Facilities & Resources
Research Facilities and Numerical Models
Measurement of volatile organic compounds
We have excellent facilities for the measurement of the concentrations of volatile organic compounds, including GC-FID, GC-MS (both with thermal desorption) and proton transfer reaction - mass spectrometry (two Ionicon instruments). We have controlled environment facilities for the growth of plants and for exposing plants to pollutants.
Field measurement of VOCs
We deploy instruments at field sites during observation campaigns to measure concentrations and surface-atmosphere fluxes of volatile organic compounds from natural ecosystems. We coordinated the recent the OP3 project based at the Bukit Atur Global Atmosphere Watch Station in Sabah, Malaysia, during spring and summer 2008.
Hazelrigg Meteorological Station
Daily weather observations have been made at Lancaster since 1966, and measurements from our Hazelrigg Met Station contribute to climatological observations for the UK Met Office. The site lies about one kilometre from the university, and is used for both atmospheric research and teaching purposes.
Global chemistry-transport modelling
We use and develop numerical models of global atmospheric composition and transport, including the FRSGC/UCI CTM and the UK community chemistry-climate model UKCA. We apply the MEGAN model of biogenic VOC emissions in these modelling frameworks, and are contributing to the development of the UK land surface model, JULES, and the QUEST Earth System Model, QESM. We are applying these models to study intercontinental transport of oxidants, chemistry-climate links and biosphere-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks.
Regional atmospheric modelling
We are now using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and its extended version, WRF/Chem, to investigate how meteorological processes govern atmospheric composition through their impacts on chemistry and transport. We are also using the model at high resolution to investigate the interaction of natural and anthropogenic pollutants in highly populated urban regions. For exploring regional source-receptor relationships we have been using the ADMS dispersion model and HARM Lagrangian model which allow pollutant source attribution and detailed analysis of process uncertainty.
CiTTyCAT photochemical trajectory model
This model has been developed extensively at Lancaster over the last decade. We use this flexible tool for studying chemical processes in the atmosphere, both for theoretical studies of chemical processing and for interpretation of aircraft and surface measurement data. Trajectory and mixing schemes allow the evolution of air mass composition to be explored. The model has been used very successfully over a range of scales to look at topics ranging from biogenic hydrocarbon chemistry in tropical rainforests to anthropogenic pollutant plumes undergoing intercontinental transport. We recently coordinated production of a UK community version of the model with colleagues at Reading, Leeds and Cambridge, and we maintain this at Lancaster.