Home

People

Topics

Projects

Facilities

PhD Projects

Vacancies

Teaching

Publications

Atmospheric Chemistry @ UEA
UEA logo

The Atmospheric Chemistry @ UEA group is largely based in the School of Environmental and collaborates with the School of Chemical Sciences and the John Innes Centre. We study the origins, composition and chemistry of gases and aerosols in the atmosphere; from the land and ocean surface, to the top of the stratosphere. The chemical species we investigate include those that affect global climate (both positively and negatively), destroy stratospheric ozone, and affect the ability of the atmosphere to ‘cleanse’ itself of pollutants. To do this we develop and deploy instrumentation to make measurements at observing stations or on field campaigns carried out around the world at ground sites, from aircraft, from ships, and from high altitude balloons. Our measurements include the analyses of stable isotopes which give additional insight into the sources, sinks, transport and reactivity of various chemical species. We also develop numerical models of varying complexity to better understand the phenomena that we observe. We are interested in processes and fluxes taking place at the boundaries between the atmosphere and surfaces, such as between the atmosphere and snow, the atmosphere and ocean, and emissions from living organisms. We also make long-term measurements of changes in atmospheric composition, notably from long-running observatories such as Cape Grim, Tasmania, as well as our own observing station at Weybourne on the North Norfolk coast. We are extending these records back in time by making measurements of “old air” trapped in polar firn and ice. We use our numerical models to investigate the atmospheric chemistry in the gas phase, aerosol particles and cloud droplets; chemistry-climate feedbacks; the role of different oxidants on the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere; and to quantify atmospheric budgets of greenhouse gases.

Research topics studied by the AC@UEA group include:

  • Stratospheric composition
  • Tropospheric ozone
  • Marine boundary layer chemistry
  • Aerosol chemistry and physics
  • Interface studies: air-sea, air-snow, and biogenic emissions
  • Long-term measurements
  • Carbon cycle species and greenhouse gases
  • Stable isotope studies
  • Firn and ice core studies