This proposal addresses the geometry and flow dynamics of three large ice caps in the Canadian arctic islands, with implications for glacier mass balance and the rate of sea-level change in a warming world. The work involves a combination of airborne 60 MHz radar to measure ice thickness, which is at present poorly known for these ice caps, and satellite remote sensing of ice velocities. Thickness and velocity data allow calculation of mass loss by iceberg production from the major outlet glaciers of these ice caps. Iceberg production is widely acknowledged as the least well known element in the mass balance of arctic glaciers, and indeed, ice masses worldwide. Internal radar-reflecting horizons and bed power-reflection coefficients also indicate glacier thermal structure. The data will be used as boundary conditions in three-dimensional numerical modelling studies of the response of these ice masses to climate change through time

To address the needs of the cryospheric science community, the SMMR-SSM/I, AVHRR and TOVS research teams collaborated to make it as easy as possible for the Polar Pathfinders and related data sets to be used together. The teams employed a common projection, the NSIDC Equal-Area Scalable Earth-Grid (EASE-Grid), file naming conventions and validation methods to develop consistently processed data sets that are easy to combine and contrast. The Polar Pathfinder Sampler CD-ROM is an innovative assemblage of atmospheric and surface measurements from all three Pathfinders. Included is a two-year period of daily merged Pathfinder data sets at 100 km-resolution, placed in a multidimensional structure known as the "P-Cube." In addition, samples of full-resolution Special Sensor Microwave Imager(SSM/I), TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) (both the 1.25 km and 5 km products) Polar Pathfinder data sets are included, also in Equal-Area Scalable Earth-Grid (EASE-Grid), making it easy to compare parameters at multiple resolutions. The new product provides data for a wide range of polar climate research applications, but is especially keyed to the needs of investigators dealing with large-scale atmospheric changes, surface heat and mass balance studies, and sea ice modelling. This dataset is public

The new satellite instrument, IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer), is a moderate resolution (0.25 cm-1) Fourier Transform spectrometer launched in 2002 on the European METOP satellite. This instrument offers more spectral channels at a considerably higher spectral resolution than HIRS (High Resolution Infrared Sounder) - the instrument which it replaced as the operational infra-red sounder. IASI delivers vertical profiles of temperature and humidity data with a resolution of 1km compared with approximately 4km from HIRS. Translating the improvement in the spectral resolution of the instrument into improvements in the accuracy and height resolution of the temperature, humidity and ozone profiles is dependent on a detailed knowledge of the spectroscopy of the atmosphere in this spectral region. The aim of the Validation of IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) Radiative Transfer Experiments and Modelling (VIRTEM) project was to make the improvements to the spectroscopy necessary to make full use of the increased spectral resolution of IASI. The primary objectives of the VIRTEM project were: *To generate a detailed set of atmospheric observations of radiances and supporting in-situ data. *To analyse and validate the current spectroscopy using state of the art line-by-line radiation models. *To generate an improved spectroscopic database. VIRTEM was an EU project to validate the instrumentation and retrieval methods to be used on IASI. Data in this dataset collection include both aircraft based and lab based spectroscopic measurements.

This dataset consists of soil physico-chemical properties (pH, loss on ignition, carbon stock and concentration, total nitrogen, Olsen phosphorus) from soils sampled across Great Britain in 1998. The Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to soil data, habitat areas, vegetation species data, linear habitat data, and freshwater habitat data are also gathered by Countryside Survey. Please note: the use of Olsen P data, particularly in relation to acidic soils, is controversial. Please ensure these data are suitable for your requirements and exercise caution in their use. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/9d1eada2-3f8b-4a7b-a9b0-a7a04d05ff72

