Planetary Groups in the North East of England
University of Leeds
The Challenger Planetary Atmosphere Research Group is led by Professor John Plane. The group consists of 1 research fellow, 6 postdoctoral researchers and 3 PhD students. We study the chemistry of planetary atmospheres (Earth, Mars, Venus and Titan), as well as the interstellar medium. The group’s focus is on cosmic dust: how it is formed around AGB stars, its evolution in the solar system, and the impacts of dust in planetary atmospheres. We combine experimental laboratory studies (kinetics and photochemistry), observations using satellite and lidar remote sensing, and modelling with global chemistry-climate models. Much of this work involves international collaboration, currently with groups in the US, China, Germany, Norway and Belgium.
Current Research Projects include:
- First study of the global Nickel and Aluminium Layers in the upper atmosphere (NIALL)
- The supply of bio-available phosphorous to planetary atmospheres by the ablation of cosmic dust
- Benzene and Ethane in Titan’s Atmosphere
- Formation of silicate dust around AGB stars
- Fractional Ionisation at the Water Snow Lines in Protoplanetary Discs
- Meteoric Influences on Stratospheric Aerosol and Clouds (MeteorStrat)
- Astrochemistry of old stars: direct probing of unique chemical laboratories
Our facilities include:
Laboratory: Laser Ablation/Laser Photolysis with Laser Induced Fluorescence; Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry; Fast Flow Tube with Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry; Meteoric Ablation Simulator.
Modelling: models such as the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) running on the Advanced Research Computing (ARC) supercomputer, and a range of 1D planetary atmospheric models.
Observations: rockets, lidar, MAVEN satellite, ODIN satellite (through external collaborations).
Further information on our work and the research group can be found at http://john-plane.leeds.ac.uk
Current Research Projects include:
- First study of the global Nickel and Aluminium Layers in the upper atmosphere (NIALL)
- The supply of bio-available phosphorous to planetary atmospheres by the ablation of cosmic dust
- Benzene and Ethane in Titan’s Atmosphere
- Formation of silicate dust around AGB stars
- Fractional Ionisation at the Water Snow Lines in Protoplanetary Discs
- Meteoric Influences on Stratospheric Aerosol and Clouds (MeteorStrat)
- Astrochemistry of old stars: direct probing of unique chemical laboratories
Our facilities include:
Laboratory: Laser Ablation/Laser Photolysis with Laser Induced Fluorescence; Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry; Fast Flow Tube with Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry; Meteoric Ablation Simulator.
Modelling: models such as the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) running on the Advanced Research Computing (ARC) supercomputer, and a range of 1D planetary atmospheric models.
Observations: rockets, lidar, MAVEN satellite, ODIN satellite (through external collaborations).
Further information on our work and the research group can be found at http://john-plane.leeds.ac.uk