Our planet's atmosphere

Understanding our planet’s atmosphere is fundamental to predicting future changes in the climate and the environment humans inhabit. The Grantham Institute seeks to prompt policy discussions on topics as varied as tracking the source of air pollution, monitoring levels of greenhouse gases, removing atmospheric carbon dioxide, and the interaction of the biosphere and atmosphere. The research carried out by Grantham Affiliates and students focuses on expanding our knowledge of the oceans and atmosphere and modelling the way in which these systems influence one another, forming the basis for more accurate climate predictions. 

Highlights

View of the earth from Space

Ozone layer not recovering over populated areas

Ozone at lower latitudes is not recovering, despite Antarctic ozone hole healing. Global ozone has been declining since the 1970s owing to certain man-made chemicals. Since these were banned, parts of the layer have been recovering, particularly at the poles. However, new research has found that the bottom part of the ozone layer at more populated latitudes is not recovering. The cause is currently unknown.

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Professor Joanna Haigh and Dr Fozzy doing an experiment at the Children's Christmas Lecture

Children's Christmas lecture: Joanna Haigh

A temperamental Sun, and the Earth’s wobbly journey around it, violent volcanoes, melting ice caps, cow farts, car engines and Donald Trump. All of these are changing our global climate. But how? Grantham Institute Co-director Professor Joanna Haigh delivered the 2017 Children's Christmas Lecture, using live demos to explain what's changing our planet's climate to an audience of 800 schoolchildren.

Watch the lecture

Top content

A power station and line of chimneys at sunset

A brief history of the Earth's CO2

Writing for the BBC, Professor Joanna Haigh, Grantham Institute Co-director, explains why carbon dioxide has played a crucial role in shaping the Earth's climate.

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Satellite view of the earth

Satellite observation to support monitoring greenhouse gases

This briefing paper provides an overview of the ways in which satellite-based Earth observations can provide information to better understand, estimate and mitigate the emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane (CO2 and CH4).

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Heather Graven

Video: Imperial College London weather station

Grantham Affiliate Dr Heather Graven and her colleagues introduce the weather station on the rooftops of Imperial, and explain how it tracks air quality over London.

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Explore our work

It is important for us to understand how human activities affect the Earth's atmosphere. Read more about the latest challenges we are tackling at the Grantham Institute to measure and monitor our atmosphere, and understand our interactions with it. 

Briefing: Ancient climates

What can ancient climates tell us about high carbon dioxide concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere?
Scientists scoop water out of arctic

Discussion paper: The Arctic and the UK

This paper explains how the UK’s climate is linked to conditions in the Arctic, and why a UK Arctic science strategy is so important.
Clouds

Climate sensitivity: What is it, and why is it important?

This paper explains how climate sensitivity is estimated from different lines of evidence, and why its exact value remains uncertain.
Image of the earth taken from space

Satellite observation to support monitoring greenhouse gases

This briefing paper considers how satellite-based Earth observations can help us better understand, estimate and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Balancing sources and sinks of greenhouse gases

This paper clarifies what a ‘balance’ of greenhouse gases means in the context of the Paris Agreement, and discusses how this could be achieved.

Tools to assess environmental impacts of air pollutants

This paper describes how some pollutants both impact our air quality and cause climate change, and proposes new metrics to help inform policy choices.
Oak leaves

Biosphere feedbacks and climate change

This paper assesses the state of knowledge about the most important feedbacks associated with the biosphere, and its implications for climate policy.
Smoking Chimneys

Considering the forcings of climate change using physics

This paper aims to show how we can comprehend the size of anthropogenic forcing of our climate using simple physics.
Aerial view of a bus and lots of cyclists

New solutions to air pollution challenges in the UK

This paper discusses the problem of nitrous oxide pollution and suggests potential policy solutions.

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Clouds in the shape of the letters CO2

Comment & opinion on the Grantham Institute blog

Browse our blog for comment and opinion from staff and students at Imperial College London.

Read more about Earth system science on our blog.

Open seas

Explore our work on Earth system science

From papers on sea level rise to solar influences on climate, we have a broad range of publications dedicated to various aspects of our planet's atmosphere. 

Explore all our papers on Earth system science.