NCAS Long Term Science - Single Centre
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: National Centre for Atmospheric Science
Abstract
NCAS is NERC's research centre for atmospheric science, providing National Capability in atmospheric science and also conducting pure and applied research.
This proposal sets out the NCAS plans for its National Capability Long-Term Science - Single programme and activities, for the period April 2018 to March 2023. Within this proposal, a set of LTS-Single Underpinning activities are described and the case for funding made. The activities are set in the context of wider NCAS and external activities, including NCAS research programmes. No funding is requested for long-term science research programmes under this call since the entire NCAS LTS-Single budget is proposed to be dedicated to LTS-Single Underpinning activities.
The particular activities for which funding is sought are ones which NERC classifies as "underpinning" long term science. These are long term activities, platforms and technical capability in support of long term scientific research in atmospheric science. Specifically NCAS proposes underpinning activities in the following areas:
1. Long term measurements;
2. Physical science;
3. Numerical modelling and evaluation;
4. Modelling support;
5. Education and training.
This proposal sets out the NCAS plans for its National Capability Long-Term Science - Single programme and activities, for the period April 2018 to March 2023. Within this proposal, a set of LTS-Single Underpinning activities are described and the case for funding made. The activities are set in the context of wider NCAS and external activities, including NCAS research programmes. No funding is requested for long-term science research programmes under this call since the entire NCAS LTS-Single budget is proposed to be dedicated to LTS-Single Underpinning activities.
The particular activities for which funding is sought are ones which NERC classifies as "underpinning" long term science. These are long term activities, platforms and technical capability in support of long term scientific research in atmospheric science. Specifically NCAS proposes underpinning activities in the following areas:
1. Long term measurements;
2. Physical science;
3. Numerical modelling and evaluation;
4. Modelling support;
5. Education and training.
Planned Impact
Impacts on society through Government
The LTS-Single programme is one of the key strands of centre work that enable NCAS to generate impacts from its research that benefit society, particularly through the use of NCAS science in Government and by international bodies that are responsible for regulation and policy in areas of air pollution, ozone and climate change. The actual mechanisms by which these LTS-Single activities are used ro create impact are at the heart of the NCAS National and Public Good (NPG) offering and are subject to a parallel NC-commissioning process, through which the costs of creating impact with Government and with international organisations will be funded. As examples:
1. NCAS generates policy impact from our research in the air pollution programme through our choices to invest in the leadership of the Defra Air Quality Expert Group and in advisory activities with other departments such as BEIS and DfT.
2. Leadership in long-term global change research allows the NCAS LTS-Single programme to directly influence global initiatives such as the quadrennial WMO/UNEP stratospheric ozone review, and to continue to set the international stratospheric ozone policy agenda.
3. In climate and high impact weather we chose to actively support both UK requirements for science and advice, particularly through collaboration with the Hadley Centre, and gain international influence through key paper contributions and scientific leadership in IPCC.
4. NCAS LTS-Single Underpinning activities, combined with the broader NCAS research programmes, services and facilities enable impact through support of Government during high impact events such as the volcanic eruptions and large scale industrial accidents.
Impacts on business and beyond
Knowledge of the current state of the atmosphere and the ability to predict its future behaviour is of value beyond academic users and government and has potential to create positive economic impacts for the UK through business. Over the past 10 years NCAS has grown its links with industry and now has a mature strategy for engagement and exploitation, using a range of mechanisms such as consulting, IP transfer, contract research and direct commercial exploitation. Some key industries have already gained value from NCAS research and future LTS-Single activities will enhance this. Some examples of planned impact in the commercial domain are:
1. The Climate and High Impact Weather research outputs will continue to support the development of new products and services for the reinsurance industries through engaging directly with individual companies and with wider trade bodies.
2. Atmospheric measurement will continue the development of new environmental products for exploitation by UK companies, including volcanic ash sensors and VOC detectors.
3. New numerical methods and observing research will continue to support the oil and gas sector in understanding emissions during both routine operations and emergency events.
4. Underpinning research on gas metrology will be translated outside of atmospheric science to support UK sectors with complex chemical hazard detection requirements such as fine chemicals manufacturing and defence security and screening.
Our strategy for engagement with businesses is to be selective and pursue only those opportunities where there is real large-scale impact potential for NCAS and where following a path to impact with commercial organisations does not draw on research funds. Rather our strategy is to use the full spectrum of routes that are available for supporting the development of commercial impact such as InnovateUK, KTNs, VC, ISCF and of course direct industrial funding.
