School of Earth and Environment

Met Office Academic Partnership

The University of Leeds has joined forces with the Met Office, University of Exeter and the University of Reading to form a new partnership that will lead to better weather and climate predictions. 

The Met Office Academic Partnership aims to combine the strengths of the four organisations to secure the UK’s position as the world leader in weather forecasting and climate prediction, and provide an outstanding environment to develop the atmospheric science leaders of the future. At Leeds, the partnership formalises a strong and productive working relationship with the Met Office, going back a number of years.

  • Some highlights of our collaborations with the Met Office in recent years.

At Leeds, the collaboration is led by Professor Doug Parker from the School of Earth and Environment, who has recently taken up the "Met Office Chair of Meteorology".

The partnership is structured around three research themes:

  • Atmospheric Observations and Processes: Here in Leeds we specialise in making field measurements of phenomena which are of importance in weather and climate. These measurements are often needed in remote parts of the world, or on small scales which the routine measurement network cannot capture. Most of our work in this area is conducted in collaboration with the Met Office.
  • Atmospheric Composition: We have a strong programme of research into the chemistry and aerosol composition of the atmosphere. We combine laboratory measurements with field measurements and new models to explain the Earth's atmospheric composition and its variability, and to improve predictions.
  • African Climate and its Impacts: As part of the University's Africa College, and in partnership with some major organisations in Africa, we have a joint programme of research into the weather and climate of Africa, and its impact on African populations, notably through health and agricultural production.

As part of our strategy to achieve the aims of these research themes, the partnership supports some specific research activities:

The partnership also involves collaboration in the teaching of Meteorology and Climate science. The Met Office provides prizes for the best student results in our undergraduate and masters-level programmes, and a number of students every year undertake a summer research project at the Met Office in Exeter. A number of our graduates are now working at the Met Office, in a variety of roles.

Item on the Partnership from SEE news

For more information on the Met Office Academic Partnership with the University of Leeds, please contact Doug Parker or Simon Vosper.