Drastic and rapid emission reductions and the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal (CDR) technologies are essential for meeting the Paris Agreement on Climate and net-zero commitments (IPCC, 2021). A series of land-based CDR strategies involving the terrestrial biosphere have been proposed, e.g., afforestation and reforestation, bioenergy crops, enhanced rock weathering and peatland restoration. An overview of these land-based CDR strategies and recommendations for their application have been summarized by independent international expert committees (e.g., US National Research Council, 2015; UK Royal Society, 2018) as well as the IPCC 2021 report. All these reports agree that there are unidentified environmental risks that must be assessed, because they may reinforce, counteract, or even offset the climate benefits from carbon sequestration.
We invite projects that will address pressing issues related with the use of land-based CO2 removal strategies to mitigate climate change and further indirect atmospheric and climate impacts. You will use high-performance Earth System models and observations, from field trials to satellite sensors, to answer a research question of interest to you. Some specific examples are:
•Will increased forest cover from afforestation/reforestation proposals affect clouds and rainfall in a warmer world? How will the surface albedo change in boreal forests compared to subtropical savannas and what are the implications for climate?
•How will air quality in urban regions with little/no tree planting compared to those with extensive tree planting? Do emitted air gases from extensive tree planting affect human and crop health?
•Will future increased in wildfires affect afforestation/reforestation and what will be the consequences for air pollution and indirect climate effects?
•Will peatland restoration increase greenhouse gas CH4 emissions and what will be the implications for climate change and air quality?
To get the most out of this project you should have a basic understanding of data analysis and coding (e.g., python, R) and an interest in climate change, air quality and atmosphere-biosphere-climate interactions. During the PhD program, you will gain excellent training with cutting-edge transferrable skills in modelling and analysing atmospheric pollutants in the context of climate change issues. You will be embedded within the vibrant research group of Val-Martin at University of Sheffield, working closely with colleagues at the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, with outstanding facilities and expertise. Informal enquires are welcome to Dr Maria Val-Martin ([Email Address Removed]).
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