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Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

 

Professor Rod Jones

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

An upper limit for water dimer absorption in the 750 nm spectral region and a revised water line list
AJL Shillings, SM Ball, MJ Barber, J Tennyson, RL Jones
– Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
(2011)
11,
4273
(doi: 10.5194/acp-11-4273-2011)
An overview of the HIBISCUS campaign
JP Pommereau, A Garnier, G Held, AM Gomes, F Goutail, G Durry, F Borchi, A Hauchecorne, N Montoux, P Cocquerez, G Letrenne, F Vial, A Hertzog, B Legras, I Pisso, JA Pyle, NRP Harris, RL Jones, AD Robinson, G Hansford, L Eden, T Gardiner, N Swann, B Knudsen, N Larsen, JK Nielsen, T Christensen, F Cairo, F Fierli, M Pirre, V Marecal, N Huret, ED Riviere, H Coe, D Grosvenor, K Edvarsen, G Di Donfrancesco, P Ricaud, JJ Berthelier, M Godefroy, E Seran, K Longo, S Freitas
– Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
(2011)
11,
2309
(doi: 10.5194/acp-11-2309-2011)
Atmospheric chemistry and physics in the atmosphere of a developed megacity (London): An overview of the REPARTEE experiment and its conclusions
RM Harrison, M Dall'Osto, DCS Beddows, AJ Thorpe, WJ Bloss, JD Allan, H Coe, JR Dorsey, M Gallagher, C Martin, J Whitehead, PI Williams, RL Jones, JM Langridge, AK Benton, SM Ball, B Langford, CN Hewitt, B Davison, D Martin, K Petersson, SJ Henshaw, IR White, DE Shallcross, JF Barlow, T Dunbar, F Davies, E Nemitz, GJ Phillips, C Helfter, CF Di Marco, S Smith
– Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
(2011)
11,
30145
An aircraft based three channel broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectrometer for simultaneous measurements of NO 3, N 2O 5 and NO 2
OJ Kennedy, B Ouyang, JM Langridge, MJS Daniels, S Bauguitte, R Freshwater, MW McLeod, C Ironmonger, J Sendall, O Norris, R Nightingale, SM Ball, RL Jones
– Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions
(2011)
4,
3499
Measurements and modelling of molecular iodine emissions, transport and photodestruction in the coastal region around Roscoff
RJ Leigh, SM Ball, J Whitehead, C Leblanc, AJL Shillings, AS Mahajan, H Oetjen, JD Lee, CE Jones, JR Dorsey, M Gallagher, RL Jones, JMC Plane, P Potin, G McFiggans
– Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
(2010)
10,
11823
(doi: 10.5194/acp-10-11823-2010)
Integrated modelling of climate control and air pollution: Methodology and results from one-way coupling of an energy-environment-economy (E3MG) and atmospheric chemistry model (p-TOMCAT) in decarbonising scenarios for Mexico to 2050
T Barker, A Anger, O Dessens, H Pollitt, H Rogers, S Scrieciu, R Jones, J Pyle
– Environmental Science and Policy
(2010)
13,
661
(doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2010.09.008)
Night-time chemistry above London: measurements of NO3 and N2O5 from the BT Tower
AK Benton, JM Langridge, SM Ball, WJ Bloss, M Dall'Osto, E Nemitz, RM Harrison, RL Jones
– Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
(2010)
10,
9781
(doi: 10.5194/acp-10-9781-2010)
Vertical spatial scales of ice supersaturation and probability of ice supersaturated layers in low resolution profiles of relative humidity
NC Dickson, K Gierens, HL Rogers, RL Jones
– DLR Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. - Forschungsberichte
(2010)
239
Chemical and aerosol characterisation of the troposphere over West Africa during the monsoon period as part of AMMA
CE Reeves, P Formenti, C Afif, G Ancellet, JL Attie, J Bechara, A Borbon, F Cairo, H Coe, S Crumeyrolle, F Fierli, C Flamant, L Gomes, T Hamburger, C Jambert, KS Law, C Mari, RL Jones, A Matsuki, MI Mead, J Methven, GP Mills, A Minikin, JG Murphy, JK Nielsen, DE Oram, DJ Parker, A Richter, H Schlager, A Schwarzenboeck, V Thouret
– Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
(2010)
10,
7575
(doi: 10.5194/acp-10-7575-2010)
A lightweight near-infrared spectrometer for the detection of trace atmospheric species.
T Gardiner, MI Mead, S Garcelon, R Robinson, N Swann, GM Hansford, PT Woods, RL Jones
– Rev Sci Instrum
(2010)
81,
083102
(doi: 10.1063/1.3455827)
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Research Group

Research Interest Group

Telephone number

01223 336466

Email address

rlj1001@cam.ac.uk

College

Queens' College

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    About the University

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