Professional summary
Research Interests
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.
Brief CV
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
Qualifications
- 1972 BSc (Hons) Environmental Physics, University of Nottingham
- 1976 PhD Environmental Physics, University of Nottingham
- 1972 BSc (Hons) Environmental Physics, University of Nottingham
- 1976 PhD Environmental Physics, University of Nottingham
Panels, committees and memberships
- Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh
- Fellow of the Royal Society of London
- Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society
- Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh
- Fellow of the Royal Society of London
- Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society