Dr Valerio Ferracci

Research Fellow-Field Measurement Specialist

Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Informatics

Contact Dr Valerio Ferracci

Tel: +44 (0) 1234 750111 x3365
Email: V.Ferracci@cranfield.ac.uk
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Areas of expertise

Air
Energy and the Environment
Environment and Health
Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
Monitoring and Environmental Informatics

Background

Valerio is a Research Fellow specialising in trace gas monitoring and modelling, atmospheric oxidation processes, biosphere-atmosphere exchange and gas sensor development. His expertise spans all three pillars of atmospheric science, i.e. field observations, numerical modelling and laboratory studies, along with experience in analytical science.

Valerio joined Cranfield University in 2017. Prior to that, he worked on modelling atmospheric oxidation processes in Cambridge (2016-17), and on developing analytical approaches to gas monitoring at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL, 2012-16). In particular, his work on ammonia monitoring while at NPL was incorporated into a European Standard (EN-17346) by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN),

Valerio has an MSci in Chemistry from University College London (UCL, 2008) and a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry, also from UCL (2012). His work while at UCL focused on the kinetics of a number of ozone-depleting halogen oxide radical reactions and contributed to reconciling stratospheric ozone loss observations with models.

Valerio is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), Treasurer of the RSC Environmental Chemistry Group and committee member of the Automation and Analytical Management Group.

Current activities

Valerio's research focuses on developing and deploying new sensing technologies to understand processes affecting the trace composition of the atmosphere. In particular, he is currently working on:

Biosphere-atmosphere interactions: global change is affecting emissions of trace gases into the atmosphere, with consequences ranging from deteriorating air quality to climate feedbacks. Autonomous instrumentation developed in our group is helping monitor a number of key biogenic species (e.g., isoprene, dimethyl sulphate) from a variety of ecosystems (e.g., temperate and tropical forests, oceans) to better understand the drivers of biogenic emissions and how they will change in the near future under different climate scenarios.

Sensor development: development of sensors for trace gas detection (isoprene, dimethyl sulphide, greenhouse gases, etc.).

London greenhouse gas network: we are currently collaborating on a NERC project to estimate greenhouse gas emissions in London using a network of novel portable gas analysers. Combining measurements and modelling approaches we seek to validate current emission estimates and the effects of environmental policies.