NCAS Atmospheric Science Conference 2008
Meeting report by Kate Furneaux
University of Leeds
ECB Bulletin January 2009
University of Leeds
ECB Bulletin January 2009
For the first time this conference was open to the whole atmospheric science community, resulting in a high attendance of early career scientists. A diverse range of scientific research was presented, ranging from highly specific laboratory-based kinetic measurements, to field measurements in the polar regions, to adapting to climate change. The message delivered by many throughout the conference is the necessity to understand the atmospheric system at many scales, and to integrate these processes fully.
The keynote speaker, Professor Robert Watson (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Defra), allowed the audience the opportunity to reflect on:
A talk from Dr. William A. Cooper, NCAR (National Centre for Atmospheric Research, USA), addressed the future direction of airborne measurements. An exciting project is the Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) of Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Study, which began in January 2009. Global airborne measurements of a range of important greenhouse gas concentrations will be made over a two-year period. The results will be closely coupled to model analysis. Dr. Cooper emphasised the importance of interactive research internationally, especially for planning global scale and remote-based operations to maximize results.
The keynote speaker, Professor Robert Watson (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Defra), allowed the audience the opportunity to reflect on:
- the impacts of climate change;
- the challenges facing the Government on mitigation options; and
- the scale of physical, technological and behavioural adaptation that can realistically be achieved.
A talk from Dr. William A. Cooper, NCAR (National Centre for Atmospheric Research, USA), addressed the future direction of airborne measurements. An exciting project is the Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) of Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Study, which began in January 2009. Global airborne measurements of a range of important greenhouse gas concentrations will be made over a two-year period. The results will be closely coupled to model analysis. Dr. Cooper emphasised the importance of interactive research internationally, especially for planning global scale and remote-based operations to maximize results.
NCAS Atmospheric Science Conference 2008: the three winners of the best
student poster prize. From left to right: Paul Hardaker (Royal Meteorological Society),Tamsin Malkin, Marvin Shaw, Helen Atkinson and Leanne Marie (RSC). Tamsin Malkin: ‘OH yields from gas-phase ozonolysisof isoprene’. Marvin Shaw (1st prize) : ‘Links between inorganic and organic halogens in a sub-Arctic atmosphere’. Helen Atkinson: ‘Investigating biological sources of iodine emissions in the sea-ice zone’
Indeed, many field campaigns already utilize international collaboration. The Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory is one example of this. The observatory, which began measurements in November 2006 and is run by Dr Lucy Carpenter’s group at the University of York, provides long term gas and aerosol measurements carried out by research groups from the UK and Germany. Additionally, intensive measurement campaigns have included collaborators from the USA. This site is now providing interesting long term measurements at an analogous open ocean, clean tropical location. Recent findings have highlighted the importance of halogen chemistry in quantifying ozone depletion (Read et al, 2008).
The submission of nearly 200 abstracts revealed the breadth of research of the atmospheric science community. Paula Gorrotxategi Carbajo (University of Bristol) reported on the detailed work of her group to measure the absorption cross-section of formaldehyde, which is an oxidation product of many volatile organic compounds (Gorrotxategi Carbajo et al, 2008). The high resolution (0.005 nm) absorption cross-section and quantum yield measurements result in higher photolysis rates of HCHO. These data will be utilised in atmospheric chemistry modelling.
Another important laboratory-based study was highlighted by Tamsin Malkin (University of Leeds), who won a poster prize for the work she presented on the measurement of OH yields from the ozonolysis of alkenes. These results are essential to improve understanding of lesser known sources of OH, which is the most important day time oxidant in the atmosphere.
Instrument development is core to NCAS activities. Clare Bell (University of Oxford) presented work on the development of a Noise Immune Cavity Enhanced Optical Heterodyne Molecular Spectroscopy (NICE-OHMS) for the determination of speciated peroxy radicals. This is a novel instrument to measure the HO2 radical and methane. The advantage of this technique is that it does not require calibration but sensitivity is not yet low enough to enable field deployment.
Field measurements feature highly in atmospheric chemistry research. In spring 2008, scientists from the UK, Ireland and Canada were involved in the COBRA (impact of COmbined Iodine and Bromine Release on the Arctic atmosphere) field campaign at Hudson Bay, Quebec, Canada. Two PhD students who worked on the project, Helen Atkinson (British Antarctic Survey) and Marvin Shaw (University of York) won poster prizes for their work during COBRA. Marvin and his group made GC-MS measurements of reactive halocarbons in the polar boundary layer. Helen Atkinson’s work focused on investigating the biological sources of iodine emissions in the sea-ice zone. She aims to determine if brine channels are involved in the source of iodine release. The combined results from COBRA will further the understanding of halogen chemistry in the Arctic, which is currently understood to a much lesser extent than Antarctica.
In combination with laboratory measurements and field observations, climate models are used to predict climatic trends. Dr. Len Shaffrey (NCAS Climate, University of Reading) highlighted the importance of predictions of rainfall, flooding, drought and high impact weather to inform adaptation strategies. The HiGEM model has been developed to provide high resolution climate modelling (1.25° longitude × 0.83° latitude) compared to the models used in the IPCC 4th assessment report. These predictions are required at a regional scale, to determine the level of adaptation required to deal with climate change. This issue is also being addressed in the USA.
Greg Holland (NCAR) highlighted the need for decadal, regional climate predictions. At NCAR, they aim to use a nested regional climate modelling approach to provide the information needed for policy makers. A combination of laboratory measurements, field observations and atmospheric modelling is required to provide the answers necessary to enable adaptation and successful mitigation to combat climate change.
