Dr Zoe L. Fleming - NCAS Research Scientist

I am Research Scientist for the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), a NERC (National Environment Research Council) research centre. My research is focussed on analysing long term trends of trace gases at two coastal observatories: Weybourne, Norfolk and the Cape Verde Islands (see Field Work Pics) and an increasing focus will be on London’s air quality within the Clearflo (Clean Air For London) project that started in January 2010.

I am studying the trace gas (Ozone (O₃) and its precursors, NO_x (NO + NO₂) and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)) variability of the air arriving at these two sites. This is combined with an analysis of the transport pathways of this air in order to understand continental and marine pollution sources that influence the quality of the air arriving at these stations. Back maps of the air’s origin are calculated with the Met office’s NAME (Atmospheric dispersion) model.

Dr Kevin P. Wyche - Earth Observation Specialist and PDRA

 I work as a Post Doctorial Research Associate on the NERC funded Pho-SOA and CEC funded JOAQUIN projects in collaboration with other Universities. These research projects comprise the study of environmental gas phase VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) and radical chemistry and Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) formation using large-scale atmospheric simulation chambers.

Dr Iain White - PDRA

Working in the RAFT (Real-time Air fingerprinting Technology) facility here in the department of Chemistry at Leicester University, my research interests lie in atmospheric and analytical science.  This includes the development and deployment of novel mass selective detectors for trace gas phase species (including those based on CIR-MS (chemical-ionisation-reaction mass spectrometry and PTR-MS (proton-transfer-reaction MS), conventional EI (electron impact) MS and TD-GC (Thermal desorption-gas chromatography).  The applications of this technology are varied, ranging from breath testing for medical diagnoses (see Point of Care Laboratory pictures); the observation of ripening fruit to air quality monitoring and atmospheric science.

Timo Carr - Studying for a PhD

My PhD project is focused on the measurement of the degradation of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and the formation of corresponding oxidation products utilising a CIR-TOF-MS (Chemical Ionisation Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer). Various VOCs (from small alkenes to sesquiterpenes) have been studied in simulation chamber studies, at the University of Manchester, as part of the ACES (Aerosol Coupling in the Earth System) project, and at the EUPHORE facility in Valencia, Spain, (see Field Work Pics) as part of the TRAPOZ (Total RAdical production and degredation Products of alkene Ozonolysis) campaign. Both campaigns look at two major oxidation pathways that occur in the atmosphere, photolysis and ozonolysis, and with real time measurements taken, evaluation of current models available for simulating degradation of VOCs in the troposephere, such as the MCM (Master Chemical Mechanism) can be made.   

Mark Daniels - Studying for a PhD

The NERC funded PhD project I am working on involves measuring trace gases in the laboratory, in atmospheric simulation chambers and in situ in the Earth’s atmosphere using Broadband Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS). Currently, I have been involved in field work at the EUPHORE (see Field Work Pics) chamber in Valencia, Spain for the TOXIC campaign, measuring photo-oxidation products of toluene and at East Midlands Airport, Nottingham for the RONOCO campaign, calibrating a novel BBCEAS instrument for making NO₃ measurements.

Rosemarie Graves - Studying for a PhD

Measuring Air Quality in Urban Environments Using a Scanning DOAS Technique
A scanning DOAS technique, CityScan, has been developed at the University of Leicester which will be used to monitor air quality in urban areas by measuring levels of NO₂ and O₄. It has been shown recently that O₄ measurements can be used to determine aerosol properties whilst NO₂ has long been considered an indicator of air quality.  This instrument will be used to study air quality in several urban areas, including Leicester and London.  It will also be used to measure emissions from point sources.  Two CityScan instruments will be deployed in Leicester in 2010. See Field Work Pics

There are many sources of atmospheric pollution both natural and anthropogenic. Natural sources include particulate matter and sulphur dioxide from volcanic eruptions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from biogenic activity which contribute to tropospheric ozone and photochemical smog.  However, the largest sources of atmospheric pollutants are products of combustion from power generation and motor vehicles including NO_x (NO and NO₂), CO, VOCs and particulate matter.  Hence it is becoming increasingly important to measure changes in these air pollutants especially in urban areas where these pollutants are at the highest levels.

Iain Goodall - Studying for a PhD

In the atmosphere, organic aerosols impact on photochemical ozone formation, particulate formation, stratospheric ozone depletion, and climate. Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that form the aerosols are toxic and/or carcinogenic, and in establishing their effect on human health, it is vital to be able to monitor and understand their formation in a wide range of environments.  See Field Work Pics.

My research is concentrating on the chemistry and physics of aerosol and photochemical smog formation in urban environments using a combination of absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

Shane Barber- Studying for a PhD

Funded by NERC/ACTF, my PhD centres around improving the sensitivity of Proton Transfer Reaction – Time of Flight – Mass Spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). This will be achieved firstly by integrating a radio frequency ion funnel to a PTR-ToF-MS and secondly by Hadamard Transform. I will also be taking part in the ClearfLo (Clean air for London) campaign during 2012, using PTR-ToF-MS to study the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) present in the London urban atmosphere and how this changes during the Olympics.

Tom Adams- Studying for a PhD

My NERC funded PhD project involves the use of Broadband Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS) to measure atmospheric trace gases in the laboratory and in situ in the Earth’s atmosphere. My first field campaign, coming up in the summer involves the measuring of glyoxal and NO₂ in an atmospheric simulation chamber, in experiments to investigate the oxidation of organic compounds and the subsequent formation of secondary organic aerosol.