I am an atmospheric scientist with a personal interest in cloud microphysical processes. I lead the Climate Processes group at BAS whose role is to investigate the processes that drive the Antarctic Climate system including clouds, surface fluxes, sea ice and links to the upper atmosphere.

I originally joined BAS in 1977 and wintered in Antarctica between 1978 and 1980. I then spent a period as a weather forecaster in the North Sea before completing a PhD in upper atmosphere winds at University of Sheffield. I returned to BAS in 1988.

Research interests

My particular research interest is in Antarctic clouds and the processes involved in their formation.  I use a variety of methods to investigate clouds and the aerosols needed for their formation including aircraft and ground based measurements.

I lead the Climate Processes group. As such I am responsible for the meteorological instrument fit to the BAS Twin Otter. I use this aircraft to study energy exchange above sea ice and in the marine boundary layer.

• van den Heuvel, F., Lachlan-Cope, T., Kinney, N., & Smith, D. (2025). Ice Nucleating Particle concentrations from Rothera research station in Antarctica measured using the offline, wash-off filter method from filters which were exposed in February 2023 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/ae7f3aea-b0d4-401d-96e7-103eabb9da34

• Anderson, P., King, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., Orr, A., Marshall, G., Kirchgaessner, A., & Smith, V. (2012). Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model output for Larsen Ice Shelf at 4km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00591

• Anderson, P., King, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., Marshall, G., Orr, A., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model output for Larsen Ice Shelf at 1km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00592

• Anderson, P., King, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., Marshall, G., Orr, A., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Surface Energy Budget (SEB) measurements of the snowpack taken at Larsen camp, Larsen C Ice Shelf, Jan 2011 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00590

• King, J., Anderson, P., Orr, A., Marshall, G., Lachlan-Cope, T., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Larsen Ice Shelf Unified Model (UM) output run at 4km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00593

• King, J., Anderson, P., Lachlan-Cope, T., Orr, A., Marshall, G., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Larsen Ice Shelf Unified Model (UM) output run at 1.5km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00594

• Marshall, G., Miles, G., Turner, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., & Mulvaney, R. (2007). Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data collected from Rothschild, Latady and Smyley Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, 2005 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00293

• Marshall, G., Miles, G., Turner, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., & Mulvaney, R. (2007). Analysis of snow/ice cores collected from Rothschild, Latady and Smyley Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, 2006 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00294

1. Investigating mixotrophy in Antarctic cycles

   MACS looks at Antarctica’s rapidly changing seasonal sea ice. As the planet warms microalgae growing in ice and water are affected and this, in turn, affects our climate system.

   Read more of: Investigating mixotrophy in Antarctic cycles

   

2. PRESCIENT

   PRESCIENT supports long-term, strategically important measurements and capabilities for the wider science community.

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3. Arctic Summer-time Cyclones

   The overarching goal of the project is to determine the role of sea-ice surface properties in Arctic cyclone dynamics and to characterise the interaction of Arctic cyclones with the summer-time Arctic environment.

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4. How sea ice and snow regulate climate

   CRiceS investigates the rapid decline of sea ice and its links to physical and chemical changes in polar oceans and the atmosphere.

   Read more of: How sea ice and snow regulate climate

   

5. Southern Ocean Clouds

   Southern Ocean Clouds improves climate models by studying cloud processes over the Southern Ocean to reduce global prediction errors. 

   Read more of: Southern Ocean Clouds

   

6. Water Resources of the Upper Indus Basin

   This project investigated how much water is stored in the glaciers and snow of the Upper Indus Basin, and how climate variability influences water availability.

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7. Measuring shipping emissions in the Arctic

   SEANA is a NERC-funded project, led by Dr Zongbo Shi (U. Birmingham) that aims to define the baseline atmosphere and model potential future changes.

   Read more of: Measuring shipping emissions in the Arctic

   

8. Sea salt aerosols and Arctic climate

   SSAASI-CLIM attempts to determine the salt sea aerosol source, fate and potential impact on Arctic climate associated with blowing snow above sea ice and other sea ice sources.

   Read more of: Sea salt aerosols and Arctic climate

   

9. North Sea Methane

   Offshore gas fields worldwide are major sources of methane emissions. Developing reliable methods to locate emissions and pinpoint sources is critical for quantifying the volume of methane emissions from gas fields across the world.

   Read more of: North Sea Methane

   

10. Orographic Flows and the Climate of the Antarctic Peninsula (OFCAP)

    OFCAP was an integrated programme of field observations, analysis and modelling aimed at understanding how the westerly winds in the Antarctic Peninsula influence the climate.

