ENVEAST Doctoral Training Partnership

ENVEAST Doctoral Training Partnership

Seawater control of an atmospheric pollutant: Ocean-atmosphere interactions between iodine and ozone

University of East Anglia Supervisors: Prof. Alex Baker ()

Dr James France ()

PML Supervisors: Dr Tom Bell ()

Dr Frances Hopkins ()

Background: Ozone is a key atmospheric oxidant, greenhouse gas and air pollutant. Loss of ozone to the sea surface is an important but poorly constrained process, with implications for coastal air quality forecasts. Some ozone loss is driven by rapid reactions with iodide (I-) in the sea surface. These reactions lead to the production of volatile iodinated compounds that cause further atmospheric ozone destruction.

The sea surface microlayer (SML) is key to understanding the impact of iodide on atmospheric composition. The SML is the thin (few 10s of µm) film of water between the atmosphere and ocean. This is where ozone and iodide mix and react, and its composition is very different to that of bulk seawater. In particular the SML contains very high concentrations of organic matter, which itself reacts with ozone, and with the products of the ozone – iodide reaction (HOI and I2). We urgently need to understand the influence of the SML on ozone-iodide reactions so that we can quantify the impact of this chemistry.

Your role will be to apply novel analytical techniques to the study of ozone - iodide interactions at the SML. You will design controlled laboratory studies at the UEA air-sea reaction chamber (https://www.uea.ac.uk/environmental-sciences/sea-ice-chamber) and apply your knowledge and experience to studies at an established air-sea interaction field site in Plymouth (http://www.westernchannelobservatory.org.uk/).

Research methods and training: You will receive comprehensive, hands-on training in working in a state-of-the-art environmentally controlled air-sea reaction chamber, and in advanced analytical techniques, including mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), flow voltammetric and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analysis. Alongside this, you will receive exceptional training opportunities in marine fieldwork at the Western Channel and Penlee Point Atmospheric Observatories.

Supervision and person specification: You will benefit from a team of experienced and friendly supervisors from the University of East Anglia and Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the array of scientific networks and career opportunities associated with these institutes.

We are looking for a student with a passion for marine and atmospheric science, holding a BSc or Masters level degree in Marine or Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, Chemistry (or similar courses). For further information about the application process, please visit www.enveast.ac.uk/apply.

References:

i) L.J. Carpenter et al. (2013). Atmospheric iodine levels influenced by sea surface emissions of inorganic iodine, Nature Geoscience, 6, 108-111.

ii) R.J. Chance et al. (2014). The distribution of iodide at the sea surface, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 16, 1841-1859.