TOMCAT Modelling Group
We study the chemical and dynamical processes which affect the composition of the natural and polluted atmosphere from the surface to about 100 km. We develop and use detailed 3-D models and use observations from a wide range of platforms.
Our research is largely based around the TOMCAT global atmospheric chemical transport model (and variants), but we also develop and use chemistry-climate models and regional models.
These pages give information about current group members, a summary of the model, an overview of our research, a record of news items and some blogs. There is also an archive of pages from the group leader Martyn Chipperfield. Use the navigation bar at the top of page.
For an archive of group photos click here.
News
Moorland burning and impact on air pollution
Managed burning on moorland in the UK led to millions of people being exposed to unsafe levels of fine particulate pollution, according to research led by Ailish Graham and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Prescribed burning is traditionally used to manage heather for grouse shooting across the UK uplands. Until recently...
Cosmic ray-driven electron-induced reactions do not explain global ozone depletion!
Actually, this should not qualify as 'news' at all. The past observed depletion of stratospheric ozone has been studied extensively and is generally explained quantitatively by well understood chemical and dynamical processes. For example, the Antarctic ozone hole is caused by chlorine (and bromine) chemistry and interactions with polar stratospheric clouds (e.g. see above image...
Earliest ever atmospheric CFC observation published
PhD student Jamal Makkor has just published the first ever observation of an atmospheric chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). He analysed historical 1951 solar absorption infrared spectra recorded at the high altitude site of Jungfraujoch, Switzerland to retrieve the CFC-12 (CF2Cl2) surface mole fraction. The data had been recorded on paper rolls which Jamal digitised and processed. This...