    Read more of: Orographic Flows and the Climate of the Antarctic Peninsula (OFCAP)

    

11. Joint Airborne Study of the Peninsula Region (JASPER)

    JASPER brings together two of the best equipped Polar meteorology instrumented aircraft and teams to study boundary layer meteorology in the Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea.

    Read more of: Joint Airborne Study of the Peninsula Region (JASPER)

    

12. Iceland Greenland seas Project

    The Iceland Greenland Seas Project investigates how atmosphere-ocean processes in the Iceland Sea create the dense waters that flow through Denmark Strait and feed the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which is crucial for global and European climate.

    Read more of: Iceland Greenland seas Project

    

13. National Capability for Global Challenges

    Polar Expertise – Supporting Development

    Read more of: National Capability for Global Challenges

    

14. Methane Observations and Yearly Assessments

    MOYA is a major NERC-funded project to study the global budget of atmospheric methane, the balance between sources and loss processes, and to understand what is changing to cause the increase in methane currently observed.

    Read more of: Methane Observations and Yearly Assessments

    

15. Southern Ocean Carbon and Heat Regulation

    Understanding the Ocean Regulation of Climate by Heat, Carbon Sequestration and Transports

    Read more of: Southern Ocean Carbon and Heat Regulation

    

16. Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds NE

    This project conducted flights within clouds taking detailed measurements of the physical properties of the cloud – size spectrums and phase (whether the particles are ice or liquid) – as well as taking ground based measurements of the aerosols which will act as nuclei for the cloud particles.

    Read more of: Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds NE

    

BAS PI on Arctic programme consortium grant – Aerosol-Cloud Coupling And Climate Interactions in the Arctic (ACCACIA), July 2012 – Jun 2016, £555,038.58 awarded to BAS

PI on Standard Grant – Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds (MAC), May 2014 – May 2017,  £415,365.75 awarded to BAS. Extra extension to May 2018 and £100,000 to allow for delay because of problems at Halley

CoI on standard grant – Atmospheric Forcing of the Iceland Sea, October 2016 – October 2019, £396,472 awarded to BAS

CoI on Strategic Highlight Topic Oct15 – The Global Methane Budget, May 2016 – May 2020, £214,968.01 awarded to BAS

CoI on (ORCHESTRA) Ocean Regulation of Climate by Heat and Carbon Sequestration and Transports (LTSMC)

1. Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

   A project looking at how clouds affect climate change in Antarctica starts its second year of field research this month. The Southern Ocean Clouds (SOC) project, which is part of the CloudSense programme, will carry out research on the RRS Sir David Attenborough and at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.

   Read more of: Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

   

2. Flying campaign to improve climate modelling begins

   A team of scientists are currently conducting a major experiment over the Southern Ocean that will help to improve climate modelling. The Southern Ocean Clouds project team are performing several […]

   Read more of: Flying campaign to improve climate modelling begins

   

3. Researchers identify biggest threats to Larsen C ice shelf

   A new study by scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has used computer modelling to rank the factors responsible for the Larsen C ice shelf melt according to their severity.

   Read more of: Researchers identify biggest threats to Larsen C ice shelf

   

4. New project to understand polar processes in global climate system

   British Antarctic Survey researchers will work on a new Horizon 2020 project to advance their understanding of polar processes in the global climate system. The CRiceS project, or Climate relevant […]

   Read more of: New project to understand polar processes in global climate system

   

5. Scientists to study methane emissions in North Sea

   Scientists embark on a three-week flying campaign today (23 April) to study methane emissions from gas fields in the southern North Sea. Using specialised scientific equipment, on board one of […]

   Read more of: Scientists to study methane emissions in North Sea

   

6. Antarctic snowfall dominated by a few extreme snowstorms

   A new study reveals the importance of a small number of intense storms around Antarctica in controlling the amount of snow falling across the continent.

   Read more of: Antarctic snowfall dominated by a few extreme snowstorms

   

7. FEATURED PAPER: Antarctic cloud physics

   Observations were made of clouds over the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer of 2010 and 2011 using one the BAS Twin Otter aircraft fitted with a range of atmospheric instruments. […]

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8. Airborne science and technology

   Discover the UK’s national capability to support science from the air

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9. Airborne Meteorology

   Airborne instrument capability

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10. Twin Otter aircraft

    The Twin Otter is a high-wing, twin-engine, turbo-prop aircraft. They are used all over the world and are known for their rugged construction, reliability and short take-off and landing performance.

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• President of ICPM, International Commission on Polar Meteorology