Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/B506094/1
An aircraft instrument for analysing the structure of Atmospheric Aerosol and Cloud Particles (APA).
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor PH Kaye, University of Hertfordshire, Science and Technology RI
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr E Hirst, University of Hertfordshire, School of Physics, Astronomy and Maths
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor ZJ Ulanowski, University of Hertfordshire, School of Physics, Astronomy and Maths
- Grant held at:
- University of Hertfordshire, Science and Technology RI
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Pollution
- Boundary Layer Meteorology
- Tropospheric Processes
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- The single greatest source of uncertainty in the estimates of climate sensitivity to either natural or anthropogenic changes continues to be clouds (IPCC 2001). Much of this uncertainty arises from the lack of information relating to the smaller cloud particles (droplets, ice crystals) and aerosol (whether natural, eg: mineral dust, salt, bacteria and other biological particles, or anthropogenic, eg: combustion products). Cloud microphysicists have at their disposal several types of instrument which can count and size particles down to sub-micrometre sizes, whilst others can capture real images of individual particles in-situ. Such images are especially valuable as they allow the assessment of particle morphology and in some cases internal structure. However, optical aberrations and depth of field limitations result in image blurring, thus restricting the usefulness of imaging techniques to particles greater than ~20?m in size. Much of interest in cloud microphysics involves particles far smaller than this, including, for example, how do insoluble aerosol particles and droplets interact?; when are existing instruments erroneously classifying droxtals (near-spherical ice crystals) as droplets of similar size? - with significant implications on cloud radiative properties; what are the morphologies and sizes of the smallest ice crystals present in the atmosphere, are they solid or hollow, and are their surfaces rough or smooth? All of which can again affect cloud and radiative properties. In contrast to imaging techniques, high resolution spatial light scattering patterns can provide information on particle features for feature sizes down to the order of the wavelength of the illumination and do not suffer depth of field problems. The Applicants therefore propose to construct a new aircraft probe (referred to as an Atmospheric Particle Analyser, APA) based on high resolution spatial light scattering pattern acquisition. This probe would build on research carried out at UH over the past decade, supported by EPSRC, NERC, and DSTL, and would provide the cloud microphysics community with a valuable new tool with which to investigate the morphology and behaviour of smaller atmospheric particles currently beyond the reach of existing instrumentation. This lies at the heart of NERC atmospheric science strategy in terms of improved knowledge of cloud-aerosol behaviour and commensurate benefit to the reliability of future climate prediction.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/B506094/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Capital Equipment Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Capital Equipment
This grant award has a total value of £161,719
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £64,327 | £2,351 | £36,963 | £29,592 | £28,487 |
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