Post-Doctoral Research

Aoife's first post-doctoral research position focused on the measurement and interpretation of records of the key radiatively active greenhouse gases, primarily CO₂, CH₄, SF₆ and N₂O. Aoife set-up and ran two of the four UK DECC Network measurement sites, one in Tacolneston, Norwich and one in Ridge Hill, Hereford. Both sites continue to make high-frequency, high-precision measurements of CO₂, CH₄, SF₆ and N₂O. In addition, the site in Tacolneston also makes measurements of a wide range of Montreal and Kyoto Protocol gases (CFCs, HFCs, HCFCs, Halons etc.) using an AGAGE instrument called the Medusa. These are unique measurement sites as air is sampled on tall towers from heights of 50 and 100 metres above ground level. Measurements therefore reflect a much larger footprint than if sampled from 10 metres above ground level. Integrating these high-frequency measurements with a Lagrangian dispersion model run at the UK Met Office to produce emission maps of UK greenhouse gases provides vital information on the emissions of these influential and radiatively active gases.

Current Research

After a short career break growing her family, Aoife returned to work part-time as Project Manager to the NERC funded Methane Observations and Yearly Assessments (MOYA) Project. The four year MOYA research programme began in May 2016 and involves 16 research partners. The central objective of the MOYA project is to move towards closing the global methane budget through undertaking new observations and further analysis of existing data. Aoife plays a central role in coordinating the varied research strands from the project: aircraft, continuous and flask measurements, as well as terrestrial and modelling work. She also developed and wrote the project webpage, coordinates annual and small group project meetings, formats long term remote measurement data for data archiving and use by the projects modelling community. Aoife has worked on impact/outreach related activities. For example, developing content, displays and hands on activities for a MOYA stand at the NERC UnEarthed Showcase in Edinburgh (November 2017). This material has also been used to showcase the methane and the MOYA project for Science week at Schools Outreach Events.