The LTS-Single programme is one of the key strands of centre work that enable NCAS to generate impacts from its research that benefit society, particularly through the use of NCAS science in Government and by international bodies that are responsible for regulation and policy in areas of air pollution, ozone and climate change. The actual mechanisms by which these LTS-Single activities are used ro create impact are at the heart of the NCAS National and Public Good (NPG) offering and are subject to a parallel NC-commissioning process, through which the costs of creating impact with Government and with international organisations will be funded. As examples:
1. NCAS generates policy impact from our research in the air pollution programme through our choices to invest in the leadership of the Defra Air Quality Expert Group and in advisory activities with other departments such as BEIS and DfT.
2. Leadership in long-term global change research allows the NCAS LTS-Single programme to directly influence global initiatives such as the quadrennial WMO/UNEP stratospheric ozone review, and to continue to set the international stratospheric ozone policy agenda.
3. In climate and high impact weather we chose to actively support both UK requirements for science and advice, particularly through collaboration with the Hadley Centre, and gain international influence through key paper contributions and scientific leadership in IPCC.
4. NCAS LTS-Single Underpinning activities, combined with the broader NCAS research programmes, services and facilities enable impact through support of Government during high impact events such as the volcanic eruptions and large scale industrial accidents.
Impacts on business and beyond
Knowledge of the current state of the atmosphere and the ability to predict its future behaviour is of value beyond academic users and government and has potential to create positive economic impacts for the UK through business. Over the past 10 years NCAS has grown its links with industry and now has a mature strategy for engagement and exploitation, using a range of mechanisms such as consulting, IP transfer, contract research and direct commercial exploitation. Some key industries have already gained value from NCAS research and future LTS-Single activities will enhance this. Some examples of planned impact in the commercial domain are:
1. The Climate and High Impact Weather research outputs will continue to support the development of new products and services for the reinsurance industries through engaging directly with individual companies and with wider trade bodies.
2. Atmospheric measurement will continue the development of new environmental products for exploitation by UK companies, including volcanic ash sensors and VOC detectors.
3. New numerical methods and observing research will continue to support the oil and gas sector in understanding emissions during both routine operations and emergency events.
4. Underpinning research on gas metrology will be translated outside of atmospheric science to support UK sectors with complex chemical hazard detection requirements such as fine chemicals manufacturing and defence security and screening.
Our strategy for engagement with businesses is to be selective and pursue only those opportunities where there is real large-scale impact potential for NCAS and where following a path to impact with commercial organisations does not draw on research funds. Rather our strategy is to use the full spectrum of routes that are available for supporting the development of commercial impact such as InnovateUK, KTNs, VC, ISCF and of course direct industrial funding.
Organisations
- University of Leeds (Lead Research Organisation)
- Meteorological Office UK (Collaboration)
- PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY (Collaboration)
- NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE (Collaboration)
- British Geological Survey (Collaboration)
- UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY (Collaboration)
- National Centre for Earth Observation (Collaboration)
- British Antarctic Survey (Collaboration)
Publications
Gadian A
(2017)
A case study of possible future summer convective precipitation over the UK and Europe from a regional climate projection
in International Journal of Climatology
Coceal O
(2018)
Detection of sea-breeze events around London using a fuzzy-logic algorithm
in Atmospheric Science Letters
Pang X
(2018)
The impacts of water vapour and co-pollutants on the performance of electrochemical gas sensors used for air quality monitoring
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Harvey B
(2018)
An Adiabatic Mechanism for the Reduction of Jet Meander Amplitude by Potential Vorticity Filamentation
in Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Plane J
(2018)
A new model of meteoric calcium in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Kuhlbrodt T
(2018)
The Low-Resolution Version of HadGEM3 GC3.1: Development and Evaluation for Global Climate.
