TFEIP
Chris Dore and Melanie Hobson hold high profile roles in the Task Force on Emission Inventories and Projections (TFEIP) under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The TFEIP supports Parties in the reporting of official air pollutant emissions and projections data to the Convention. Chris is TFEIP Chair and Melanie is co-chair of the Projections Expert Panel. They have been involved in a number of key initiatives including providing input to the update in 2009 to the EMEP / EEA guidebook and more recently in compiling a report on the different flexibility mechanisms available for the Gothenburg Protocol revision currently under discussion.
Link to the TFEIP website
NAEI
Aether are working with AEA on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. This 3 year programme, which commenced in October 2011 provides central government and the Devolved Administrations with the tools needed to monitor progress towards national and international air quality and greenhouse gas emission targets. Aether's main contribution is to support quality control processes in the compilation of emissions data, compile the emission inventories for the Devolved Administrations, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories and estimate emissions from the rail sector.
Link to the NAEI website
Ultrafine particles
Aether (together with AMEC and IOM) recently completed a project for the European Commission, which assessed the current knowledge of ultrafine particle emissions and nanomaterials. Aether's main role was to compile an emissions inventory of ultrafine particles (PM0.1) for the EU27, with particular focus on industrial sources. This required a detailed understanding of the available particulate emissions datasets across Europe, including point source data. A detailed investigation into the size fractionation of particulate material was undertaken, to allow PM0.1 emissions to be estimated. There have been significant challenges associated with the unification of data, gap filling and the limited availability of fractionation profiles. Some innovative calculation methods have been developed to overcome some of the shortcomings of the underlying datasets. The release of nanomaterials to air was also investigated, and conclusions presented on priorities for further work.
Emission Inventory Compilation for Turkey
Aether are part of a consortium providing technical assistance for improving emissions control in Turkey. As part of the project, Aether will be generating an air quality pollutant emissions inventory. This will require the design and implementation of data infrastructures, models, assessment of data quality, implementation of QA / QC routines, training of local staff and the production of finalised datasets.
Support to Irish EPA
Aether has been supporting the Irish Environmental Protection Agency in the compilation of their greenhouse gas and air quality emissions inventories. Chris Dore was based with the EPA inventory team in Monaghan from October 2010 to March 2011, first working on inventory compilation and development and then on the reporting phase. Emma Salisbury will be based in Monaghan from October 2011 to January 2012. Their work will ensure that Ireland meet their international reporting commitments under the Gothenburg Protocol, the National Emissions Ceilings Directive, and the Kyoto protocol.
Link to the Irish EPA emissions data:
MAEI
Aether have been working with Sefton Council to improve the Merseyside Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (MAEI). The MAEI is used to report on emissions of air quality pollutants and greenhouse gases across five local authorities; these include Liverpool City Council, Knowsley Council, Sefton Council, St Helen's Council and Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. The work has included investigating any discrepancies in methodology and / or emission factors between the MAEI and the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, improving the way emissions from the transport sector are derived and providing suggestions to improve QA/QC procedures.