Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories

Closure of the FAAM Airborne Laboratory - NCAS The National Centre for Atmospheric Science can confirm that the FAAM Airborne Laboratory will cease operations at the end of this financial year, following the withdrawal of funding by UKRI-NERC.

Following the withdrawal of funding by UKRI-NERC, we can confirm that the FAAM Airborne Laboratory will cease operations at the end of this financial year. Our immediate priority is supporting affected staff and the wider UK atmospheric science community.

ncas.ac.uk/closure-of-t...

NERC pivots investment in atmospheric research into new technologies NERC is transitioning its funding of atmospheric science infrastructure to exploit more flexible, scalable and sustainable technologies.

The UK atmospheric research aircraft (the FAAM) will cease operations in one month's time due to a research 'pivot' by UKRI...

www.ukri.org/news/nerc-pi...

Indoor Air Team’s Research Recognised as Outstanding Scientists at University of York were delighted to be recognised with an “outstanding research paper” award from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

INDOOR AIR TEAM’S RESEARCH RECOGNISED AS OUTSTANDING

Scientists at University of York were delighted to be recognised with an “outstanding research paper” award from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/ab...

@atmoschemyork.bsky.social students Finja, Lili, Ruth and Charlotte presenting their fab physchem research at @rsc.org HQ yesterday. Congratulations to prize winner Charlotte!

Many ships found breaching pollution limits despite tighter controls Researchers using aircraft to sample exhaust plumes say infringements persist – even in stricter zones

New work led by @atmoschemyork.bsky.social using the FAAM BAe 146 airbourne laboratory looking at fuel sulfur content in ship exhaust plumes...

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

more information on available PhDs here:
yes-dtn.ac.uk

www.findaphd.com/phds/departm...

PhD open day Fri 21st Nov 1-3pm

The Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories will be hosting an informal PhD info event on Friday Nov 21st
Hear about available PhD opportunities
Discuss projects with supervisors
Talk to current students
Ask practical questions
Get a tour
Refreshments provided!

Largely underestimated production of isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) through high-NO oxidation pathways in urban areas - npj Climate and Atmospheric Science npj Climate and Atmospheric Science - Largely underestimated production of isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) through high-NO oxidation pathways in urban areas

New paper lead by Sainan Wang from Chengdu University and using data from @atmoschemyork.bsky.social and @manchester.ac.uk field work in Beijing as part of the NERC APHH project.

Isoprene atmospheric chemistry complexity continues to surprise!

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Comparison of Isoprene-Derived Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation Pathways at an Urban and a Forest Site In isoprene oxidation, epoxides are crucial for forming isoprene-derived secondary organic aerosol (iSOA), significantly impacting the global atmospheric aerosol burden and composition. Isoprene dihydroxyepoxydiols (IEPOX) and hydroxymethyl–methyl-α-lactone (HMML) are key reactive gas-phase intermediates under low- and high-NO conditions, respectively. IEPOX and/or HMML can undergo nucleophilic reactions with both sulfate and water, producing isoprene-derived organosulfates (iOSs) and oxygen-containing tracers (iOTs). In this study, high temporal observations of iSOA species indicate that although OS formation in the urban and forest areas exhibited similar diurnal variations, the average concentrations of biogenic OSs decreased significantly from the urban site to the forest site. Additionally, at the urban site, the nucleophilic addition reaction is more likely to occur with sulfate (iOSs/iOTs = 1.51), while at the forest site, water serves as the dominant reactant (iOSs/iOTs = 0.81). We have also estimated the branching ratios of nucleophilic reaction pathways with sulfate and water at the different sites. At the Guangzhou urban site, the branching ratio of IEPOX with sulfate:water has a mean of 42.4%:57.6%, whereas for HMML, it is 64.3%:35.7%. At the forest site, the branching ratio of IEPOX with sulfate:water is roughly equal at 48.3%:51.7%, while for HMML, the preference is for reaction with water with a ratio of 33.7%:66.3%. Furthermore, the concentrations of iOSs were significantly correlated with the product of [O3]·[SO42–]. This correlation was stronger than the individual correlations of major iOSs with [O3] and [SO42–]. Thus, higher levels of OS were attributed to enhanced photochemical processing and increased levels of sulfate. This research offers valuable insights into the impacts of biogenic–anthropogenic interactions and the factors controlling the formation of iSOA in polluted areas via nucleophilic addition reactions.

