Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00541
Investigation of the effects of Aerosol on mixed phase cloud at an alpine mountain site.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor TW Choularton, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor MW Gallagher, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr KN Bower, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor DJ Vaughan, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor C Hughes, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor H Coe, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr C Saunders, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Grant held at:
- The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Tropospheric Processes
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Hydrological Processes
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- The largest uncertainty in radiative forcing of climate is caused by the effect of clouds (IPCC, 2001). However, whilst the aerosol indirect effects of warm clouds are beginning to be understood through the influence that anthropogenic aerosol have on cloud microphysical processes and hence radiative properties, the indirect effects in cold and mixed phase clouds are largely unknown due to the much greater complexity of the microphysical processes. The role of ice nuclei (IN) in controlling crystal number and morphology is central to this uncertainty as even the composition of IN is largely unknown. Furthermore, it is not clear what fraction of ice crystals in the cloud are formed from primary IN or from secondary ice multiplication processes. It is clear that both anthropogenic Cloud Condensation Nuclei and anthropogenic Ice Nuclei are key to understanding these processes. The aim of this work is to gain insight into the physical and chemical properties of ice nuclei by making measurements of ice and liquid cloud particles, ice nuclei and composition measurements of the residual particles found within these different particle types at a high altitude alpine field station in the Swiss Alps. The experiments would be an international collaboration between Swiss (Paul Scherrer Institute), German (MPI Mainz, U of Darmstadt, IfT Leipzig), Danish (U of Copenhagen) and the UK groups identified in this proposal and would take place early in the years of 2004 and 2005. The UMIST group will provide the field measurements of cloud droplets and ice crystals, and use a mass spectrometer to provide online measurements of the residuals of cloud droplets and ice crystals as a function of their size. The UMIST group will also collect and store samples of crystals and their residuals for subsequent Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopic and other offline analyses by staff at the University of Manchester Williamson Research Centre. These measurements will provide a characterisation of IN in a range of airmasses and provide valuable information for developing a deeper understanding of IN in laboratory studies and improve parameterisations of IN in models. The total cost of the programme is proposed to be #212k, of which #96k is staff costs, #17.5 is T+S, and the remainder is consumables associated with the field deployment and ESEM sampling and storage protocol and some small equipment items. This is at the heart of NERC strategy and provides underpinning scientific understanding to enable improved predictions of cloud physics and hence radiative forcing to be made to enhance the reliability of future climate prediction.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00541
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £177,043
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £76,533 | £18,299 | £39,775 | £7,232 | £35,206 |
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