Xin Yang

Atmospheric Chemistry Modeller

Xin Yang

Contact

Xin Yang

Biography

I am an atmospheric chemistry modeller, with major research focuses on (1) polar and global atmospheric chemistry, mainly in halogen (bromine)-related  chemistry; (2) sea-ice-sourced sea salt aerosol production mechanism and parameterisations. A variety of models are used including global chemistry transport model (pTOMCAT) and chemistry climate model (UM-UKCA). Before I joint British Antarctic survey in 2014, I had been working in the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge for 12 years. I got all my degrees in China.

Research interests

I have expertise in atmospheric halogen chemistry, especially in tropospheric bromine modelling. I am one of the first to apply a detailed tropospheric bromine scheme in global model pTOMCAT to study global budget of inorganic bromine and their impacts on atmospheric oxidizing capacity (ozone). In a following-on work, we found that tropospheric bromine plays a key (dominant) role in atmospheric elemental mercury oxidation. I am extremely interested in polar boundary layer springtime bromine explosion event and associated ozone depletion.

My another outstanding work lies on the hypothesis of sea salt aerosol production from blowing snow on sea ice. I initiated the idea and parameterized the SSA production flux. Recent Weddell Sea cruise data haven proven the correctness of the idea. I am currently involved in a few NERC funded grants to estimate this sea-ice-sourced sea salt aerosol on polar regional and global climate (e.g. via acting as source of cloud condensation nuclei or even ice nuclei). Other relevant studies include (i) source of bromine during polar boundary layer bromine explosion event in spring and the associated ozone depletion, (ii)  ice core [Na] as a sea ice extent proxy for the past.

I also involved in two spring field works at Eureka (80N), Canada to collect thousands snow samples for ionic analysis. These work were supported by two NERC UK-Canada bursaries (2018 and 2019) and in collaboration with University of Toronto (via Canadian CANDAC project).

Before 2015

1. Yang, X., N. L. Abraham, A. T. Archibald, P. Braesicke, J. Keeble, P. J. Telford, N. J. Warwick, and J. A. Pyle, How sensitive is the recovery of stratospheric ozone to changes in concentrations of very short lived bromocarbons? Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 10431-10438, doi:10.5194/acp-14-10431-2014, 2014.
2. Banerjee, A., Archibald, A. T., Maycock, A., Telford, P., Abraham, N. L., Yang, X., Braesicke, P., and Pyle, J.: Lightning NOx, a key chemistry–climate interaction: impacts of future climate change and consequences for tropospheric oxidising capacity, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 14, 8753-8778, doi:10.5194/acpd-14-8753-2014, 2014.
3. Levine, J., Yang, X., Jones, A., Wolff, E. W.: Sea salt as an ice core proxy for past sea ice extent: a process-based model study, J. Geophys. Res., doi: 10.1002/2013JD020925, 2014.
4. Braesicke, P., Keeble, J., Yang, X., Stiller, G., Kellmann, S., Abraham, N. L., Archibald, A., Telford, P., and Pyle, J. A.: Circulation anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere and ozone changes, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 10677– 10688, doi:10.5194/acp-13-10677-2013, 2013.
5. Hossaini, R., M. Chipperfield, S. Dhomse, C. Ordonez, A. Saiz-Lopez, N. L. Abraham, A. T. Archibald, P. Braesicke, P. J. Telford, N. J. Warwick, X. Yang, J. A. Pyle, Modelling future changes to the stratospheric source gas injection of biogenic bromocarbons, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, doi:10.1029/2012GL053401, 2012.
6. Zatko, M. C., Grenfell, T. C., Alexander, B., Doherty, S. J., Thomas, J. L., and Yang, X.: The influence of snow grain size and impurities on the vertical profiles of actinic flux and associated NOx emissions on the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 3547-3567, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-3547-2013, 2013.
7. Parrella, J. P., D. J. Jacob, Q. Liang, Y. Zhang, L. J. Mickley, B. Miller, M. J. Evans, X. Yang, J. A. Pyle, N. Theys, and M. Van Roozendael, Tropospheric bromine chemistry: implications for present and pre-industrial ozone and mercury, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 6723-6740, doi:10.5194/acp-12-6723-2012, 2012.
8. Abbatt, J. P. D., J. L. Thomas, K. Abrahamsson, C. Boxe, A. Granfors, A. E. Jones, M. D. King, A. Saiz-Lopez, P. B. Shepson, J. Sodeau, D. W. Toohey, C. Toubin, R. von Glasow, S. N. Wren, and X. Yang, Halogen activation via interactions with environmental ice and snow, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 6237-6271, doi:10.5194/acp-12-6237-2012, 2012.
9. Tegtmeier, S., K. Krüger, B. Quack, I. Pisso, A. Stohl, and X. Yang, Emission and transport of bromocarbons: from the West Pacific ocean into the stratosphere, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 10633-10648, doi:10.5194/acp-12-10633-2012, 2012.
10. Hezel, P. J., B. Alexander, C. M. Bitz, E. J. Steig, C. D. Holmes, X. Yang, and J. Sciare, Modeled methanesulfonic acid (MSA) deposition in Antarctica and its relationship to sea ice, J. Geophys. Res., 116, D23214, doi:10.1029/2011JD016383, 2011.
11. Theys, N., M. Van Roozendael, F. Hendrick, X. Yang, I. De Smedt, A. Richter, M. Begoin, Q. Errera, P. V. Johnston, K. Kreher, and M. De Mazière, Global observations of tropospheric BrO columns using GOME-2 satellite data, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 1791-1811, doi:10.5194/acp-11-1791-2011, 2011.
12. Ruti, P. M., J. E. Williams, F. Hourdin, F. Guichard, A. Boone, P. Van Velthoven, F. Favot, I. Musat, M. Rumukkainen, M. Domínguez, M. Á. Gaertner, J.P. Lafore, T. Losada, M.B. Rodriguez de Fonseca, J. Polcher, F. Giorgi, Y. Xue, I. Bouarar, K. Law, B. Josse, B. Barret, X. Yang, C. Mari, A.K. Traore, The West African climate system: a review of the AMMA model inter-comparison initiatives, Atmos. Sci. Lett., 12, 116-122, doi:10.1002/asl.305, 2011.
13. Russo, M. R., V. Marecal, C. R. Hoyle, J. Arteta, C. Chemel, O. Dessens, W. Feng, J. S. Hosking, P. Telford, O. Wild, X. Yang, J. A. Pyle, Tropical deep Convection and its impact on Composition in Global and Mesoscale models – Part 1: Meteorology, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 2765-2786, doi:10.5194/acp-11-2765-2011, 2011.
14. Hoyle, C. R., V. Marécal, M. R. Russo, J. Arteta, C. Chemel, M. P. Chipperfield, F. D’Amato, O. Dessens, W. Feng, N. R. P. Harris, J. S. Hosking, O. Morgenstern, T. Peter, J. A. Pyle, T. Reddmann, N. A. D. Richards, P. J. Telford, W. Tian, S. Viciani, O. Wild, X. Yang, and G. Zeng, Tropical deep convection and its impact on composition in global and mesoscale models – Part 2: Tracer transport, Atmos. Chem. Phys., doi:10.5194/acp-11-8103-2011, 11, 8103-8131 2011.
15. Feng, W., M. P., Chipperfield, S. Dhomse, B. M. Monge-Sanz, X. Yang, K. Zhang, and M. Ramonet, Evaluation of cloud convection and tracer transport in a three-dimensional chemical transport model, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11 (5783-5803) , doi:10.5194/acp-11-5783-2011, 2011.
16. Holmes, C. D., D. J. Jacob, E. S. Corbitt, J. Mao, X. Yang, R. Talbot, F. Slemr, and Y.-J. Han, Global atmospheric model for mercury including oxidation by bromine atoms, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 12037-12057, doi:10.5194/acp-10-12037-2010, 2010.
