An external view of the Met Office building at night.

Dr Ben Johnson

Ben studies the impact of aerosols on atmospheric radiation and climate using observations and climate models.

Areas of expertise

  • Aerosol modelling

  • Analysis of aerosol observations

  • Parameterization of aerosols, radiation and clouds.

  • Climate modelling

Publications by Ben johnson

Current activities

Ben is a senior scientist in the aerosol modelling group, Earth System and Mitigation Science, Climate Science. Ben studies the impact of aerosols on atmospheric radiation and climate using observations and climate models.

Currently Ben is evaluating the simulation of biomass burning aerosols in HadGEM3 using observations from the South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA). This research will help to improve the simulation of aerosols in HadGEM3 and develop a better understanding of the impact of biomass burning on climate and the Earth System.

Ben also contributes to the evaluation and development of the United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosol (UKCA) modal aerosol scheme.

Ben is current working with aerosol researchers from the University of Leeds School of Earth and Environment, the University of Reading Department of Meteorology, and the University of Manchester Centre for Atmospheric Science.

Ben is also interested in the communication of climate science and in 2015 undertook a secondment in the Knowledge Integration team of the Hadley Centre.

Career background

Ben joined the Met Office in 2006. From 2006 - 2012 Ben worked in Observation Based Research in the Aerosol Studies group analysing aerosol measurements from the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM). Ben was involved in several field campaigns investigating the properties of Saharan dust, biomass burning, European haze and volcanic ash and their interaction with atmospheric radiation. Before that he spent two years at NCAR in Boulder, Colorado as a postdoctoral research fellow working on the parameterization of large-scale cloud properties in the NCAR Community Earth System Model (CESM).

Prior to his research appointments at NCAR and the Met Office Ben completed a PhD at the University of Reading Department of Meteorology. His thesis investigated the interaction of black carbon aerosol with boundary-layer clouds using the Met Office Large Eddy Model. Ben has a 1st class degree in Meteorology and Physics from the University of Reading.