Past projects

Funded by: NERC (NE/T006897/1)

Co-Investigators and External Partners: Dr Daniel Partridge

Co-Investigators and External Partners: Prof Jim Haywood (University of Exeter), Prof Ken Carslaw (University of Leeds), UK Met Office, University of Arizona and EPFL

The huge fissure eruption at Holuhraun in 2014-2015 in Iceland, was the largest effusive degassing event from Iceland since the eruption of Laki in 1783. It created a huge plume of sulfur dioxide that oxidised to sulfate aerosol which impacted the microphysical, optical and macrophysical properties of clouds. ADVANCE utilises state-of-the-art observations from surface-based sites and from satellite-borne instruments to challenge the modelling of ACI from multiple climate models. In doing so, ADVANCE will provide a thorough analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the different models and enable new, well constrained estimates of the impact of ACI on climate. The University of Exeter affiliated post-doctoral research associate was Ying Chen.

Funded by: NERC (NE/S00212X/1)

Principal Investigator: Prof James Allan (University of Manchester)

Co-Investigators and External Partners: Prof Jim Haywood and Prof Claire Belcher (University of Exeter)

Atmospheric soot is a pollutant that contains black carbon (BC) and potentially also brown carbon (BrC) and is produced from combustion sources such as diesel engines, wildfires, agricultural waste burning and the burning of solid fuels such as wood and coal. Because BC and BrC absorb sunlight, they can have a warming effect on climate, in particular on local scales. There is evidence to suggest that the increase in absorbing aerosols associated with pollution has been responsible for the weakening of the South Asian Monsoon and also in driving the largest increase in stratospheric temperatures since the eruption of Pinatubo in 1991. The University of Exeter affiliated post-graduate research associate is Lilly Damany-Pearce.

 

 

Funded by: NERC (NE/S002707/1)

Principal Investigator: Prof Jim Haywood 

Co-Investigators and External Partners: Dr Matt Hawcroft and Dr Jenn Catto (University of Exeter), Dr Kevin Hodges (University of Reading) and Dr Mou Leong Tan (Universite Sains Malaysia)

Extreme precipitation events have been increasing in recent decades. They can lead to considerable damage through flooding, which can be enhanced by changes in land use. In a warmer climate, the expected shift to a more intense wet season, with increased frequency of the most extreme events, may have significant implications for the hydrology of Peninsular Malaysia. IMPRESS investigates the dynamical features (e.g. tropical storms) that lead to extreme precipitation in Malaysia and how these may change in the future. The work is closely coordinated with the hydrological catchment work of Dr Mou Leong Tan of the Universite Sains, Malaysia. The affiliated post-doctoral research associate is Dr Ju Liang.

 

Funded by: NERC (NE/W003880/1)

Principal Investigator: Prof Jim Haywood

Co-Investigators and External Partners: Jean-Francois Lamarque and Jaga Richter (NCAR, Boulder, Colorado, USA)

The realisation by the scientific community of the difficulty of limiting global mean temperatures to within these 1.5 or 2.0C targets has led to increased calls for climate intervention via so called "solar radiation management (SRM)" techniques. These techniques aim to increase planetary albedo and induce a cooling that acts to partially offset global warming. This proposal uses the UK's climate model (UKESM1) to EXTEND the large-ensemble approach pioneered by NCAR with CESM2-WACCM. to provide a dual-model assessment of the various pros, cons, perils and pitfalls of SAI climate intervention utilising two of the most advanced GCMs currently available. The affiliated post-doctoral research associate is Dr Matthew Henry and a PhD student working on the project is Alice Wells.

 

Funded by: European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme

Principal University of Exeter Investigator: Dr Daniel Partridge

Lead by: Stockholm University (Project coordinator: Prof Ilona Riipinen; Scientific Coordinator: Prof Annica Ekman)

The FORCeS project aims to understand and reduce the long-standing uncertainty in anthropogenic aerosol radiative forcing. This is crucial if we are to increase confidence in climate projections. FORCeS will identify key processes governing aerosol radiative forcing, as well as climate feedbacks related to aerosols and clouds, and improve the knowledge about these processes. For further information, see the Forces project website.