17. Williams, J. E., M. P. Scheele, P. F. J. van Velthoven, I. Bouarar, K. Law, B. Josse, V. H. Peuch, X. Yang, J. Pyle, V. Thouret, B. Barret, C. Liousse, F. Hourdin, S. Szopa and A. Cozic, Global Chemistry simulations in the AMMA-Model Intercomparison project, Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 91, 611-624, doi:10.1175/2009bams2818.1, 2010.
18. Barret, B., J. E. Williams, I. Bouarar, X. Yang, B. Josse, K. Law, E. Le Flochmon, C. Liousse, V. H. Peuch, G. Carver, J. Pyle, B. Sauvage, P. van Velthoven, C. Mari, and J.-P. Cammas, Impact of West African Monsoon convective transport and lightning NOx production upon tropical the upper tropospheric composition: a multi-model study, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5719-5738, doi:10.5194/acp-10-5719-2010, 2010.
19. Pike, R. C., J. D. Lee, P. J. Young, S. Moller, G. D. Carver, X. Yang, P. Misztal, B. Langford, D. Stewart, C. Reeves, C.N. Hewitt and J. A. Pyle, Can a global model chemical mechanism reproduce NO, NO2, and O3 measurements above a tropical rainforest? Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 10607-10620, doi:10.5194/acp-10-10607-2010, 2010.
20. Yang, X., J. A., Pyle, R. A. Cox, N. Theys, M. Van Roozendael, Snow-sourced bromine and its implications for polar tropospheric ozone, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 7763-7773, doi:10.5194/acp-10-7763-2010, 2010.
21. Hewitt, C. N., et. al. (55 co-authors): Overview: oxidant and particle photochemical processes above a south-east Asian tropical rainforest (the OP3 project): introduction, rationale, location characteristics and tools, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 169-199, doi:10.5194/acp-10-169-2010, 2010.
22. Hewitt, C. N., et al.(55 co-authors): Corrigendum to “Overview: oxidant and particle photochemical processes above a south-east Asian tropical rainforest (the OP3 project): introduction, rationale, location characteristics and tools” published in Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 169–199, 2010, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 563-563, doi:10.5194/acp-10-563-2010, 2010.
23. Voulgarakis, A., X. Yang and J. A. Pyle, How different would tropospheric oxidation be over an ice-free Arctic? Geophys. Res. Lett., doi:10.1029/2009GL040541, 2009.
24. O’Brien, L. M., Harris, N. R. P., Robinson, A. D., Gostlow, B., Warwick, N., Yang, X., and Pyle, J. A.: Bromocarbons in the tropical marine boundary layer at the Cape Verde Observatory – measurements and modelling, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 9083-9099, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-9083-2009, 2009.
25. Yang, X, J. A. Pyle, and R. A. Cox, Sea salt aerosol production and bromine release: Role of snow on sea ice. Geophys. Res. Let., 35, L16815, doi:10.1029/2008GL034536, 2008.
26. Hendrick, F., Van Roozendael, M., Chipperfield, M. P., Dorf, M., Goutail, F., Yang, X., Fayt, C., Hermans, C., Pfeilsticker, K., Pommereau, J.-P., Pyle, J. A., Theys, N., and De Mazière, M.: Retrieval of stratospheric and tropospheric BrO profiles and columns using ground-based zenith-sky DOAS observations at Harestua, 60° N, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 4869-4885, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-4869-2007, 2007.
27. Pyle J. A., N. Warwick, X. Yang, P. J. Young, and G. Zeng, Climate/chemistry feedbacks and biogenic emissions, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A, 365, 1727-1740, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2007.2041, 2007.
28. Warwick, N. J., J. A. Pyle, G. D. Carver, X. Yang, N. H. Savage, F. M. O’Connor, and R. A. Cox, Global modeling of biogenic bromocarbons, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D24305, doi:10.1029/2006JD007264, 2006.
29. Holmes, C. D., D. J. Jacob, and X. Yang, Global lifetime of elemental mercury against oxidation by atomic bromine in the free troposphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L20808, doi:10.1029/2006GL027176, 2006.
30. Yang, X., R. A. Cox, N. J. Warwick, J. A. Pyle, G. D. Carver, F. M. O’Connor and N. H. Savage, Tropospheric bromine chemistry and its impacts on ozone: A model study. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D23311, doi:10.1029/2005JD006244, 2005. (this paper was reviewed by a Nature article: Salawitch,, Nature, 2006)
31. Wang, M.X., Q. Liu Q, X. Yang, A review of research on human activity induced climate change I. Greenhouse gases and aerosols, Adv. Atmos. Sci., 21 (3): 314-321, 2004.
32. Yang, X., M.X. Wang, Y. Huang, Y. S. Wang, A one-compartment model to study soil carbon decomposition rate at equilibrium situation, Ecological Modelling, 151 (1): 63-73, 2002.
33. Yang, X., M. X. Wang and Y. Huang, The climatic-induced net carbon sink by terrestrial biosphere over 1901-1995, Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, 18(6), 1192-1205, 2001.
34. Yang, X., and M. X. Wang, Monsoon ecosystems control on atmospheric CO2 interannual variability: inferred from a significant positive correlation between year-to-year changes in land precipitation and atmospheric CO2 growth rate, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 11, 1671-1674, 2000. (highlighted)
35. Yang, X., M. X. Wang and X. S. Li, Numerical study of surface ozone in China during summer time, J. Geophys. Res., 104, D23, 30341-30349, 1999.

