Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/R006687/1
The sources, processing and activity of dust as ice nucleating particles in the high latitudes
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor BJ Murray, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Grant held at:
- University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Boundary Layer Meteorology
- Land - Atmosphere Interactions
- Radiative Processes & Effects
- Water In The Atmosphere
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- Despite playing a key role in the planet's energy balance, high latitude supercooled liquid clouds are very poorly understood. Ice formation in these clouds is crucial, since the growth and precipitation of ice crystals can dramatically alter their radiative properties. At present we do not know which aerosol types are responsible for nucleation in these clouds, nor do we know the concentration of ice nucleating particles in these regions. In this project the student will address these critically important issues by using unique state-of-the-art instrumentation from both the Met Office and the University of Leeds. The student will work closely with Dr C, of the Met Office's Observations Based Research, who recently developed a new instrument for quantifying ice nucleating particles with high temporal resolution for use on the FAAM BAe146 aircraft. This will be used in combination with the much higher sensitivity, but lower temporal resolution, techniques developed in Prof. M's team in Leeds as part of his ERC fellowship. Through the involvement of Prof F, this exciting and unique collaboration will also allow the student to interact with the Met Office's modellers. The student will work closely with Dr C who will train the student in the use of his new INP counter. The student will then use the instrument in both a set of laboratory and field experiments to quantify the INP concentration in the high latitudes in regions critical for supercooled clouds. This will involve a sequence of laboratory experiments focused on understanding the chemical processing which INP undergo when transported to the high latitudes from lower latitudes as well as work at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology where we plan to benchmark our instrumentation against the AIDA cloud simulation chamber. This will complement field campaigns on the BAe146 FAAM aircraft which will target Arctic stratus clouds. The combination of field and laboratory work at the interface between academia and the Met Office presents an outstanding training opportunity for the student. The student will acquire diverse skills meeting 5 out of 15 of NERC's 'Most wanted II' skills, which address the 'Developing skills' pillar of the Government's 2017 Industrial Strategy. These include: working at the interface between academic science and the results orientated Met Office (Multi-disciplinary); taking part in a field campaign as part of a large interdisciplinary team (Fieldwork); working with large datasets (Data Management) and working alongside numerical modellers (Modelling). Additionally, aerosol scientists are highly sought after in industries ranging from pharmaceutical drug delivery to pollution monitoring and from defence technologies to pesticide dispersal. This project will help the Met Office to achieve societal and economic impact. For example, accurate projections of climate are critical for planning mitigation and adaptation strategies, key issues for our future prosperity and competitiveness. Equally, as ice retreats in the Arctic, it will increasingly open up as a trade route. At present the short term weather models for this region are poor, in part because of the nature of mixed phase and supercooled clouds, which poses a risk to shipping. Hence, there is a significant commercial economic impact to this research. The Met Office is actively engaged in improving both the long term climate and short term weather predictions with the goal of helping people make decisions which allow them to be safe, well and prosperous. In summary, the student will conduct their research and training in both a world class academic environment and a product orientated culture in the UK Met Office. The student will receive outstanding transferrable skills training as well as doing science which has the potential for publication in high impact journals. In our opinion, this project has the clear potential to produce a research leader of the future.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/R006687/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £91,609
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - DSA | Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,692 | £17,480 | £61,440 | £11,000 |
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