Keri Nicoll : Research Interests
Space weather effects on atmospheric processes
Many claims have been made about the effect of solar variability on Earth's climate, some of which have created great controversy. Quantifying the physical mechanisms coupling solar variability to climate is central to resolving these continuing controversies. My current research investigates the effect of solar variability on atmospheric processes which occur in the lower troposphere, namely the effects on atmospheric electricicty and clouds.
Development of small science sensors for airborne platforms
The NERC funded MORSE (More Operational Radiosonde SEnsors) project involved development of small disposable science sensors which can be used on free balloons as well as small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A number of sensors were developed including those to measure solar radiation, cloud droplets, turbulence and charge.
To view our recent article on "Research Radiosondes" published in Met. Tech. International please click below.
A list of references used in the article is given here.
Charging of Saharan dust
Instrumentation for measuring aerosol particles and charge inside dust from a balloon platform was developed in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire. Successful field campaigns took place in Kuwait and the Cape Verde isles in summer 2009, where several instrumented balloons were launched into layers of Saharan dust which was elevated several km above the surface.
Charging of the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic ash plume
Balloon borne sensors are particularly suitable for obtaining insitu measurements inside volcanic ash plumes, where it is too dangerous for aircraft to fly. In April 2010 an instrumented balloon was launched through the Eyjafjallajokull ash plume over south west Scotland. The instruments detected a narrow plume of ash which was also electrically charged. Further details can be found from our ERL paper at: Self-charging of the Eyafallajokull volcanic ash plume.