The NCAS conference highlighted the exciting advances that are being made in these areas worldwide. Integration of results throughout the community is vital. It was clear that dissemination of the results to enhance understanding of these global issues to government, businesses and the public is essential.
References
Read, K. A.; Mahajan, A. S.; Carpenter, L. J.; Evans, M. J.; Faria, B. V. E.; Heard, D. E.; Hopkins, J. R.; Lee, J. D.; Moller, S. J.; Lewis, A. C.; Mendes, L.; McQuaid, J. B.; Oetjen, H.; Saiz-Lopez, A.; Pilling, M. J.; Plane, J. M. C. (2008), Extensive halogen-mediated ozone destruction over the tropical Atlantic Ocean, Nature, 453, 1232 - 1235 (26 Jun 2008), doi: 10.1038/nature07035.
Gorrotxategi Carbajo, P.; Smith, S. C.; Holloway, A.-L.; Smith, C. A.; Pope, F. D.; Shallcross, D. E.; Orr-Ewing, A. J. (2008), Ultraviolet photolysis of HCHO: Absolute HCO quantum yields by direct detection of the HCO radical photoproduct, J. Phys. Chem. A, 112 (48), 12437–12448 doi: 0.1021/jp8070508
KATE FURNEAUX
School of Chemistry,
University of Leeds,
Leeds LS2 9JT
Web link: NCAS www.ncas.ac.uk/
The submission of nearly 200 abstracts revealed the breadth of research of the atmospheric science community. Paula Gorrotxategi Carbajo (University of Bristol) reported on the detailed work of her group to measure the absorption cross-section of formaldehyde, which is an oxidation product of many volatile organic compounds (Gorrotxategi Carbajo et al, 2008). The high resolution (0.005 nm) absorption cross-section and quantum yield measurements result in higher photolysis rates of HCHO. These data will be utilised in atmospheric chemistry modelling.
Another important laboratory-based study was highlighted by Tamsin Malkin (University of Leeds), who won a poster prize for the work she presented on the measurement of OH yields from the ozonolysis of alkenes. These results are essential to improve understanding of lesser known sources of OH, which is the most important day time oxidant in the atmosphere.
Instrument development is core to NCAS activities. Clare Bell (University of Oxford) presented work on the development of a Noise Immune Cavity Enhanced Optical Heterodyne Molecular Spectroscopy (NICE-OHMS) for the determination of speciated peroxy radicals. This is a novel instrument to measure the HO2 radical and methane. The advantage of this technique is that it does not require calibration but sensitivity is not yet low enough to enable field deployment.
Field measurements feature highly in atmospheric chemistry research. In spring 2008, scientists from the UK, Ireland and Canada were involved in the COBRA (impact of COmbined Iodine and Bromine Release on the Arctic atmosphere) field campaign at Hudson Bay, Quebec, Canada. Two PhD students who worked on the project, Helen Atkinson (British Antarctic Survey) and Marvin Shaw (University of York) won poster prizes for their work during COBRA. Marvin and his group made GC-MS measurements of reactive halocarbons in the polar boundary layer. Helen Atkinson’s work focused on investigating the biological sources of iodine emissions in the sea-ice zone. She aims to determine if brine channels are involved in the source of iodine release. The combined results from COBRA will further the understanding of halogen chemistry in the Arctic, which is currently understood to a much lesser extent than Antarctica.
In combination with laboratory measurements and field observations, climate models are used to predict climatic trends. Dr. Len Shaffrey (NCAS Climate, University of Reading) highlighted the importance of predictions of rainfall, flooding, drought and high impact weather to inform adaptation strategies. The HiGEM model has been developed to provide high resolution climate modelling (1.25° longitude × 0.83° latitude) compared to the models used in the IPCC 4th assessment report. These predictions are required at a regional scale, to determine the level of adaptation required to deal with climate change. This issue is also being addressed in the USA.
Greg Holland (NCAR) highlighted the need for decadal, regional climate predictions. At NCAR, they aim to use a nested regional climate modelling approach to provide the information needed for policy makers. A combination of laboratory measurements, field observations and atmospheric modelling is required to provide the answers necessary to enable adaptation and successful mitigation to combat climate change.
The NCAS conference highlighted the exciting advances that are being made in these areas worldwide. Integration of results throughout the community is vital. It was clear that dissemination of the results to enhance understanding of these global issues to government, businesses and the public is essential.
References
Read, K. A.; Mahajan, A. S.; Carpenter, L. J.; Evans, M. J.; Faria, B. V. E.; Heard, D. E.; Hopkins, J. R.; Lee, J. D.; Moller, S. J.; Lewis, A. C.; Mendes, L.; McQuaid, J. B.; Oetjen, H.; Saiz-Lopez, A.; Pilling, M. J.; Plane, J. M. C. (2008), Extensive halogen-mediated ozone destruction over the tropical Atlantic Ocean, Nature, 453, 1232 - 1235 (26 Jun 2008), doi: 10.1038/nature07035.
Gorrotxategi Carbajo, P.; Smith, S. C.; Holloway, A.-L.; Smith, C. A.; Pope, F. D.; Shallcross, D. E.; Orr-Ewing, A. J. (2008), Ultraviolet photolysis of HCHO: Absolute HCO quantum yields by direct detection of the HCO radical photoproduct, J. Phys. Chem. A, 112 (48), 12437–12448 doi: 0.1021/jp8070508
KATE FURNEAUX
School of Chemistry,
University of Leeds,
Leeds LS2 9JT
Web link: NCAS www.ncas.ac.uk/
