Steve simulates global sources, sinks and transport of anthropogenic aerosol and investigates the associated impact on air quality and climate.
Areas of expertise:
modelling transport of aerosol using the Met Office Unified Model;
aerosol emission, deposition, chemistry and transport;
radiative transfer and aerosol optical properties;
stratospheric temperature and ozone trends;
effect of the 11-year solar cycle (sunspots) on the stratosphere.
Steve is involved in the international multi-institution Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Intercomparison Project ( ACCMIP ). This project aims to expand upon CMIP5 by providing more a detailed analysis of radiative forcing and a wider range of chemistry diagnostics for short lived species. For this, Steve has contributed results from experiments conducted using HadGEM2 and has taken the lead on validating the surface particulate matter for all participating models against measurements.
Steve also determines the level of present day aerosol transported between different regions in the Northern Hemisphere and different countries within the EU. The effect that external regions have on UK and European background aerosol levels forms part of the DEFRA SSNIP contract.
Steve joined the Met Office in April 2009. Prior to this, Steve was a postdoctoral research assistant at the University of Reading where he developed a sophisticated radiation code to study aerosol optical properties. At Reading, Steve also completed a PhD on stratospheric temperature trends and the effect of the 11-year solar cycle. In 2003 Steve obtained a 1st Class MPhys degree in Astrophysics from Cardiff University.