Atmospheric processes play a critical role in a wide range of biogenic and anthropogenic airborne hazards. This role can extend from initiating the event, influencing the release of material, determining the direction of travel, dilution and deposited of material, controlling important chemical and biological processes, though to the spatial, temporal distribution and magnitude of any impact and even aspects of recovery. Given the clear and multi-layered links to the atmosphere it is therefore hardly surprising that the Met Office has a long history and currently extensive research and service commitments in the field of dispersion and air quality. The atmospheric dispersion and air quality (ADAQ) team (~25 people) at the Met Office are focused on the research, development and application of dispersion and air quality models. ADAQ leads the Met Office research and services in areas such as volcanic ash and gas, animal and plant disease spread, industrial accidents and fires, radiological releases and air quality. This work includes research and the delivery of services for events ranging in spatial impact from metres to hemispheric and extending from the surface to the stratosphere. The team therefore has to have expertise and develop capability in a diverse range of subjects from fundamental atmospheric physics and chemistry through to specific processes relevant for specific releases/event types and also in their communication and use by colleagues in many other organisations and fields. The broad nature of this work and the link to numerous impacts means that collaboration, such as that with PHE, is critical and indeed is seen a huge bonus for the team. This talk will provide an overview of the science and application areas currently covered by ADAQ and will aim to relate this to existing links with PHE and where more collaboration might be possible.
Dr Matthew Hort is the head of Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Quality (currently seconded to lead Met Office SPF Clean Air programme) at the Met Office in which role he leads and coordinates Met Office research in these areas with a focus on linking atmospheric sciences to emergency response, societal, industrial and environmental impacts. Matthew completed a PhD in computational fluid dynamics before undertaking experimental research on the dispersion of chemical species from petrochemical plants. Matthew then joined the Met Office in 2000. Since then he has conducted, lead and published research on atmospheric dispersion and composition modelling spanning nuclear accidents, volcanic eruptions, animal and plant diseases, CBRN events and air quality. Matthew has and continues to serve on a number of national and international bodies. As the Clean Air lead he has played a key role in securing and developing this ground breaking UKRI and Met Office joint activity focused on improving our understanding of and ability to address the UK's air quality challenges. Matthew has extensive experience of and particular interest in bringing cross disciplinary science to bear on real world problems and needs.
This Seminar will be held by Skype at 11am - please email for an invitation.