in Journal of advances in modeling earth systems
Zhang J
(2018)
Stratospheric ozone loss over the Eurasian continent induced by the polar vortex shift
in Nature Communications
Menary M
(2018)
Preindustrial Control Simulations With HadGEM3-GC3.1 for CMIP6
in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
Description | Integrating Nature-Climate Scenarios & Analytics for Financial Decision-Making (INCAF) |
Amount | £114,280 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/X016390/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 03/2024 |
Description | Integrating Nature-Climate Scenarios & Analytics for Financial Decision-Making (INCAF) |
Amount | £45,927 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/X016358/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 03/2024 |
Description | NERC National Capability Science Multi-Centre 1-year extension (FY 21/22): The North Atlantic Climate System Integrated Study (ACSIS) |
Amount | £1,961,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | UK National Climate Science Partnership |
Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NCAS has joined together with the other NERC Centres and the Met Office to form a new partnership - the UK National Climate Science Partnership - focused on climate science for solutions. A letter of intent has been signed by all the parties and a Vision Statement agreed. Announcement of the partnership was made by the BEIS CSA Paul Monks at COP26 in Glasgow. NCAS played a leading role in bringing about these developments, working particularly closely with NOC, UKCEH and the Met Office. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UKNCSP Vision Statement was developed by NCAS, NOC and UKCEH working with the Met Office. All the NERC Centres and the Met Office have signed the letter of intent and supported the announcement at COP26. The partners are currently working together to agree plans to develop the partnership and maximise its benefits to the UK. |
Impact | Announcement at COP26: https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-researchers-join-forces-to-advance-scientific-climate-solutions/ The founding partners span the full range of environmental science. An important goal of the partnership is to build wider multi-disciplinary partnership to enable climate solutions. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | UK National Climate Science Partnership |
Organisation | British Geological Survey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NCAS has joined together with the other NERC Centres and the Met Office to form a new partnership - the UK National Climate Science Partnership - focused on climate science for solutions. A letter of intent has been signed by all the parties and a Vision Statement agreed. Announcement of the partnership was made by the BEIS CSA Paul Monks at COP26 in Glasgow. NCAS played a leading role in bringing about these developments, working particularly closely with NOC, UKCEH and the Met Office. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UKNCSP Vision Statement was developed by NCAS, NOC and UKCEH working with the Met Office. All the NERC Centres and the Met Office have signed the letter of intent and supported the announcement at COP26. The partners are currently working together to agree plans to develop the partnership and maximise its benefits to the UK. |
Impact | Announcement at COP26: https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-researchers-join-forces-to-advance-scientific-climate-solutions/ The founding partners span the full range of environmental science. An important goal of the partnership is to build wider multi-disciplinary partnership to enable climate solutions. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | UK National Climate Science Partnership |
Organisation | Meteorological Office UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NCAS has joined together with the other NERC Centres and the Met Office to form a new partnership - the UK National Climate Science Partnership - focused on climate science for solutions. A letter of intent has been signed by all the parties and a Vision Statement agreed. Announcement of the partnership was made by the BEIS CSA Paul Monks at COP26 in Glasgow. NCAS played a leading role in bringing about these developments, working particularly closely with NOC, UKCEH and the Met Office. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UKNCSP Vision Statement was developed by NCAS, NOC and UKCEH working with the Met Office. All the NERC Centres and the Met Office have signed the letter of intent and supported the announcement at COP26. The partners are currently working together to agree plans to develop the partnership and maximise its benefits to the UK. |
Impact | Announcement at COP26: https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-researchers-join-forces-to-advance-scientific-climate-solutions/ The founding partners span the full range of environmental science. An important goal of the partnership is to build wider multi-disciplinary partnership to enable climate solutions. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | UK National Climate Science Partnership |
Organisation | National Centre for Earth Observation |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NCAS has joined together with the other NERC Centres and the Met Office to form a new partnership - the UK National Climate Science Partnership - focused on climate science for solutions. A letter of intent has been signed by all the parties and a Vision Statement agreed. Announcement of the partnership was made by the BEIS CSA Paul Monks at COP26 in Glasgow. NCAS played a leading role in bringing about these developments, working particularly closely with NOC, UKCEH and the Met Office. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UKNCSP Vision Statement was developed by NCAS, NOC and UKCEH working with the Met Office. All the NERC Centres and the Met Office have signed the letter of intent and supported the announcement at COP26. The partners are currently working together to agree plans to develop the partnership and maximise its benefits to the UK. |
Impact | Announcement at COP26: https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-researchers-join-forces-to-advance-scientific-climate-solutions/ The founding partners span the full range of environmental science. An important goal of the partnership is to build wider multi-disciplinary partnership to enable climate solutions. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | UK National Climate Science Partnership |
