air
Climate Change Research Centre
How is climate change affecting our natural world?
What can we do about it?
Climate change is having a huge impact on the global ecosystem. It is an important driver of biodiversity loss - the process of animals and plants becoming extinct or disappearing from particular regions.
How will plants be affected?
We are investigating the effects of changing rainfall patterns on plant growth, species diversity and key ecosystem processes. Since the chemical make-up of the atmosphere is changing alongside climate change, we are also studying what happens when grassland ecosystems are faced with the double challenge of ozone exposure and drought.
Raise your awareness of climate change
We organise open days, summer schools and educational outreach activities. We'd like everyone to become more aware of the connection between what we do in our own lives, the energy we consume and the environmental consequences of climate change.
Get involved
Come along to a science fun day or summer school, or visit the Climate Change Research Centre. We can also help you run activities in your own school or community, or arrange to visit you. If you are a teacher or leader of a youth or community group please contact us about setting up a talk or activities.
Visit the Air Centre website
Contact us
Emma Green: opalclimate@imperial.ac.uk
Join in the OPAL air survey
Investigate lichens on trees and find out about local air pollution.
Join in the OPAL water survey
How healthy is your local lake or pond? Identify the invertebrates that live there to find out.
The OPAL Climate Change Research Centre is led by Imperial College, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot
OPAL Air
How does air pollution affect our natural environment?
Dr William Purvis of the Natural History Museum talks about lichens in London, past and present.
We want to raise awareness of how air pollution and climate change shape our environment and help everyone understand the global issues it raises.
OPAL Air research
Our scientists are conducting a number of research projects to investigate the impacts of climate change and air pollution. You can learn more about this work on the Air Centre and Climate Change Research Centre pages.
Air survey - take part today
Help us monitor local air quality throughout England.
Dr Nathan Callaghan of the OPAL Air Centre discusses the tar spot of sycamore activity in the OPAL air survey
By recording lichens on trees and tar spot on sycamore leaves, you can help our scientists answer important questions about the impacts of local air pollution.
The OPAL air survey is the second in a series of six OPAL surveys exploring the state of our environment. Everyone can take part in this valuable research project, all you need is one of our survey packs, which can be downloaded from the air survey pages.
Discover more about lichens
Lichen guide - an online guide to the air survey indicator lichens.
British Lichen Society - A society dedicated to stimulating and advancing interest in lichenology.
British Lichens - A large collection of images of British lichens.
Policy and regulation
If you are interested in learning more about government policy on air quality then please visit:
Defra - www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/air-quality.
Air Pollution Information System (APIS) - www.apis.ac.uk.
Contact us
opalair@imperial.ac.uk
OPAL Air is led by Imperial College, Silwood Campus, Ascot
Surveys
Help OPAL scientists with valuable research, learn new skills, have fun
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OPAL is running six surveys across England to learn more about the state of our environment, and we’d like everyone to get involved.
Surveys exploring the health of our soils, the quality of our air and water, the distribution of invertebrates, the importance of hedges, and the ways in which we affect our climate are running now - see below for details.
All ages and abilities can take part and your contribution will be important in helping scientists build up a picture of England's natural environment.
We'll provide easy-to-follow survey instructions and all the support you need.
Bugs Count - join in now
Join in a timed challenge to find as many bugs as you can. Tell us what you find and you'll help scientists learn more about how the built environment affects invertebrates. Don't forget to keep an eye out for one of our six key species.
Climate survey - join in now
Are plane contrails contributing to global warming? How do buildings affect the weather around us? Help us explore ways in which we affect the climate and how climate change could affect us.
Biodiversity survey - join in now
Is your local hedge a haven for beetles, birds, mice and other wildlife? Learn more about a hedge near you and the animals it supports. Discover ways to improve it and compare your results with other hedges around the country.
Water survey - join in now
How healthy is your local pond or lake? The animals that live there can give important clues about the water quality. Record what you discover and contribute to valuable national research.
Air survey - join in now
Discover what lichens can tell us about air pollution. Record tar spot on sycamore leaves to learn about air quality near you.
Soil and earthworm survey - join in now
Discover more about earthworms and the soils they live in. Contribute to important scientific research and help update our national record on earthworm distribution.