NCAS to lead global project to improve African weather forecasting
The National Centre for Atmospheric Science will lead a Global Challenges Research Fund RCUK funded project to improve African weather forecasting capabilities, and benefit the livelihoods of African populations. The project is called GCRF African Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques (GCRF African SWIFT).
A cautionary tale of identifying the source of a methane plume over the North Sea
Data collected from the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) research aircraft has been analysed to try and identify the source of a plume of methane observed over the North Sea. A recently published article explains that initial analysis suggested the methane was being emitted from the gas field area, but important analysis of carbon isotopes in the methane revealed that leaked gas was not the main component of the plume.
FAAM is first to test fly 3D printed ice probe
The Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) has made the headlines in the world of 3D printing after the research aircraft successfully tested a newly developed 3D-printed optical ice probe. The titanium instrument is able to detect the formation of ice particles by using optical fibres that emit light into any ice that has formed over the sensor head. If ice is present then the light will be reflected back and detected by the sensor.