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Dr W J Bloss
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
The breakdown of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere leads to the formation of ozone, and production of particulate matter, secondary organic aerosols or SOA. Ozone and SOA are key atmospheric components, which impact upon human health, air quality, crop yields and climate. It is estimated that 90 % of VOC emissions to the atmosphere originate from biogenic sources (BVOC). New measurements have identified Methyl Chavicol (“MC”), also known as Estragole; C10H12O) as a major BVOC emitted from pine forests, and from Oil Palm plantations in Malaysian Borneo. As rising biofuel demand is expected to lead to increased Oil Palm cultivation, emissions of MC to the atmosphere are expected to increase. Qualitatively, we expect this to lead to increased ozone and SOA production - however no details of the fate of MC in the atmosphere are known. The aim of this project is to develop a model for the atmospheric degradation of MC, using recently acquired data from large simulation chambers and atmospheric field campaigns. The resulting model will be applied to recent field observations from Borneo, to calculate the impacts of the MC emissions measured. This project will be desk-based, however it is likely that the student will have the opportunity to participate in EUPHORE chamber measurement activities during the course of their studies. The project will be supervised by Dr Bloss, with day-to-day support available from other researchers currently working in the group (see www.atmos.bham.ac.uk), and will be able to collaborate with colleagues whose interests span environmental chemistry, meteorology, climatology, atmospheric chemistry and air quality.
Funding Notes
For further details on the proposed project, please contact the supervisor(s) directly, quoting the project title.
Project supervisors
Career overview
Professor William Bloss completed his undergraduate degree and PhD at the University of Cambridge, with his doctoral research focusing on laboratory studies of atmospheric halogen oxide reactions. He subsequently worked as a Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he studied stratospheric ozone depletion. Following this, he served as a Research Fellow and then Lecturer at the University of Leeds, conducting field measurements of atmospheric chemistry across the UK, Europe, and Antarctica. In 2007, he joined the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. His research aims to identify the causes of poor air quality and to support the development of effective policy measures to protect human and environmental health. Recent projects have included Clean Air Science for the West Midlands (WM-Air) and the identification of air pollution sources in major cities such as Delhi and Beijing. Currently, he holds the position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of College for Life & Environmental Sciences.
Research interests
Professor Bloss''s research focuses on atmospheric science, particularly air pollution and atmospheric chemistry. He employs a combination of laboratory studies, field measurements, and numerical models to investigate the causes of poor air quality and to support the development of effective policy measures aimed at protecting human and environmental health. His recent work includes projects such as Clean Air Science for the West Midlands (WM-Air) and the identification of air pollution sources in megacities like Delhi and Beijing. His research group addresses various areas of atmospheric chemistry and clean air science, including understanding the sources and transformations of air pollutants in urban environments, quantifying the sources and sinks for atmospheric oxidants, and applying air pollution science to enhance local and regional air quality policy measures.
Atmospheric Science
Air Pollution
Atmospheric Chemistry
Clean Air Science
Urban Atmosphere
Air Quality Policy
Field Measurements
Laboratory Studies
Numerical Modelling
Air Pollutant Sources
Traffic Emissions
Developing Megacities
Environmental Health
Reactive Nitrogen Emissions
Particulate-Mediated Renoxification
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