Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C512537/1
Characterising the optical properties of scattering and absorbing aerosol particles.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor JP Reid, University of Bristol, Chemistry
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor D Shallcross, University of Bristol, Chemistry
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor A Orr-Ewing, University of Bristol, Chemistry
- Grant held at:
- University of Bristol, Chemistry
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Water In The Atmosphere
- Radiative Processes & Effects
- Technol. for Environ. Appl.
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- Global warming is recognised as one of the foremost environmental issues of our time and has received considerable attention from scientists, policy makers and the media. It is of critical importance that we improve our understanding of the role of aerosols and clouds on the radiation budget of the atmosphere if we are to successfully predict what our climate will be like in the future and to decide on strategies to counteract climate change. Aerosols and clouds can scatter sunlight directly back into space, leading to a cooling of the earth's atmosphere. They can also absorb sunlight, leading to a heating of the earth's atmosphere. The size and composition of an aerosol particle determines if scattering or absorption dominates. In addition, small aerosol particles, either natural or anthropogenic, can grow and become cloud droplets, thus indirectly influencing the solar radiation entering the atmosphere. In this research, we propose to study the scattering and absorption of light by aerosol particles and cloud droplets in controlled laboratory studies. A laser will be used to generate light between wavelengths of 400 nm and 2.5 microns and particle sizes and compositions will be controlled, generating particles 100 nm to 10 microns in radius. The scattering and absorption of the light will be measured using a cavity ring down instrument, in which the light is reflected many times through an aerosol sample by highly reflective mirrors. In particular, we will focus on three benchmark systems: scattering and absorption of light from spherical water droplets; scattering from non-spherical particles such as sea-salt aerosol; and absorption of light by black carbon aerosol mixed in water droplets. While each of these systems will provide fundamental information on the optical properties of aerosols, enabling current models to be validated and assessed, the data will in itself be valuable for modelling the role of aerosols in the atmosphere. In addition, it is hoped that the technique will lead to a general approach that will yield important data for a wide range of systems that can be used in models of global climate.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C512537/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £298,338
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £3,688 | £102,900 | £16,858 | £47,334 | £127,559 |
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