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Tom Gardiner

Tom Gardiner

Science Area Lead, Emissions and Atmospheric Metrology

Biography

Tom Gardiner has over thirty years’ experience with NPL following completion of a B.Sc. in Physics at the University of Birmingham (Hons 1st Class). He is a specialist in the development and implementation of advanced atmospheric and emission measurement techniques, and the assessment of the calibration requirements and uncertainty analysis of such measurement methods. He is the author of over 50 scientific papers covering a wide range of techniques and applications.

Tom is involved in a number of international monitoring networks and is scientific coordinator for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Reference Upper-Air Network (GRUAN) as well as Co-chair for the GRAUN Scheduling Task Team. He is a designated UK expert on WG 4 (Quantification and Validation) and WG 5 (cross-cutting issues) of ISO TC 265 Carbon Capture Transport and Storage. Tom also sits on the Science Priority Fund (SPF) Clean Air Programme Board.

Tom’s work on advanced monitoring techniques has included extensive work with Fourier Transform Spectrometers, the development of new laser-based techniques for remote sensing systems, including a novel injection-seeded optical parametric oscillator, and near-infrared tuneable diode laser spectrometers. He has internationally leading expertise in the development of the complex optical systems required for Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) and he leads research with Universities to develop new laser sources for atmospheric sensing.

Current Interests

Tom’s current work focuses on the development, exploitation and validation of measurement techniques in atmospheric applications, including key climate variables, air quality (AQ) research and industrial pollution emissions. Linked to this is the provision of metrological support to the atmospheric research community. A key aspect of this internationally collaborative research is determining the validity and uncertainty of atmospheric measurements and developing methods to report this information to the wider range of user communities.  

Key Publications

Atmospheric observations of the water vapour continuum in the near-infrared windows between 2500 and 6600 cm−1; Elsey, J., Coleman, M. D., Gardiner, T. D., Menang, K. P., and Shine, K. P.:, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 2335–2361, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2335-2020, 2020.

‘Field Validation of Remote Sensing Methane Emission Measurements’; Tom Gardiner, Jon Helmore, Fabrizio Innocenti and Rod Robinson; Remote Sens. 2017, 9, 956; doi:10.3390/rs9090956.

‘Determination of the absolute accuracy of UK chamber facilities used in measuring methane emissions from livestock’; T.D. Gardiner, M.D. Coleman, F. Innocenti, J. Tompkins, A. Connor, P.C. Garnsworthy, J.M. Moorby, C.K. Reynolds, A. Waterhouse, D. Wills; Measurement; Volume 66, April 2015, Pages 272–279;

Reference Quality Upper-Air Measurements: guidance for developing GRUAN data products; Immler, F. J., Dykema, J., Gardiner, T., Whiteman, D. N., Thorne, P. W., and Vömel, H Atmos. Meas. Tech., 3, 1217-1231, doi:10.5194/amt-3-1217-2010, 2010

A Lightweight Near-Infrared Spectrometer for the Detection of Trace Atmospheric Species; T. Gardiner, M. I. Mead, S. Garcelon, R. Robinson, N. Swann, G. Hansford, P.T. Woods and R. L. Jones. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81, 083102 (2010); doi:10.1063/1.3455827

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