Climate Change, Air Quality and Impacts

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Sub-programme leader: Prof Roelof Burger (Roelof.Burger@nwu.ac.za)

 

Overview

The Air Quality and Impacts sub-programme is aimed at providing key information to support the development of sustainable air quality policies and practices in Southern Africa. The influence of activities associated with human and industrial development as well as natural biogeochemical processes typical of the region (e.g. biomass burning) are the main focus points. A multidisciplinary approach is followed including scientists from chemistry and botany. The studies undertaken are directly linked to key priorities of sustainable development, improved quality of life and energy use in South Africa. The sub-program spans all three campuses of the NWU. 

The following main themes of research are pursued:

 

A Living Weather Laboratory (https://www.lekwenaradar.co.za/)

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The NWU Climatology Research Group (CGR) has set up multiple weather stations at various locations:

  • METSI (UESM Research Facility)
  • Lekwena Wildlife Estate
  • NWU Potchefstroom Campus
  • NWU Mafikeng Campus (on NWU Research Farm)
  • NWU Vaal Campus (coming soon)

These weather stations send data to a cloud in real-time and is updated on an online software platform called iLeaf (https://www.ileaf.co.za/) every 5 minutes.

 

 

 

Latest news:​

Invitation to Participate in a Pollen Allergy Research Study

  

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Invitation to Participate in a Pollen Research Study

Research group: Aerobiology

We need YOU!! 🌼
Join our study to measure local allergenic pollen and spores.
Participation is free!
Through experienced health researchers trained in Allergology and Clinical Immunology, a free skin prick test will be done, whereafter we can identify your pollen allergies and learn how to manage them.
 
• Discover: Find out which pollens trigger your allergies.
• Learn: Get personalized tips to reduce exposure.
• Contribute: Help us map local allergen levels for community-wide benefits.
 
For more information, see the accompanying images or contact Ms Keneilwe Podile (Keneilwe.Podile01@gmail.com).
 
See flyers below:

 

AEROFOG Campaign - Namibia

  

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AEROFOG Campaign - Namibia

Research group: Climatology Research Group (CRG)

The UESM's Climatology Reasearch Group (CRG) has recently been involved with the AEROFOG campaign in Henties Bay, Namibia. The campaign involved researching climate-relevant aerosol species and how these aerosols impact radiation balance and the formation of clouds and fog, over the coast of Southern Africa.

The AEROFOG campaign was done in collaboration with LISA (Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Université Paris Cité, OSU-EFLUVE (Enveloppes Fluides de la Ville à l’Exobiologie), ACTRIS-RI, NWU - North-West University, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), University Of Namibia - Katima Mulilo Campus and Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry (LCE)/ Aix-Marseille University (AMU).

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qbb3qAGGzkQAR8JR/

See more in ENVIRA Spring Edition 2024

 

Prof Roelof Burger: CapeTalk - Heat Trapping

 

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Prof Roelof Burger: CapeTalk - Heat Trapping

Research group: Climatology Research Group (CRG)

Prof. Roelof Burger discusses how global climate change is making cities hotter 🔥🔥🔥

Cape Talk host, John Maytham, asks the question: “In Cape Town specifically, does Table Mountain play a big role in the heat trapping effect in parts of the city?”

Follow the link below to hear insights from Prof. Roelof Burger of the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, and a member of the World Meteorological Organization's Expert Team on Weather Modification:

LISTEN: https://omny.fm/shows/afternoon-drive-702/how-does-cloud-seeding-work

 

Prof Roelof Burger: Cloud Seeding and Floods in Dubai, UEA

 

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Prof Roelof Burger: Cloud Seeding and Floods in Dubai, UEA

Sub-programme: Climate Change, Air Quality and Impacts | Crop Production and Soil Management
Research group: Climatology Research Group (CRG)

WATCH: https://www.enca.com/videos/discussion-dubai-weather-cause-dubais-floods

LISTEN: https://omny.fm/shows/afternoon-drive-702/how-does-cloud-seeding-work

 

UESM celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

 

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UESM celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Sub-programme: Climate Change, Air Quality and Impacts | Crop Production and Soil Management - Agriculture
Research group: Climatology Research Group (CRG)

UESM members Prof. Nomali Z. Ngobese and Dr Nomfundo Sibiya (School of Geo and Spatial Sciences), and MSc students (Daniella de Jager, Aneska Richter, Oarabile Masekwameng and Sonja de Beer (Climatology, Air Quality, and Impacts sub-programme) celebrated International Day of Women and Girls in Science with Lesego Primary School in Ikageng on 9 February 2024.
These ladies set off to empower and inspire learners by presenting lectures and conducting experiments in various fields of science (agricultures, climatology, chemistry and more). Our hope is that this event truly sparked and cultivated a passion for science amongst grade these 6 and 7 learners.

More on International Day of Women and Girls in Science in ENVIRA Autumn Edition 2024.

 

The following undergraduate programs link to this research:

 

BSc:

  • Environmental Sciences with Geography and Botany
  • Environmental Sciences with Geography and Computer Science
  • Environmental Sciences with Microbiology and Chemistry
  • Environmental Sciences with Chemistry and Geography
  • Environmental Sciences with Botany and Microbiology
  • Biological sciences with Botany and Biochemistry
  • Biological Sciences with Botany and Microbiology
  • Biological Sciences with Microbiology and Biochemistry
  • BSc with Chemistry and Physics
  • BSc with Chemistry, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
  • BSc with Applied Mathematics and Chemistry
  • BSc with Chemistry and Mathematics
  • BSc with Biochemistry and Chemistry
  • BSc with Chemistry and Computer Science
  • BSc with Geography and Applied Mathematics

BA:

  • BA with Geography
  • BA with Geography and Society
  • BA with Sociology and Geography
  • BA with Public administration and Geography
 

The following postgraduate programmes are associated with this research:

BSc Honours:

  • BSc Honours in Environmental Sciences with Geography and Environmental Management
  • BSc Honours in Chemistry

MSc:

  • MSc in Geography and Environmental Management
  • MSc in Environmental Sciences
  • MSc in Environmental Sciences with Atmospheric Chemistry

MEnv:

  • Master of Environmental Management
  • Master of Environmental Management with Conservation leadership
  • Master of Environmental Management with specialisation in Climate Change and Air Quality

PhD:

  • PhD in Environmental Management
  • PhD in Environmental Sciences
  • PhD in Geography and Environmental Management
  • PhD in Environmental Sciences with Atmospheric Chemistry

 

Mission statement

The chosen areas of research include atmospheric processes, air pollution, climate change, and the impacts thereof on crops, ecosystems and society. The objectives are to study the fundamental processes in the atmosphere and the linkages thereof with ecosystems and society, through observation and measurements, controlled experimentation and modelling. Therefore, there are natural linkages to other sub-groups within other research entities in natural sciences, engineering and social sciences. The primary aim is to make original scientific contributions to the regional and international body of knowledge. The type of knowledge generated will provide further key information to the support of human, industrial and agricultural development, as well as sustainable air quality and climate change policies and practices. Preferred outputs that will be targeted include the delivery of postgraduates that can contribute locally and internationally, as well as high impact scientific papers in local and international journals that are ISI accredited. As responsible citizens in the anthropocene, concerns related to national and international issues such as climate change, food security, impacts and sustainability are our primary source of inspiration.
 

For enquiries, contact:

Prof Roelof Burger 
Chair of the Sub Programme
+27 18 299 4269
 
 
Last updated: 9 November 2022