Space-based constraints on UK ammonia emissions and air quality impact

This project will undertake novel research targeting one of the major air quality challenges facing the UK - the ammonia problem. Ammonia (NH3) is emitted primarily from diffuse agricultural sources and difficult to quantify for legislative purposes. Unlike other air pollutants, gaseous NH3 emissions have not decreased over recent decades and continue to promote extensive formation of ammonium nitrate aerosol, a hazardous air pollutant. Therefore, this project aims to exploit state-of-the-art satellite observations and modelling to better constrain NH3 emissions, their temporal changes (from a legislative point of view) and to quantify the impact of these emissions changes on key air pollutants such as PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns).