Prof. David Fowler

Surface - atmosphere exchange processes of trace gases and particulate matter. The research has been applied to ozone, acid deposition, the global biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen, emissions of greenhouse gases, atmospheric aerosols and effects of pollutants on vegetation.  He also has a particular interest in the policy applications of air quality research and has been closely involved with policy teams in the UK, the EU and UNECE.

David has been a contributing author to more than 230 refereed publications in addition to contributions to book chapters and conference proceedings, and has an H index of 56. He was awarded an Honorary Professorship at the University of Nottingham in 1991, became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1999, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 2002. In 2005 he was awarded a CBE for services to research into Atmospheric Pollution.
 

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB

Position: Environmental Physicist

Specialisation: Micrometeorology, land atmosphere exchange of trace gases and particles,
and effects of pollutants on vegetation

Year joined NERC: 1975

Summary qualifications

1972 BSc (Hons) Environmental Physics, University of Nottingham

1976 PhD Environmental Physics, University of Nottingham

1988  Honorary Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

1991 Honorary Professorship, University of Nottingham

1999  Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh

2002  Fellow of the Royal Society of London

2005 CBE (for services to Atmospheric Sciences)

Employment History

1975-1978  Higher Scientific Officer, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Edinburgh    

Turbulent (dry) deposition of SO₂

Member of a small research group (4) working on the turbulent deposition of SO₂ to terrestrial surfaces.

– 1985  Senior Scientific Officer, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Edinburgh

Acid rain meteorology and wet deposition processes

Expanding the research programme from dry deposition to include precipitation scavenging processes, especially the effects of orography on wet deposition processes and precipitation chemistry and initiating work on effects of pollutants on vegetation.

1986 – 1991  Principal Scientific Officer, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Edinburgh:  Section Head (Air Pollution Research)

Surface-Atmosphere exchange, photochemical oxidants and effects of pollutants on vegetation

Research group of 7 ITE staff and 7 postgraduate students studying surface – atmosphere exchange processes of SO₂, NO, NO₂, NH₃, O₃, effects of O₃ and effects of acidic deposition on vegetation.

1991 – 1999   Band 3 (IMP Special Merit):   Section Head (Air Pollution research), CEH Edinburgh

Surface-Atmosphere exchange, photochemical oxidants and effects of pollutants on vegetation

As 1986 – 1991, with new areas of research, including surface-atmosphere flux measurement programme for greenhouse  gases (CH₄, and N₂O) by micrometeorology. Research group 20 staff and approx 20 PhD students and Post Doc Research Fellows.

1999 – 2003   Band 2 (IMP Special Merit):   Section Head (Atmospheric Sciences), CEH Edinburgh

Surface-Atmosphere exchange, photochemical oxidants and effects of pollutants on vegetation

As 1991 – 1999, but with a new programme of aerosol flux measurement. Research group 25 CEH staff and 20 PhD students and Post Doctoral Research Fellows.

2003 – 2008    Band 2 (IMP Special Merit):  Science Director of Biogeochemistry Programme, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh

The new post, based in CEH Edinburgh but with responsibilities throughout CEH, provide leadership of Biogeochemistry research and, with the other four Science Directors, the Head of Administration, and the Director of CEH as the management team, to lead CEH. This responsibility takes approximately 50% of time, the remaining 50% for research. The focus of the research programme is Surface-Atmosphere exchange processes, photochemical oxidants and effects of pollutants on vegetation. For my personal research I have a small team of 5 staff and 5 PhD students within CEH Edinburgh Atmospheric Sciences, a Research Assistant and a Personal Secretary.

2008 – 2013   Band 2 (IMP Special Merit):  Environmental Physicist, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh

CEH senior scientist with a focus on synthesis and integration activities and  publications, Royal Society of Edinburgh and London and two EU projects (ACCENT+, and PEGASOS).

2013  Band 1 (IMP Special Merit):  Environmental Physicist, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh