Professional summary

Research Interests

I am Atmospheric Composition Change Group leader in the Atmopsheric Chemistry and Effects Science Area (pre November 2017: Biosphere-Atmospheric Interactions) led by Dr Stefan Reis.  My research interests cover rural and urban air quality with a focus on ammonia and reactive nitrogen species, led scientifically by Prof Mark Sutton. I work with long term observations and experiments, and with low and high tech instrumentation. I am interested in measurements, modelling and process studies to quantify processes and impacts of the current atmospheric chemical climate. 

I help develop the atmospheric science measurement strategy at Auchencorth Moss (WMO-GAW Regional station, ICOS Ecosystem station  UK EMEP Supersite and atmosperhic observatory platform). I am involved in the UNECE Task Force for Measurement and Modelling and the CEN WG11 on developing a European standard for ambient ammonia passive samplers.

Atmospheric Composition Change group (follow: @CEH_AirQuality for updates)

Staff: Marsailidh Twigg, Bill Bealey, David Leaver, Sim Tang, Matt Jones, John Kentisbeer,  Netty Van Dijk, Sarah Leeson, Ivan Simmons, Amy Stephens, Duncan Harvey, Cristina Martin

CEH Fellows: Prof. David Fowler, Prof. Neil Cape

Current students: Claudia Steadman, Hannah Walker

Staff and student alumni: Sarah Pilkington-Greenwood, Chris Malley, Megan Galloway, Elin Roberts

My Current research:

Project Manager of the Defra/EA UK Eutrophying and Acidifying Atmospheric Pollutants (UKEAP) contract operating the UK's rural monitoring networks and the UK EMEP Supersites.

I am CEH Project lead on the following: 

NERC SPF OSCA (2019-2022)

NERC SPF Clean Air QUANT) (2019-2022)

H2020 ACTRIS_PPP   (2016-2019)

H2020 ACTRIS 2 (2015-2019)

I am contributing to many other CEH and external projects including currently the following projects and activities: 

On-going research interests include:

  • Development and maintenance of screening tools for assessing impacts of trace gas point sources
  • Development & deployment of instrumentation and samplers for measurement of trace gases and aerosols.
  • Volcano plume impacts in the UK: surface measurements and response planning
  • Transfer of knowledge and expertise in low cost, quality assured enviromental measurements

Brief CV

2008–current   NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

2004-2008        NERC Postdoctoral Research Associate:

  • Halogen chemistry in volcanic plumes (3 yr PDRA 2005-2008)
  • Phase transitions of model tropospheric aerosol
  • Heterogeneous chemistry of reactive species on model tropospheric aerosol

1999-2004        PhD studies and Teaching Assistant

1996-1999        Higher Scientific Officer, Chemical and Biological Defence, DERA

1995                 MSc Thesis: Development of a flow-reactor for the removal of nitrate from water

Qualifications

2004     PhD, Environmental Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada

1995     MSc, Analytical Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, UK

1994     BA Hons, Metallurgy and the Science of Materials, University of Oxford, UK (2ii)

Panels, committees and memberships

Institute of Environmental Sciences

Royal Meteorological Society

American and European Geophysical Unions

Publications