Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/B50469X/1
Deep convective cloud responses to natural and anthropogenic aerosol perturbations.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor K Carslaw, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor TW Choularton, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor D Parker, University of Leeds, National Centre for Atmospheric Science
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor A Blyth, 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:
- Pollution and Waste
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Pollution
- Water In The Atmosphere
- Large Scale Dynamics/Transport
- Tropospheric Processes
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- This proposal is concerned with the way in which deep convective clouds respond to changes in natural and anthropogenic aerosols. Changes in the composition and size of aerosols in the atmosphere caused by anthropogenic emissions are known to significantly alter the microphysics, dynamics and large-scale properties of clouds. These changes affect the climate through radiative, hydrological and dynamical forcings. The effect of aerosol changes on convective clouds, and the impact of the cloud response on the climate system, has been investigated in only a handful of studies, despite evidence that cloud responses are significant. Given the critical role played by deep convection in the climate system, the response of such clouds to anthropogenic aerosols is a major gap in our knowledge. We propose to develop a comprehensive picture of the response of deep convective clouds to changes in aerosol that takes into account the global variability of aerosol properties and meteorological conditions. There are two major aspects to this modelling study: Firstly, we will use detailed microphysical models to examine the complex microphysical response of the clouds to changes in aerosol, and how these affect the cloud dynamics. These simulations will be compared with a wide range of observations that have been made during several previous large-scale observational campaigns. This will be the first study to examine cloud responses under a complete range of environmental conditions and for a comprehensive range of natural and anthropogenically perturbed aerosols. Secondly, we will examine the response of large areas of tropical convective activity to changes in aerosol using a cloud-resolving model. Such large area 'multi-cloud' simulations investigating the role of aerosols have not previously been undertaken. They are important because in the tropics the interaction between convective clouds can extend over several hundred kilometres, meaning that the response of a cloud to changes in aerosol cannot be considered in isolation. From these studies we will quantify the extent to which large-scale tropical convection can be perturbed by anthropogenic aerosol emissions. The results of these simulations will tell us whether aerosol effects on deep convection are likely to be significant enough to affect the climate, and therefore warrant inclusion in climate models.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Dec 2004 - 30 Nov 2007
- Value:
- £152,141 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/B50469X/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £152,141
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £92,922 | £7,425 | £5,850 | £42,744 | £3,200 |
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