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2019

Dennison, Fraser, Keeble, James, Morgenstern, Olaf, Zeng, Guang, Abraham, N Luke, Yang, Xin. (2019) Improvements to stratospheric chemistry scheme in the UM-UKCA (v10.7) model: solar cycle and heterogeneous reactions. Geoscientific Model Development, 12. 1227-1239. 10.5194/gmd-12-1227-2019

2018

Yang, Xin, Frey, Markus M., Rhodes, Rachael H., Norris, Sarah J., Brooks, Ian M., Anderson, Philip S., Nishimura, Kouichi, Jones, Anna E., Wolff, Eric W.. (2018) Sea salt aerosol production via sublimating wind-blown saline snow particles over sea-ice: parameterizations and relevant micro-physical mechanisms. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions. 10.5194/acp-2018-1080

Rhodes, Rachael H., Yang, Xin, Wolff, Eric W. (2018) Sea ice versus storms: what controls sea salt in Arctic ice cores?. Geophysical Research Letters, 45. 5572-5580. 10.1029/2018GL077403

2017

Zhao, Xiaoyi, Weaver, Dan, Bognar, Kristof, Manney, Gloria, Millán, Luis, Yang, Xin, Eloranta, Edwin, Schneider, Matthias, Strong, Kimberly. (2017) Cyclone-induced surface ozone and HDO depletion in the Arctic. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17. 14955-14974. 10.5194/acp-17-14955-2017

Rhodes, Rachael H., Yang, Xin, Wolff, Eric W., McConnell, Joseph R., Frey, Markus M.. (2017) Sea ice as a source of sea salt aerosol to Greenland ice cores: a model-based study. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17. 9417-9433. 10.5194/acp-17-9417-2017

Bieser, Johannes, Slemr, Franz, Ambrose, Jesse, Brenninkmeijer, Carl, Brooks, Steve, Dastoor, Ashu, DeSimone, Francesco, Ebinghaus, Ralf, Gencarelli, Christian N., Geyer, Beate, Gratz, Lynne E., Hedgecock, Ian M., Jaffe, Daniel, Kelley, Paul, Lin, Che-Jen, Jaegle, Lyatt, Matthias, Volker, Ryjkov, Andrei, Selin, Noelle E., Song, Shaojie, Travnikov, Oleg, Weigelt, Andreas, Luke, Winston, Ren, Xinrong, Zahn, Andreas, Yang, Xin, Zhu, Yun, Pirrone, Nicola. (2017) Multi-model study of mercury dispersion in the atmosphere: vertical and interhemispheric distribution of mercury species. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17. 6925-6955. 10.5194/acp-17-6925-2017

Yang, Xin, Neděla, Vilém, Runštuk, Jiří, Ondrušková, Gabriela, Krausko, Ján, Vetráková, Ľubica, Heger, Dominik. (2017) Evaporating brine from frost flowers with electron microscopy, and implications for atmospheric chemistry and sea-salt aerosol formation. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17. 6291-6303. 10.5194/acp-17-6291-2017

