About ACMSU

The Atmospheric Chemistry Modelling Support Unit (ACMSU) at the University of Cambridge has two main aims. These are, firstly, to carry out world-class research on problems related to atmospheric chemistry and, secondly, to support the UK community in aspects of atmospheric chemistry research by providing models and other assistance. Our main research aims relate to global-scale problems in the troposphere and stratosphere and to the connection between atmospheric chemistry and climate change. Topics include:

studies of the interaction between atmospheric composition and climate,
modelling the stratospheric ozone layer, thereby contributing to our understanding of northern hemisphere ozone decline,
understanding and quantifying the processes involved in the exchange of air between troposphere and stratosphere, essential for understanding of a range of problems from the impact of aviation on the atmosphere to the effect of changes in chemical composition on climate.
the changing oxidizing capacity of the troposphere, important for climate change impact studies and regional pollution.

Our support activity includes the development and maintenance of a hierarchy of models. A major current initiative is the development, with the Met Office, of a community model for coupled chemistry/climate studies, UKCA.

ACMSU benefits from close interaction with the Cambridge University Centre for Atmospheric Science (CAS) which was established to promote an interdisciplinary approach to atmospheric science, combining expertise in atmospheric physics and chemistry in the Department of Chemistry (DC) and expertise in fluid dynamics in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP). In particular, there is important complementary expertise in laboratory and field measurements for atmospheric chemistry at DC.

ACMSU is led by Prof. John Pyle (FRS) who is also a Director of the Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Cambridge, UK of which ACMSU forms a part.

NCAS fund several fulltime post-doc positions at ACMSU. For more details please see our other pages.