Speaker: Nick Schutgens, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics , University of Oxford ,UK
Abstract:
Atmospheric aerosols (small airborne particles) present an exciting scientific puzzle: they come in a variety of shapes and species and interact in complicated ways with eachother and the rest of the climate system. Consequently, it is challenging both to observe and model them. Yet aerosols affect the planet in many important ways: they modify the amount of global warming due to greenhouse gases, they represent a health hazard for humans and a nutrient source for the biosphere. This talk will consist of two parts: an introduction to aerosol science and an overview of work on uncertainties in aerosol modelling.
Bio:
He is a member of the Climate Processes Group in the sub department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics. He has a PhD in astrophysics from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, but has since then worked in atmospheric science. Initially his interest was in remote sensing (trace gases, clouds) but in the past 8 years he has worked on aerosol modelling and data assimilation. Currently he is working on structural and parametric uncertainties in aerosol models.