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Dr Carly Reddington

Dr Carly Reddington

  • Position: Research Fellow
  • Areas of expertise: atmospheric aerosol; aerosol modelling; biomass burning; air pollution; environmental health risks, environmental justice; compound climate impacts
  • Email: C.L.S.Reddington@leeds.ac.uk
  • Phone: +44(0)113 343 5612
  • Location: 10.126 School of Earth and Environment
  • Website: X | Bluesky | Googlescholar | Researchgate | ORCID

Profile

I am Research Fellow in the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS) and a member of the following research groups: Biosphere Atmosphere Group, Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols and Dynamics.

Research interests

My primary research interest lies in understanding how human activities impact the atmosphere and biosphere and, in turn, affect human health. A key focus of my research is exploring how air pollutant emissions, including those from deforestation fires and wildfires, alter atmospheric composition, degrade regional air quality, and harm public health. Another important area of my work examines the impacts of climate warming and compound-climate events on public health. I am particularly interested in the environmental justice dimensions of these issues, especially how they disproportionately affect lower-income groups with limited capacity to adapt to environmental challenges.

To address these complex challenges, I employ a range of research tools, including atmospheric chemistry and Earth system models, air quality monitoring data, and satellite observations. Driven by a commitment to societal impact, I am passionate about conducting research that extends beyond the scientific community, aiming to inform evidence-based policy and practice.

Research Highlights

Air Quality in Asia – research supported by a gift from AIA Group Ltd
  1. Combustion of residential solid fuels for cooking and heating, industry and agriculture are the main sources of particulate pollution in China. Emissions directly associated with food production and consumption (agriculture, residential combustion, agricultural and deforestation fires) together contribute more than half of PM2.5 pollution in China (Reddington et al., 2019).
  2. Regional collaboration is crucial to improve air quality. PM2.5 exposure inside the Greater Bay Area (GBA) China is strongly controlled by emissions outside the GBA. Reductions in residential solid fuel use and agricultural fertilizer emissions result in the greatest reductions in PM2.5 exposure and the largest health benefits across the GBA (Conibear, Reddington et al., 2021).
Deforestation, fires and air quality
  1. Particulate air pollution from forest and vegetation fires disproportionately effects poorer populations in Southeast Asia. Preventing these fires would substantially improve air quality and reduce exposure to air pollution (Reddington et al., 2021).
  2. Reductions in fires associated with deforestation in Brazil between 2004 and 2012, caused regional particulate air pollution to decline by ~30% during the dry season, with large associated public health benefits across South America (Reddington et al., 2015).
  3. Deforestation and peat fires in Sumatra during 2004–2009 accounted for 75% of the smoke pollution in Singapore. Improved fire management in Indonesia can improve both local and regional air quality (Reddington et al., 2014).

Previous research

The South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA) Project: Investigating the properties and impacts of tropical biomass burning aerosol. In this project I used a global aerosol microphysics model and a variety of observations in the Amazon region to improve understanding of aerosol emissions from vegetation fires (Reddington et al., 2016; 2019) and to quantify the effects of biomass burning on atmospheric composition, regional air quality and human health (Reddington et al., 2014; 2015).

The Global Synthesis Science Project (GASSP): Constraining uncertainty in global aerosol models. In this project I synthesised a database of diverse aerosol measurements from aircraft, ground stations and ships (Reddington et al., 2017), which is being used in combination with statistical methods to evaluate global aerosol and climate models and constrain their uncertainties.

PhD Project. During my PhD I investigated primary and secondary sources of atmospheric aerosol over Europe using a global atmospheric chemistry-transport model (Reddington et al., 2011; 2013).

Qualifications

  • PhD, Atmospheric Science
  • MPhys (Hons), Physics with Astrophysics

Professional memberships

  • Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC)
  • Member of the American Geophysical Union

Research groups and institutes

  • Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols
  • Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science
  • Land-Atmosphere-Biosphere
  • Dynamics and Clouds
<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>