Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects

Our research

Our core aim is to improve the process-based understanding of land-atmosphere exchange, focusing on emissions, atmospheric transport and chemical transformation, deposition and effects.

We do this by integrating measurements, data, models and new understanding of complex interactions. Our research supports policy development for the mitigation of air pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

World-class science and innovation

Flagship monitoring sites (eg Auchencorth Moss) and national-scale monitoring networks (eg GHG Flux Network) generate long-term, high frequency time series of atmospheric composition change and its key drivers.
We develop state-of-the-art process-based models from our measurements and field experiments.
Our models quantify the emissions, dispersion and deposition/removal of pollutants from the atmosphere and their environmental fate.
We investigate the impact of changes in meteorology and atmospheric composition on the biodiversity and biogeochemical cycling of macro- and micronutrients in natural and managed ecosystems.

Science Groups

Biosphere-Atmosphere Exchange and Effects (Group Leader: Eiko Nemitz)

Contact: Eiko Nemitz

Atmospheric Composition Change (Group Leader: Christine Braban)

Contact: Christine Braban

Emissions, Sources, Sinks and Solutions (Group Leaders: Ulli Dragosits, Amanda Thomson)

The primary interests of our group are in the development of models for atmospheric emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs), transport, deposition and effects assessment, including uncertainties.

We contribute to UK national emission inventory reporting for domestic and international climate change and pollution targets. We also apply our models to investigate land management and mitigation scenarios for the future and provide policy advice to UK government (national and regional) and agencies.

We are increasingly involved in international development and capacity building in these areas.

Contact: Ulli Dragosits or Amanda Thomson

Our facilities

Auchencorth Moss Atmospheric Measurement Supersite

Our Auchencorth Moss facility is part of a sensitive peatland ecosystem in central southern Scotland and is one of our most important monitoring sites.

It is a valuable location for long-term monitoring of surface / atmosphere exchange fluctuations and measurements indicating environmental change. As a result of the large number of parameters measured at the site it is part of a wide range of monitoring networks and is also used in collaborative work with the wider scientific community. Learn more about the measurements and research conducted at Auchencorth Moss.

Contact: Marsailidh Twigg