral thesis can be accessed through the following link: https://hdl.handle.net/10902/28010