From models to observatories: NERC invests ￡12.4M into atmospheric science research

￡12.4 million has been awarded to the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, as part of a new ￡101 million investment in UK science by the NERC: Natural Environment Research Council .

Professor Jacqui Hamilton, Science Director at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, outlines what this means for our research:?

“This funding will support some of our essential and world-class underpinning scientific research in atmospheric science and allow the atmospheric science community to respond to existing and emerging research challenges. These include achieving Net Zero sustainably, mitigating and adapting to climate change, reducing the human and environmental health burden of indoor and outdoor air pollution, tracking progress on beneficial environmental change, and identifying emerging environmental threats.

“This investment will improve our ability to predict and track changes in the global climate, to understand future changes in emissions and their impacts on indoor and outdoor air quality, improve forecasts of extreme weather events and develop novel digital tools and technologies.

“The data and research tools will support critical scientific advice to the government, and will underpin our understanding of and resilience to environmental hazards and climate change.”

The ￡12.4 million will nurture six areas of NCAS research over the next five years:

• Developing and maintaining numerical models focused on the climate system and atmospheric composition for the UK, and internationally
• Improving the accessibility, connectivity, exploitation, and sustainability of our atmospheric data, and developing novel digital technologies for atmospheric science
• Maintaining and upgrading high-impact long-term measurements at three atmospheric observatories in the UK and Cabo Verde
• Developing novel data, instrumentation, measurement capabilities, and tools that create new insights and enable our communities to respond to emerging air pollution challenges
• Providing training in fundamental atmospheric science and the use of complex tools available for observational, laboratory, and modelling research
• Building activities that enable us to remain a trusted and unbiased source of evidence and advice to the UK Government, industry, third sector, and the public

Dr Iain Williams, Director of Strategic Partnerships at NERC, said:?

“This major investment by NERC will build on the UK’s extensive environmental science capabilities, helping us better understand how our planet is changing at local and global scales and enhance resource and environmental management. Through this investment, NERC is supporting scientists and policymakers in responding to major global challenges in pollution, warming seas, biodiversity loss, and climate change, and our research will help us to live sustainably.”?

The investment by the Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation , aims to strengthen the UK’s national security from threats caused by environmental hazards, and more widely support the research and innovation sector in driving green economic growth. This funding has been awarded from NERC’s National Capability Single Centre Science and National Public Good initiatives, one of the UK’s largest environmental science investment programmes.