Travnikov, Oleg, Angot, Helene, Artaxo, Paulo, Bencardino, Mariantonia, Bieser, Johannes, D'Amore, Francesco, Dastoor, Ashu, De Simone, Francesco, Diéguez, María del Carmen , Dommergue, Aurélien, Ebinghaus, Ralf, Feng, Xin Bin, Gencarelli, Christian N., Hedgecock, Ian M., Magand, Olivier, Martin, Lynwill, Matthias, Volker, Mashyanov, Nikolay, Pirrone, Nicola, Ramachandran, Ramesh, Read, Katie Alana, Ryjkov, Andrei, Selin, Noelle E., Sena, Fabrizio, Song, Shaojie, Sprovieri, Francesca, Wip, Dennis, Wängberg, Ingvar, Yang, Xin. (2017) Multi-model study of mercury dispersion in the atmosphere: atmospheric processes and model evaluation. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17. 5271-5295. 10.5194/acp-17-5271-2017

Gencarelli, Christian N., Bieser, Johannes, Carbone, Francesco, De Simone, Francesco, Hedgecock, Ian M., Matthias, Volker, Travnikov, Oleg, Yang, Xin, Pirrone, Nicola. (2017) Sensitivity model study of regional mercury dispersion in the atmosphere. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17. 627-643. 10.5194/acp-17-627-2017

2016

Angot, Helene, Dastoor, Ashu, De Simone, Francesco, Gardfeldt, Katarina, Gencarelli, Christian N., Hedgecock, Ian M., Langer, Sarka, Magand, Olivier, Mastromonaco, Michelle N., Nordstrom, Claus, Pfaffhuber, Katrine A., Pirrone, Nicola, Ryjkov, Andrei, Selin, Noelle E., Skov, Henrik, Song, Shaojie, Sprovieri, Francesca, Steffen, Alexandra, Toyota, Kenjiro, Travnikov, Oleg, Yang, Xin, Dommergue, Aurelien. (2016) Chemical cycling and deposition of atmospheric mercury in Polar Regions: review of recent measurements and comparison with models. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 16. 10735-10763. 10.5194/acp-16-10735-2016

Legrand, Michel, Yang, Xin, Preunkert, Susanne, Theys, Nicolas. (2016) Year-round records of sea salt, gaseous and particulate inorganic bromine in the atmospheric boundary layer at coastal (Dumont d’Urville) and central (Concordia) East Antarctic sites. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 121. 997-1023. 10.1002/2015JD024066

Zhao, X., Strong, K., Adams, C., Schofield, R., Yang, X., Richter, A., Friess, U., Blechschmidt, A.-M., Koo, J.-H.. (2016) A case study of a transported bromine explosion event in the Canadian high arctic. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 121. 457-477. 10.1002/2015JD023711

2015

Tegtmeier, S., Ziska, F., Pisso, I., Quack, B., Velders, G. J. M., Yang, X., Krüger, K.. (2015) Oceanic bromine emissions weighted by their ozone depletion potential. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 15. 13647-13663. 10.5194/acp-15-13647-2015

Gencarelli, Christian N., De Simone, Francesco, Hedgecock, Ian M., Sprovieri, Francesca, Yang, Xin, Pirrone, Nicola. (2015) European and Mediterranean mercury modelling: local and long-range contributions to the deposition flux. Atmospheric Environment, 117. 162-168. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.07.015

de Simone, Francesco, Cinnirella, Sergio, Gencarelli, Christian N., Yang, Xin, Hedgecock, Ian M., Pirrone, Nicola. (2015) Model study of global mercury deposition from biomass burning. Environmental Science & Technology, 49. 6712-6721. 10.1021/acs.est.5b00969

Wang, Zhaomin, Zhang, Xiandong, Guan, Zhaoyong, Sun, Bo, Yang, Xin, Liu, Chengyan. (2015) An atmospheric origin of the multi-decadal bipolar seesaw. Scientific Reports, 5. 10.1038/srep08909

  • The role of tundra snowpack chemistry in the boundary layer bromine budget at Eureka, Canada (2nd UK-Canada Arctic bursaries 2018 programme) UK-PI: Xin Yang, Canadian collaborator: Professor Kimberly Strong (University of Toronto)
  • A second investigation of the role of tundra snowpack chemistry in the boundary layer ‘bromine explosion’ at Eureka, Canada  (3rd UK-Canada Arctic bursaries 2019 programme) UK-PI: Xin Yang, Canadian collaborator: Professor Kimberly Strong (University of Toronto)