Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
Profile
Early Academic Pursuits
Alfredo Rocha began his academic journey in the field of Atmospheric Sciences, earning a PhD in Meteorology from the University of Melbourne in 1992. His thesis, “The Influence of Global Sea Surface Temperatures on Southern African Summer Climate,” marked a pioneering step in linking oceanic patterns to regional climate behavior. His deep interest in physics and atmospheric systems continued with a doctorate in Física da Atmosfera from the University of Aveiro in 1993.
Professional Endeavors
Prof. Rocha's career spans over three decades, primarily at the University of Aveiro, where he has held positions from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor with Aggregation. His early professional experience also includes a significant research role at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research in Australia in 1992. He has coordinated research centers and departments between 2017 and 2019, demonstrating leadership in academic governance.
Research Focus and Contributions
Rocha’s work is centered on Climate Change, Atmospheric Modeling, and Meteorological Simulations, with particular emphasis on the Iberian Peninsula, Mozambique Coast, and Douro Region. He has contributed extensively to topics like wind energy, sea level rise, storm surge prediction, and climate scenario development using advanced models like WRF, ROMS, and GCM. His research has helped shape regional climate resilience strategies and environmental assessments.
Impact and Influence
With over 72 peer-reviewed articles, 4 books, and collaboration with 222 co-authors, Rocha’s influence extends internationally. His interdisciplinary work bridges meteorology, oceanography, and environmental physics, enriching Portuguese and global scientific communities. He has also contributed to the evaluation of climate impacts on viticulture in the Douro Valley—an intersection of climate science and cultural heritage.
Academic Citations and Visibility
His scholarly work is widely recognized in databases such as ORCID (0000-0003-4940-6522) and Ciência Vitae (281E-1655-EFCA), highlighting consistent citation across meteorology, climatology, and environmental physics domains. His involvement in scientific literature is further reinforced by his role as a peer reviewer in multiple disciplines.
Technical and Analytical Skills
Prof. Rocha possesses advanced proficiency in atmospheric and ocean modeling software including WRF, ROMS, WAsP, and GCMs, alongside analytical techniques in time series analysis, numerical simulation, remote sensing, and ensemble forecasting. He applies these tools in research involving wind simulation, phytotoxic risk assessment, and mesoscale dynamics.
Teaching and Mentoring
From 1993 onwards, he has taught at all academic ranks in higher education at the University of Aveiro, engaging in course development, thesis supervision, and academic advising. His multilingual abilities in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish enhance his ability to mentor students from diverse backgrounds.
Legacy and Future Contributions
Alfredo Rocha stands as a key figure in Portuguese atmospheric sciences, with his research influencing climate strategy, energy policy, and environmental education. His work on urban heat islands, storm forecasting, and grapevine bioclimatic indices sets a foundation for future interdisciplinary climate solutions. Looking ahead, his expertise is poised to support urban climate adaptation, renewable energy optimization, and sustainable agricultural planning.
Publication Top Notes
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Title: Wildfire exposure and risk in pulp paper companies’ plantations under extreme weather conditions: A case study in North-Western Portugal
Authors: Bruni, Chiara; Aparício, Bruno A.; Lourenço, Beatriz; Rocha, Alfredo M.; Sá, Ana C.L.
Journal: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Year: 2024
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Title: Climate Change and Health: Insight into a Healthy, Sustainable and Resilient Future
Authors: Rodrigues, Monica A.; Rocha, Alfredo M.
Journal: [Editorial Article]
Year: 2024
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Title: Coupling wildfire spread simulations and connectivity analysis for hazard assessment: a case study in Serra da Cabreira, Portugal
Authors: Sá, Ana C.L.; Aparício, Bruno A.; Benali, Akli Ait; Rocha, Alfredo M.; Pereira, José M.C.
Journal: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Year: 2022