Assia Arouf, Dr.

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR), Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NASA GISS) in the city of New York.

I am broadly interested in Earth's climate system, with a focus on clouds. My research aims to better understand the cloud radiative effect and cloud feedback. I typically work with satellite observations, in combination with radiative transfer codes and climate models, aiming to improve our understanding of clouds and climate projections.

Publications

Also see Google Scholar

In Prep and Submitted

[12] Arouf, A., Cesana, G. V., Lin, YJ., Constraining low-level cloud feedback and cloud dependency to environmental factors in CMIP models. In prep.

[11] Arouf, A., Jin, Z., Explain the recent trend in the DLR through a kernel decomposition. In prep.

[10] Arouf, A., Jin, Z., Chepfer, H., Arctic Opaque Cloud Cover Drives the Shift from Transmissive to Opaque Radiative State in Fall. Submitted to Geophysical Research Letters

[9] Cesana, G., Lin, Y., Wu, J. Kelley, M., Remillard, J., Tselioudis, G., Schmidt, G. Arouf, A., Elsaesser, G., Ackerman, A., Bauer, S., Cheng, Y., Fridlind, A., Nanou, N., Improved representation of cloud properties and feedbacks in the NASA GISS-E3 climate model. Under review, JAMES https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.15005381/v1

2026

[8] Cesana, G. V., Arouf, A., (2026), A Reconciled Satellite Record Reveals a Negative Low Cloud Feedback Over the Past 47 Years Journal of Geophysical Research Letters, 53, e2026GL124158. doi.org/10.1029/2026GL124158

[7] Pilewskie, J. A., Cesana, G. V., Arouf, A., Vaillant de Guélis, T., (2026), A new lidar-based observational estimate for a short-term longwave high-cloud feedback. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 131, e2025JD046222. doi.org/10.1029/2025JD046222

[6] Arouf, A., Cesana, G. V., Pilewskie, J. A., (2026), Observed Sc and Cu cloud variability and feedback and their dependency to environmental factors. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 131, e2025JD045525. doi.org/10.1029/2025JD045525,

2025

[5] Chepfer, H., Chomette, O., Arouf, A., Noel, V., Winker, D., Feofilov, A., Alava Baldazo, A. (2025) Variability and Trends in Cloud Properties Over 17 Years From CALIPSO Space Lidar Observations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, doi.org/10.1029/2025JD043764

2024

[4] Lac, J., Chepfer, H., Arouf, A., Shupe, M. D., Gallagher, M. R. (2024). Polar Low Circulation Enhances Greenland's West Coast Cloud Surface Warming. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 129, e2023JD040450. doi.org/10.1029/2023JD040450

[3] Arouf, A., Chepfer, H., Kay, J. E., L'Ecuyer, T. S., Lac, J. (2024). Surface cloud warming increases as late Fall Arctic sea ice cover decreases. Geophysical Research Letters, 51, e2023GL105805. doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105805

2023

[2] Arouf, A., (2023). Surface longwave cloud radiative effect derived from space lidar observations: application in the Arctic. Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, Sorbonne Université. www.theses.fr/2023SORUS173.

2022

[1] Arouf, A., Chepfer, H., Vaillant de Guélis, T., Chiriaco, M., Shupe, M. D., Guzman, R., Feofilov, A., Raberanto, P., L’Ecuyer, T. S., Kato, S., and Gallagher, M. R. (2022). The Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect derived from Space Lidar Observations. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 15, 3893–3923. doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3893-2022.

Education

[2019 - 2023], PhD Degree, Sorbonne Université | Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD).
Cloud Radiative Effects on Surface Temperature from Space Lidar Observations. (Presentation)
Remote sensing, radiative transfer, Earth radiation budget, data processing.

[2017 - 2019], Master Degree, Université Paris Cité | Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP).
Fundamentals of Remote Sensing (link).
Electromagnetic radiation, atmosphere and climate system, radiative transfer, satellite observations, spatial techniques.

[2013 - 2017], Bachelor Degree + Master 1, Blida, Algeria | Institut d’Aéronautique et des Etudes Spatiales (IAES).
Aeronautics: Physics, Mathematics, Electromagnetism, Navigation.

Work Experience

[10/2023 - present], Postdoctoral Research Scientiste, Columbia Climate School | NASA-GISS. Determine the impact of an improved representation of low-cloud feedbacks on ECS in the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Earth System Model (NASA-GISS ESM), obtained via observational constraints on moist atmospheric physical processes.

[06/2023 - 08/2023], Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS). Comparison of the longwave cloud radiative effect derived from CALIPSO observations with the longwave cloud radiative effect simulated by CMIP6 climate models over the last $17$~years in the polar regions.

[09/2019 - 04/2023], PhD Research, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD). Development of surface longwave cloud radiative effect product from theoretical parameterizations derived from radiative transfer simulations that involve different humidity and temperature profiles from reanalysis, and five cloud properties derived from space lidar observations. Validation of the surface longwave cloud radiative effect by comparing it to existing satellite-derived products globally on instantaneous collocated data at footprint scale and on global averages as well as to ground-based observations at specific locations.

Conferences

Invited Seminars

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Ocean and Climate Physics (OCP); March 2025; New York, USA; Cloud Radiative Effect and Cloud Feedback from CALIPSO Observations. (Presentation Recording)

NASA-Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS); Jan. 2024; New York, USA; Surface longwave cloud radiative effect derived from space lidar observations: An application to the Arctic. (Presentation Recording).

Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie; Jul. 2021; Remote; The Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect from Space Lidar Observations.

Oral Presentations

AMS Denver Summit: 18th Conference on Polar Meteorology and Oceanography; May 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Surface cloud warming increases as Fall Arctic sea ice cover decreases,

CloudSat/CALIPSO Science Team Meeting; Feb. 2025; Fort Collins, CO, USA; Constraining Low-Level Cloud Feedback and Cloud Dependency to Environmental Factors in CMIP Models,

AGU: American Geophysical Union; Dec. 2024; Washington, D.C., USA; Constraining Low-Level Cloud Feedback and Cloud Dependency to Environmental Factors in CMIP Models,

EGU: European Geosciences Union; April 2023; Vienna, Austria; Quantifying surface cloud warming increase as Fall Arctic sea ice cover decreases, doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-2377

EECLAT: Expecting Earth-Care, Learning from A-train; Jan. 2023; Banyuls, France; Quantifying surface cloud warming increase as Fall Arctic sea ice cover decreases.

EECLAT; Jan. 2022; Remote; Cloud warming effect: A-Train Observations Vs CMIP6 Models.

EECLAT; Jan. 2021; Remote; Effect of clouds on surface temperature from space lidar observations.

EECLAT; Jan. 2020; Avignon, France; Clouds influence on surface heating in the infrared range on a global scale.

Poster Presentations

CFMIP: Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project; Jun. 2024; Boston, USA; Constraining low-level cloud feedback and cloud dependency to environmental factors in CMIP models.

NASA–GSFC Poster Party; Jan. 2024; Greenbelt, USA; Constraining low-level cloud feedback in NASA–GISS model–E using satellite observations.

CFMIP; Jul. 2023; Paris, France; The Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect derived from Space Lidar Observations.

IRS: International Radiation Symposium; Jul. 2022; Thessalonique, Greece; The Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect derived from Space Lidar Observations.

LPS: Living Planet Symposium; May 2022; Bonn, Germany; The Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect derived from Space Lidar Observations.

AMS: American Meteorological Society; May 2022; Remote; The Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect from Space Lidar Observations

WCRP: World Climate Research Programme; Sept. 2021; Remote; Analysis of Time Series of Global Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect from Space Lidar Observations.

EGU; May 2021; Remote; The Surface Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect from Space Lidar Observations, 10.5194/egusphere-egu21-2064

Lectures

Invited Lecture at New York University (NUY)-Master in Public Health; February 2026; New York, USA; Climate Change and Cloud Feedback: Why clouds matter.

Code & Data

[2] Arouf, A., Chepfer, H., Vaillant de Guélis, T., Guzman, R. (2023). Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect derived from Space Lidar Observations at the Surface and TOA – Edition 1: along orbit track (2008-2020). IPSL [data set]. doi.org/10.14768/d4de28c3-0912-4244-8c2b-6fe259eb863c.

[1] Arouf, A., Chepfer, H., Vaillant de Guélis, T., Guzman, R. (2022). Longwave Cloud Radiative Effect derived from Space Lidar Observations at the Surface and TOA – Edition 1: Monthly Gridded Product. IPSL [data set]. doi.org/10.14768/70d5f4b5-e740-4d4c-b1ec-f6459f7e5563.

Community Involvement & Leadership

[10-2025 - present] Co-president of Columbia University Postdoctoral Society (profile).

[01/2025 10/2025] Co-chair of the Networking Committee, Columbia University Postdoctoral Society.

[2024 - present] Early Career Scientists representative, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Outreach

[10/2025] CURIE-uses: Au-delà des frontières – Workshops with NYC French Schools, Led two workshops as one of three invited scientists for the CURIE-uses: Au-delà des frontières exhibition. On October 21, animated a session with 41 CM2 students from the NYC Lycée Français, and on October 22, with 20 students from The École (5eme). Through a “chalk talk,” a treasure hunt, and a final discussion, students explored the scientists’ work and personal journeys.

[10/2025] CURIE-uses: Au-delà des frontières – Exhibition | Panel Discussion & Featured Portrait , Invited panelist and honored featured portrait, sharing insights on the role of women in science and my personal journey in the field. Featured in the accompanying magazine publication. Exhibition held at Maison de la Région Occitanie Pyrénées Méditerranée.

[09/2024] Climate Science Fair - High Line, Goddard NASA climate scientist representative at Pioneer Works High Line Booth Emerson.

[07/2023] Parcours Thésard – Panel Discussion, Invited speaker at the DZ Event & Networking session held at the Algerian Consulate in Paris, sharing insights on the PhD journey — from applications and funding to the defense and postdoctoral steps — and presenting my personal experience.

Academic Service

Peer Reviewer for international journals:
— Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (AGU)
— Geophysical Research Letters (AGU)
— EGUsphere (EGU)
— Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio)

Hobbies Beyond Science

Sewing: I love designing and creating clothes from scratch, turning ideas into unique handmade pieces (check my )

Crafting, Painting and manual work are my favorite ways to express creativity, relax, and bring ideas to life.

CV

Consult or download .

Contact

Feel free to reach out!

aa5396@columbia.edu