Scientists search for new source of air pollutants by taking flight during Cape Verde dust season
Scientists have been flying over the Atlantic Ocean to investigate how desert dust and man-made pollution are interacting in remote marine environments, which could have knock-on consequences for the air quality in our towns and cities.
Researchers from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of York are interested in a new source of nitrogen oxides pollutants, also known as ‘NOx’, which can cause lung disease and respiratory infection.
These chemicals are produced by a wide range of activities around the world, from traffic to agriculture. But scientists didn’t expect to see nitrogen pollutants at offshore locations so far away from the continent.
Why are Atlantic sea temperatures changing, and what does it mean for Britain?
Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis wreaked havoc across Britain this year, causing damage to thousands of homes and businesses, extensive travel disruptions, and several deaths. In some places, over a month’s worth of rain fell in twenty-four hours.
These hazardous weather systems are known as mid-latitude storms. They are swept in from the Atlantic, where cold polar air from the north meets warmer air from the south at roughly the same latitudes as Britain. Far from the shores of Britain, the Atlantic climate holds the answers for important questions about our weather, including how severe and how frequently future storms will hit.
Training Course: Fast Track Your Research Impact
We are offering 30 places on a free one-day training course in April, which will give you everything you need to generate and communicate real-world impacts from your research and public engagement.
You will learn about practical tools to time-efficiently increase the significance and reach of your impact.
As part of the session you will receive your own copy of the second edition of The Research Impact Handbook.
Limited places are available, so if you would like to attend, please register by Thursday 26 March 2020.