The Principal Investigator of the SPICE project is Dr Matthew Watson (Bristol University). The Work Package Leaders are Dr Matthew Watson (Bristol University), Dr Lesley Gray (Oxford University) & Dr Hugh Hunt (Cambridge University). The project involves specialists in many fields including Volcanology, Climate Science, Atmospheric Physics and Engineering to name but a few. Those involved in this research at Bristol Earth Sciences are Dr Matthew Watson (PI), Dr Pru Foster and Tanya Gray (Project Coordinator).
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Matthew Watson is the Principle Investigator for SPICE. His research involves inversion of remotely-sensed data to retrieve physical parameters of volcanic plumes and clouds over several spatial scales, using both ground- and satellite-based techniques. These include ultraviolet (DOAS) and thermal infrared (ASTER) gas spectroscopy, and visible, near infrared (Sun-photometers) and thermal infrared aerosol retrievals (MODIS, AIRS).
Andy Ward is Leader of LSF Cross-Department Activities. He has been at RAL since June 2000 applying laser microscopy techniques to specific scientific fields as diverse as colloid science, aerosol physics, the life sciences and the application of optical tweezers in wider STFC facility projects. His specific interests are in the trapping behaviours of aerosol and emulsion droplets and using Raman spectroscopy for biological application. He is author and co-author on over 20 publications.
Dr Tony Cox graduated in 1966 from University of Manchester, UK, with a PhD in Physical Chemistry. After a postdoctoral research fellowship at National Research Council in Ottawa, he joined the Environmental and Medical Sciences Division at the UKAEA’s Harwell Laboratory. Since starting research there in 1968 he has published over 150 research papers and 30 reviews and evaluations on a range of topics in atmospheric chemistry, with an emphasis on laboratory studies of kinetics and photochemistry of chemical reactions in the troposphere and stratosphere. This work has been central to the rapid development of understanding of atmospheric composition and human influences on it, for example the formation of photochemical smog, and stratospheric ozone depletion. He was a founding member of the IUPAC Data Evaluation Panel for Atmospheric Chemistry, recommends values for physico-chemical parameters used in models describing changes in atmospheric composition and their impacts. In 1995 he joined the Chemistry Department at University of Cambridge, starting a new research group studying kinetics of heterogeneous reactions, which he continues to apply to understanding the role of particles in atmospheric chemistry.
His contribution to SPICE involves specialist advice on the potential impact of particles used for solar radiation management on stratospheric ozone, and his general knowledge of atmospheric chemistry. He also advises on the laboratory experimental work in Workpackage 1, at Cambridge and the RAL Facilities.
James' research is carried out within the cross-disciplinary Cambridge Surface Science Forum (CSSF), and focusses on adsorption an reactions on solid surfaces. In particular, a key interest is heterogeneous catalysis and specifically the role of adsorption in catalytic processes. Within the SPICE project, it is necessary to understand the influence of the particles upon stratospheric chemistry and to ensure that any detrimental reactions are prevented or minimised. To this end materials with appropriate physical and chemical characteristics will be identified and the adsorption and reaction of stratospherically relevant species will be studied. This will facilitate the selection of the optimal particle which combines both high efficacy with appropriate chemical properties.
Francis is an atmospheric chemist with interests in wide ranging environmental processes. His major role within SPICE is to assess the likely effects of stratospheric particle injection on atmospheric ozone and atmospheric chemistry in general. Clearly, it is important that we do not try to solve one environmental problem (global warming) by exacerbating existing problems (ozone loss) or generating new problems.
The SPICE project allows Francis to link two of his current research interests, namely: physical and chemical processing of atmospheric aerosols and stratospheric chemistry.
