Dr Kirsty Pringle
Kirsty Pringle is a research fellow in the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Research at the University of Leeds. She is also a member of the Centre for Excellence in Modelling the Atmosphere and Climate (CEMAC), also in Leeds.
Her research focuses on the role that tiny particles of e.g. sea salt, sulfates or soot play in affecting both air quality and the climate. These particles, known as particulate matter or aerosol particles can affect the temperature of the Earth by both scattering and absorbing solar radiation. They also affect human health as some types of particulate matter can travel into the lungs, and are thought to increase the occurrence of heart disease and some cancers.
She completed her PhD at the University of Leeds, working with Professor Ken Carslaw on the development of the GLObal Model or Aerosol Processes (GLOMAP), a computer model that is used to simulate the transport and processing of these aerosol particles throughout the atmosphere.
She has also worked as a research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany and the Met Office in Exeter, UK.
- Engagement Excellence Fellow
In addition, she carries out research within three main themes:
Aerosol particles can affect the climate, either directly by scattering or absorbing solar radiation, or indirectly by changing the properties of clouds. Unfortunately the role that aerosols play in affecting the temperature of the Earth is still very uncertain, Kirsty works with statisticians to develop new ways of quantifying this uncertainty so that computer models will be able to quantify the effect of aerosols on climate with improved confidence.
Aerosol particles (also known as particulate matter) has been shown to have a detrimental effect on human health. Kirsty has investigated the effect of different types and sources of particulate matter on human health.
In 2014, Kirsty ran an air quality citizen science study called The Air in Saltaire in which residents of Saltaire, Bradford were given the opportunity to take measurements of air quality around their town.<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>
- PhD Univeristy of Leeds
- MSc University of Manchester
- BSc University of Edinburgh
Kirsty is a certified Software Carpentry instructor and teaches computer skills (including Python) to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. She also lectures on Air Quality and Human Health.
Research groups and institutes
- Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols