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Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

 

Professor of Atmospheric Science

Observational studies of atmospheric structure and photochemistry: from climate change to air pollution and human health

In our group we use a wide range of measurement and modelling techniques to study the chemical composition and physical structure of the earth’s atmosphere.

The atmosphere controls much of the complex environment in which we live. Ozone in the stratosphere protects us from harmful shortwave solar radiation, while changes in CO2 and other greenhouse gases are influencing the world’s changing climate. In the troposphere, chemical processes act to remove many unwanted species, while at the same time contributing to poor air quality, impacting the health of many, and leading to millions of premature deaths, particularly in the developing world. 

 

Low cost sensors for monitoring urban pollution

We develop low cost air quality sensors which allow us to probe urban pollution in unprecedented detail.  You can find out more by watching our short video above. 

 NO and NO2 levels in Cambridge on one afternoon, illustrating how complex urban air pollution can be.

As part of our research we are demonstrating how these low cost air quality sensor networks can be used to address important scientific and political questions. Studies include low cost sensor network deployments at Heathrow airport, in Beijing and in Delhi. 

Results from a recent sensor network deployment at Heathrow Airport, used to both quantify airport emissions and provide a prediction of the likely impact of an airport expansion.

Air quality and human health 

We use portable air quality sensors to test the linkages between exposure to pollution and health impacts. These units allow us to develop activity models which we can use to predict air pollution dose far more accurately than before.  They are now used for studies of Chronic Obsructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in London, and wider health impacts (Beijing and elsewhere).

A portable air quality sensor used by the group, which includes GPS and accelerometers, with illustration of measurements.

Other projects

Other projects within the group range from using cavity ringdown spectroscopy and its variants for making ultrasensitive (sub-ppt level) airborne and ground based measurements of radical species (using the FAAM aircraft), balloon borne measurements of GHGs, volcanic emissions and many more.

Selected Presentations

AAMG Presentation 2016

Further information

If you are interested in joining us as a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher, please contact me at rlj1001@cam.ac.uk.  

Publications

A full-scale field study for evaluation of simple analytical models of cross ventilation and single-sided ventilation
S Fan, MS Davies Wykes, WE Lin, RL Jones, AG Robins, PF Linden
– Building and Environment
(2021)
187,
107386
Effects of AIR pollution on cardiopuLmonary disEaSe in urban and peri-urban reSidents in Beijing: Protocol for the AIRLESS study
Y Han, W Chen, L Chatzidiakou, A Krause, L Yan, H Zhang, Q Chan, B Barratt, R Jones, J Liu, Y Wu, M Zhao, J Zhang, FJ Kelly, T Zhu
– Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
(2020)
20,
15775
Difference in ambient-personal exposure to PM2.5 and its inflammatory effect in local residents in urban and peri-urban Beijing, China: results of the AIRLESS project
Y Han, L Chatzidiakou, L Yan, W Chen, H Zhang, A Krause, T Xue, Q Chan, J Liu, Y Wu, B Barratt, R Jones, T Zhu, FJ Kelly
– Faraday Discussions
(2020)
226,
569
Source-Receptor Relationship Revealed by the Halted Traffic and Aggravated Haze in Beijing during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Z Lv, X Wang, F Deng, Q Ying, AT Archibald, RL Jones, Y Ding, Y Cheng, M Fu, Y Liu, H Man, Z Xue, K He, J Hao, H Liu
– Environmental Science & Technology
(2020)
54,
15660
Development of an urban greenhouse gas modelling system to support a London monitoring network
D Hoare, RL Jones, NRP Harris, V Ferracci, D Carruthers, A Stidworthy, E Forsyth, M Rigby
– Weather
(2020)
75,
353
Using low-cost sensor technologies and advanced computational methods to improve dose estimations in health panel studies: Results of the AIRLESS project
L Chatzidiakou, A Krause, Y Han, W Chen, L Yan, OAM Popoola, M Kellaway, Y Wu, J Liu, M Hu, AIRLESS team, B Barratt, FJ Kelly, T Zhu, RL Jones
– Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
(2020)
30,
981
Continuous Isoprene Measurements in a UK Temperate Forest for a Whole Growing Season: Effects of Drought Stress During the 2018 Heatwave
V Ferracci, CG Bolas, RA Freshwater, Z Staniaszek, T King, K Jaars, F Otu-Larbi, J Beale, Y Malhi, TW Waine, RL Jones, K Ashworth, NRP Harris
– Geophysical Research Letters
(2020)
47,
ARTN e2020GL088885
Analysis of the variability of airborne particulate matter with prevailing meteorological conditions across a semi-urban environment using a network of low-cost air quality sensors
OR Omokungbe, OG Fawole, OK Owoade, OAM Popoola, RL Jones, FS Olise, MA Ayoola, PO Abiodun, AB Toyeje, AP Olufemi, LA Sunmonu, OE Abiye
– Heliyon
(2020)
6,
e04207
Significant reduced traffic in Beijing failed to relieve haze pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown: implications for haze mitigation
Z Lv, X Wang, F Deng, Q Ying, AT Archibald, RL Jones, Y Ding, Y Cheng, M Fu, Y Liu, H Man, Z Xue, K He, J Hao, H Liu
(2020)
IDirac: A field-portable instrument for long-term autonomous measurements of isoprene and selected VOCs
CG Bolas, V Ferracci, AD Robinson, MI Mead, MSM Nadzir, JA Pyle, RL Jones, NRP Harris
– Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
(2020)
13,
821
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Research Group

Research Interest Group

Telephone number

01223 336466

Email address

rlj1001@cam.ac.uk