Halogen (i.e. chlorine, bromine & iodine) gases are ubiquitous in Earth’s atmosphere and since the 1970s are recognised as the principal driver of stratospheric ozone layer depletion. While the impact of halogens in the stratosphere is well understood, it is now increasingly recognised that halogens play a far wider role and may have profound, but […]

Coexistence of competing species in ecological communities is made possible by co-evolved “rules of engagement”. During competition, these rules enable contest resolution through avoidance or signals, without the need to escalate to direct attacks, which prevents unnecessary energy loss for both individuals. However, rapid environmental change can disrupt established competitor hierarchies as the effect of […]

Soils underpin food production in Africa, and they are under extreme pressure and while there has been considerable research into the management of African soils for crop production, far less research has been conducted into grasslands and their management, yet they are vital for food security and animal nutrition. This project is focused on understanding […]

Glaciers and ice sheets store 77% of Earth’s freshwater and are key for utility supply, irrigation, and hydropower. Effective water-resource planning for a sustainable Earth in a changing climate, and hazard mitigation of glaciated areas, depend upon a sophisticated knowledge of the status of ice and the mechanisms that cause it to change. Understanding the […]

Temperatures in the Arctic have been increasing at more than double the global average over the last decades and glacial environments are at the forefront of climate change. Increasing temperatures impact freshwater runoff, as well as the transport of essential nutrients such as nitrogen from Arctic ice caps to the ocean. Rapidly changing nutrient dynamics, […]

The project: Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, with nutrient enrichment perhaps the most significant stressor. However, the importance of the wide range of organic nutrient compounds found in freshwater ecosystems (e.g. proteins, nucleic or amino acids, phospholipids, etc) remains highly uncertain. Research to address this uncertainty is critical, because the concentration […]

The Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets are responsible for about a third of global sea level rise as a result of increased melting and changes to ice flow. Supraglacial lakes (SGLs) are becoming more abundant as a result of increased melting, and can act to speed up ice flow when they drain (Leeson et al., […]