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
Maria Paula wins major conference poster prize
PhD student Maria Paula Velasquez Garcia has won the best student poster prize at the recent IGAC meeting in Crete. (More to follow).
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...