Organisation | National Oceanography Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NCAS has joined together with the other NERC Centres and the Met Office to form a new partnership - the UK National Climate Science Partnership - focused on climate science for solutions. A letter of intent has been signed by all the parties and a Vision Statement agreed. Announcement of the partnership was made by the BEIS CSA Paul Monks at COP26 in Glasgow. NCAS played a leading role in bringing about these developments, working particularly closely with NOC, UKCEH and the Met Office. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UKNCSP Vision Statement was developed by NCAS, NOC and UKCEH working with the Met Office. All the NERC Centres and the Met Office have signed the letter of intent and supported the announcement at COP26. The partners are currently working together to agree plans to develop the partnership and maximise its benefits to the UK. |
Impact | Announcement at COP26: https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-researchers-join-forces-to-advance-scientific-climate-solutions/ The founding partners span the full range of environmental science. An important goal of the partnership is to build wider multi-disciplinary partnership to enable climate solutions. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | UK National Climate Science Partnership |
Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NCAS has joined together with the other NERC Centres and the Met Office to form a new partnership - the UK National Climate Science Partnership - focused on climate science for solutions. A letter of intent has been signed by all the parties and a Vision Statement agreed. Announcement of the partnership was made by the BEIS CSA Paul Monks at COP26 in Glasgow. NCAS played a leading role in bringing about these developments, working particularly closely with NOC, UKCEH and the Met Office. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UKNCSP Vision Statement was developed by NCAS, NOC and UKCEH working with the Met Office. All the NERC Centres and the Met Office have signed the letter of intent and supported the announcement at COP26. The partners are currently working together to agree plans to develop the partnership and maximise its benefits to the UK. |
Impact | Announcement at COP26: https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-researchers-join-forces-to-advance-scientific-climate-solutions/ The founding partners span the full range of environmental science. An important goal of the partnership is to build wider multi-disciplinary partnership to enable climate solutions. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | UK National Climate Science Partnership |
Organisation | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | NCAS has joined together with the other NERC Centres and the Met Office to form a new partnership - the UK National Climate Science Partnership - focused on climate science for solutions. A letter of intent has been signed by all the parties and a Vision Statement agreed. Announcement of the partnership was made by the BEIS CSA Paul Monks at COP26 in Glasgow. NCAS played a leading role in bringing about these developments, working particularly closely with NOC, UKCEH and the Met Office. |
Collaborator Contribution | The UKNCSP Vision Statement was developed by NCAS, NOC and UKCEH working with the Met Office. All the NERC Centres and the Met Office have signed the letter of intent and supported the announcement at COP26. The partners are currently working together to agree plans to develop the partnership and maximise its benefits to the UK. |
Impact | Announcement at COP26: https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-researchers-join-forces-to-advance-scientific-climate-solutions/ The founding partners span the full range of environmental science. An important goal of the partnership is to build wider multi-disciplinary partnership to enable climate solutions. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Appointed to Transdisciplinary Advisory Board for European Joint Programming Initiative "Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe" (JPI Climate) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The Transdisciplinary Advisory Board (TAB) consists of national and international members from academia and from relevant stakeholder groups. It advises the Governing Board on specific issues upon request. This overall Advisory Board is an important instrument to involve relevant stakeholder groups. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://jpi-climate.eu/governance/#transdisciplinary-advisory-board |
Description | Chair, Met Office Hadley Centre Science Review Group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC) Science Review Group (SRG) brings together leading scientists from UK and international academia to carry out an independent review of the climate research carried out by the Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme (MOHCCP) to advise its government customers on the quality, robustness and relevance of our science outputs. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
URL | https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/approach/how-met-office-science-is-reviewed |
Description | Development of Science Plan for World Climate Research Programme Lighthouse Activity on Explaining and Predicting Earth System Change |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As Co-chair of the World Climate Research Programme Lighthouse Activity on Explaining and Predicting Earth System Change I co-led the development of the international Science Plan |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.wcrp-climate.org/epesc |
Description | Member of Editorial Board for 10 New Insights in Climate Science 2022, presented at COP27 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The 10 New Insights in Climate Science series is an annual synthesis highlighting essential advances in climate change research, from natural and social sciences, with high policy relevance. The report has been launched every year since 2017 at the climate COP, with participation of the UNFCCC Executive Secretary. This joint initiative of Future Earth, The Earth League, and The World Climate Research Programme, is a collective effort to support the diffusion of the most relevant and up-to-date climate change science to policymakers, negotiators, and the general public. See: https://10insightsclimate.science/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://10insightsclimate.science/ |
Description | Panel member at COP26 session on the future of climate modelling |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The session on the future of climate modelling was held in the Science Pavillion in COP26 in Glasgow and also live streamed worldwide. I contributed my perspective and contributed to the Q&A. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate/cop/science-pavilion |