New paper from Ping Liu (Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry), feature work carried out as part of her CSC funded joint doctoral program placement in WACL, Comparison of Isoprene-Derived SOA Formation Pathways at an Urban and a Forest Site | ACS Earth and Space Chemistry pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

poster day for @atmoschemyork.bsky.social Finja, Salome and James at @egu.eu

UK air pollution killing more than 500 people a week, doctors say Royal College of Physicians also says poor air quality costs country more than £500m a week

This article highlights a new report from the Royal College of Physicians on the impacts of air quality in the UK. The work we do @atmoschemyork.bsky.social and @ncas-uk.bsky.social helps to identify sources of air pollutants, their chemistry and impact on health.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Gas boilers now biggest source of air pollution in central London, study shows A new study has revealed a significant shift in the sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollution in central London, with gas boilers used for heating now identified as the primary contributor.

Excellent new study led by my colleague James Lee @atmoschemyork.bsky.social using long term flux measurements taken at the @ncas-uk.bsky.social supported BT Tower atmospheric observatory

www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

WACL job alert! New opening for an NCAS @ncas-uk.bsky.social Training Manager - Involves the development, management, promotion, coordination and evaluation of a programme of scientific training activities for current and next generation of atmospheric scientists:

jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/ncas...

YouTube video by WACL Research in Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories (WACL)

It's been 10 years since we celebrated the opening of @atmoschemyork.bsky.social and some of us got to star in the launch video! During this decade we've grown to over 70 staff and students and expanded into new labs.

youtu.be/--YTST_HFoY?...

picture of the wolfson atmospheric chemistry laboratories

WACL Job Alert!

You will work with Professor Mat Evans, to undertake detailed atmospheric chemistry modelling of the rate and impact of the uptake of hydroperoxyl radicals onto aerosol using observations collected in Leeds & Japan.

jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...

Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories staff and students watch a Chris Whitty’s presentation on screen

“Delivering Clean Air for All”, a York Open Lecture by Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England. @atmoschemyork.bsky.social Friday evening science+social event!

Photo of online zoom event with 4 panelists.

Interesting panel discussion on Delivering Clean Air for all with Sir Chris Whitty, Ryan Ballard from JCB and chaired by @whippletom.bsky.social

@ncas-uk.bsky.social @atmoschemyork.bsky.social @york.ac.uk

Lots of discussion on indoor air, low emission vehicles and woodburning among many topics

Photo of a table with bottles of eggnog, lots of christmas cakes and biscuits

Annual
@atmoschemyork.bsky.social
eggnog celebration, courtesy of Wes (he's American in case you didn't guess!!)

Understanding air pollution in a warming world at University of York on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Understanding air pollution in a warming world at University of York, listed on FindAPhD.com

Are you interested in doing a really exciting PhD to understand the impact of higher temperatures and heatwaves on concentrations of volatile organic compounds in cities and how these will change UK urban air quality?

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Opinion: Challenges and needs of tropospheric chemical mechanism development Abstract. Chemical mechanisms form the core of atmospheric models to describe degradation pathways of pollutants and ultimately inform air quality and climate policymakers and other stakeholders. The ...

New highlight opinion paper published in Atmospheric Chemisry and Physics led by Barbara Ervens (University Clermont Auvergne) and Andrew Rickard (@atmoschemyork.bsky.social) on "Challenges and needs of tropospheric chemical mechanism development"

acp.copernicus.org/articles/24/...

(3/3) a wide range of @atmoschemyork.bsky.social funded #PhD projects are available through both award schemes. Please see the YES●DTN website yes-dtn.ac.uk and findaphd.com/phds/phd-res... for more details...

(2/3) This includes Doctoral Landscape and Doctoral Focal Awards, including: (1) the Leeds/York "Yorkshire Environmental Sciences - Doctoral Training Network (YES●DTN)" & (2) NERC ECOSOLUTIONS (Transforming chemical management for a non-toxic future DFA).

yes-dtn.ac.uk

Doctoral funding awarded to the next generation of curiosity-driven researchers at York The University of York is collaborating with institutions across the UK to help train and support the next generation of doctoral researchers.

(1/3) New @ukri.org investment at @york.ac.uk will support doctoral students to develop their skills and experience across the biological sciences, engineering and physical sciences, and natural and environmental sciences.

www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

Understanding air pollution in a warming world - Yorkshire Environmental Sciences • Doctoral Training Network The aim of this project is to determine what impact higher average temperatures and extreme temperature events will have on concentrations of volatile organic compounds in cities and how these might l...

Are you interested in doing a really exciting PhD to understand the impact of higher temperatures and heatwaves on concentrations of volatile organic compounds in cities and how these will change UK urban air quality? #airquality

Please contact me or see the website!
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/und...

Person with dark hair stands holding a laptop. They stand in front of metal antenna.

Calling all PhD students and early-career researchers who want to explore the complexities of our atmosphere and gain foundational science skills.

Applications are now open for NCAS's Introduction to Atmospheric Science course.

📍📆 - 20-24 January 2025 in Leeds, UK

ncas.ac.uk/study-with-u...

Hello BlueSky! Looking forward to sharing our science and lots interesting interactions 😀