"PhD Studentship - Aircraft Observations of Reactive Chemistry in the Tropical Atlantic and its Impact on Methane Lifetime"

This 3.5 year PhD is fully funded for home students; the successful candidate will receive a tax-free stipend set at UKRI rates (£20,780 for 2025/26) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is January 2026.

This PhD project aims to investigate the drivers of atmospheric oxidation in the tropical marine troposphere and their implications for global methane budgets. The research will address critical gaps in understanding the oxidising capacity of this region, with a focus on the interplay of reactive species from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Given methane’s role as a potent greenhouse gas, and its recent acceleration in concentration, improving constraints on its chemical removal through oxidation is essential for robust climate prediction and mitigation strategies.

The tropical Atlantic is a pivotal region in the global methane cycle, where both methane sources and sinks are influenced by marine and continental processes. However, direct in situ measurements of the processes responsible for methane removal remain sparse. The chemical environment here is shaped by a diverse mix of Saharan dust, sea salt, biomass burning emissions, and transported anthropogenic pollution. These inputs can significantly alter methane lifetime and influence tropospheric ozone formation, creating feedbacks that affect both air quality and radiative forcing. Another key aim of this project is also to explore the vertical extent of ocean-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their role in regional atmospheric chemistry.

To address these challenges, a large aircraft project will deploy advanced instrumentation aboard the FAAM BAe-146 research aircraft during a dedicated measurement campaign in the tropical Atlantic. Central to this effort is a newly commissioned fast-switching, multi-reagent bipolar chemical ionisation mass spectrometer (CIMS), capable of real-time detection of a wide range of compounds that will be the focus of this PhD. This includes measurements of VOCs, oxidation products, biomass burning tracers, and halogenated species. These high-resolution observations will enable a detailed characterisation of the chemical processes controlling oxidation capacity in the tropical troposphere. The data collected will directly support international efforts to reduce uncertainties in methane lifetime estimates.

Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Manchester

The University of Manchester provides a world-leading research environment, particularly in atmospheric science. The project will be based within the Centre for Atmospheric Science, supported by state-of-the-art laboratory and field infrastructure. The supervisory team, led by Dr Thomas Bannan, brings extensive expertise in trace gas measurements, VOC chemistry, and aircraft-based observational science.

The ideal candidate will hold a strong background in either atmospheric science, environmental science, chemistry, or physics, and will demonstrate a willingness for experimental fieldwork and data analysis. This PhD offers a unique opportunity to contribute to frontier research in atmospheric chemistry, with significant implications for climate science, air quality, and environmental policy.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

To apply, please contact Dr Tom Bannan - thomas.bannan@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.