Frontal zones are regions where are descending from the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere comes in close proximity to rising air of recent boundary-layer origin. Such zones are often strongly sheared and subject to shearing instability and mixing. The aim of the UTLS-DCFZ project was to investigate the nature and effect of the mixing of the two airmasses which may be characterised by very different chemical compositions. In particular, the experimental campaign helped answer questions concerning: The distribution of chemical species around fronts. The role of frontal systems in transporting chemical species from the boundary layer and the stratosphere into the troposphere. The extent and rate of mixing between the differing air-masses in the vicinity of fronts. The effect of this mixing on the photochemistry of OH and ozone. The effect of this mixing on the dynamical structure of the front, which will feed back through 1. and 2. above. Five flights were carried out between January and April 1999, two of which were in the period which overlapped with MAXOX. These flights sampled a range of frontal situations, so the main improvement which could be made to the dataset would be to sample more fronts in a similar way, to improve the statistical basis for any analysis. Aircraft measurements of the chemical (e.g. CO, O3, NOx as well as MAXOX measureables during some of the flights), thermodynamic, physical (e.g. liquid water content, CCN etc.) and dynamical characteristics of a number of frontal situations were made. Chilbolton radar images are also available.

The data on this 2 CD set was derived from the the first Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR-1) which was a four-channel, dual-view, infra-red radiometer capable of measuring Sea Surface Temperature to very high accuracy (better the 0.3K). The instrument was launched on the ESA remote sensing satellite (ERS-1) in July 1991. The dataset consists of two types of data product: (a) Spatially averaged sea surface temperatures (ASSTs) and (b) Time averaged global maps. The ASSTs are provided daily in half-degree cells together with with temporal and positional confidence information. The time-averaged global maps are provided at half degree resolution averaged over 5 day and 1 month periods. The data on the CDs cover the four year period from August 1991 to July 1995 inclusive. The Principal Investigator for ATSR-1 is Chris Mutlow at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).

This proposal builds on an earlier feasibility study which successfully developed a model system for exposing plants to realistic measures of urban pollutants. The present study will evaluate the impacts of urban pollution climates on a broad range of plant species (trees, shrubs, herbs & lichens) and insect herbivores, using this facility and a range of supporting roadside transects. Direct impacts of pollutants on growth, physiology and leaf-surface characteristics of plants and plant-herbivore interactions will be assessed. Selective filtration studies will be used to separate effects of different components of exhaust pollution (gases/particles). The influence of abiotic stresses of urban environments (turbulence, water deficit, night illumination) on pollutant uptake, plant growth and plant herbivore interactions will be evaluated.

The results of research carried out under NERC research grant schemes. A variety of different types of research and results are lodged with the NGDC's Earth Science Academic Archive (ESAA) as the NERC Designated Data Centre. Individual data sets will have their own entries where appropriate.The research is all linked to Earth Science and is carried out worldwide. The ESAA also maintains the results of similar academic research that has not been funded by NERC.

To determine the seasonality and inter-annual variability of rainfall from the variations in annual luminescence laminations for multiple samples of recently deposited stalagmites from two monitored cave systems. a) extend this for the last 2000 years of climate change for multiple sites in the UK and continental Europe to establish regional palaeoprecipitation records. Measurement of variations in the structure of laminae luminescence using UV microscope and laser techniques for samples from England and France with parallel monitoring of seasonal variations of luminescence. UV techniques as above with additional samples to extend the project spatially (to Belgium, Scotland, England & France) and temporally (last 2000 years)

The aim of the proposed project is to study evolution in the spatial characteristic of coupled flow and porosity development in heterogeneous porous media. We will develop a modelling engine and methodologies to generate porosity templates for use in flow and transport models of fractured aquifers. Although the primary motivation for this study is to enhance our ability to predict flow and contaminant transport in vulnerable fractured aquifers, such as the chalk, the approach is generic and we foresee a wide range of scenarios where the model may be applied. The work has three specific objectives: 1) to produce a generic model of porosity development, 2) to investigate percolation, scaling and self-organisation phenomena in porosity development due to flow, and 3) to model pore structure and flow histories for a range of natural and anthropogenic problems.