Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/P020615/1
Multidisciplinary training in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, oceans and terrestrial biosphere
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr P Brown, NOC (Up to 31.10.2019), Science and Technology
- Grant held at:
- NOC (Up to 31.10.2019), Science and Technology
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Radiative Processes & Effects
- Climate & Climate Change
- Earth Engineering
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Abstract:
- The Earth is warming because human activities over the last 200 years or so (such as the burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal) have led to higher concentrations of heat-trapping, 'greenhouse' gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane accumulating in the atmosphere. Without limiting the build-up of GHGs in the atmosphere, widespread and unprecedented climate change and sea level rise are predicted to occur. Currently, the progress of global warming has been slowed by the actions of the oceans and the terrestrial biosphere (land-based plant life), that together absorb approximately half of all additional CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. This is greatly reducing the rate at which atmospheric CO2 concentrations are increasing, but it is not known to what extent and for how long the oceans and land can be relied on to continue this behaviour. In 2015 the COP21 Paris Agreement was signed by over 190 countries, agreeing to a phased reduction in GHG emissions to limit associated climate warming to no more than 2 degrees centigrade above preindustrial levels. This will require substantial changes in societal behaviour, and significant actions by all countries towards a more sustainable future. Understanding GHGs and how they are moved between the atmosphere, land and oceans is thus a key issue in environmental science. This is critically so in scientific research, where the behaviour of the different components of the climate system must be closely monitored and modelled into the future in order to better prepare society for the consequences of 2 degrees of global warming. But it is also important for government and legislators as they respond to updated climate predictions, and for businesses and individuals as they respond to a changing climate and an evolving regulatory framework for sustainability. Knowledgeable, well-trained individuals with appropriate skills set for this zero-carbon future will thus be keenly needed in the future across all sectors of society. However, a continuing critical skills gap has been identified in the environment sector both by NERC and industry, whose research has stated that 'only 13% of organisations are fully confident that they have the skills to successfully compete in a sustainable economy'. The summer schools proposed here will work to address these deficiencies. Of the 15 most wanted skills highlighted by NERC, we will include specific training regarding 10-12 of them. The summer school will be based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. It will provide an integrated training programme of environmental science and data management that will introduce attendees to a comprehensive understanding of the role of key GHGs in the Earth system, and the processes that govern their dynamics in the atmosphere, ocean and terrestrial biosphere from an interdisciplinary perspective. It will take the form of a combination of lectures, fieldwork, laboratory analysis, computer modelling, seminars and practical exercises that takes advantage of the facilities, expertise and geographical proximity of world class research centres and fieldsites, unique in the UK. Course impacts will be that attendees will: be trained by world-renowned scientists in the response of natural systems to human influence; participate in fieldwork and receive practical training in how to measure and model fluxes in water, atmosphere and earth and in the operation of multiple analysis and sensor techniques to international quality standards; be able to generate datasets with globally acceptable metadata, to access online data repositories and handle datasets and model outputs of large spatial and temporal scales; have built peer networks of multi-disciplinary research themes. We feel that while various other courses on specific aspects or techniques for GHG research exist, to our knowledge there are no short training opportunities designed to give a wider perspective across the whole range of techniques.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/P020615/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £59,312
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £59,312 |
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