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Centre for Atmospheric Science

Holme Moss

The Holme Moss Measurement Site, with additional equipment present for the intensive measurement campagne during Nov-Dec 2006.
The Holme Moss Measurement Site, with additional equipment present for the intensive measurement campaign during November and December 2006.

Located in the Southern Pennines close to the top of Black Hill in the Peak District, at a height of 525m, Holme Moss has hosted a major international project in the field of cloud aerosol interaction and cloud processing of aerosol, and is used for long term monitoring, as well as instrument testing, and student projects. Publications resulting from work carried out at this site are listed here. The Holme Moss site is close to the Greater Manchester conurbation, being situated about 25KM WNW of Mancheser City Centre. With the prevailing wind comming from a South Westerly direction, this site often experiences polluted airmasses which have passed over manchester. The site is however relatively remote from any significant local pollution sources (at least in the prevailing wind direction). During projects at this site, pollution from Manchester has been clearly identifiable and correlated with morning and evening rush hours. It has also been possible to identify the presence of pollution plumes from other sources further afield.While not experiencing as many days in cloud as Great Dun Fell, this site does experience a significant number of days in cloud, especially during the winter months, and so is suitable for use in ground based cloud experiments.

The measurement site is located inside the transmission mast compound, and facilities consist of a small cabin, and space for external instruments and additional cabins etc for larger projects. Additional details of a large project carried out at the site in 1999 are available here. Long term measurements at the site include a met station, cloud and rain water chemical composition, and a IR Visibility meter able to resolve precipitation type and rate. Additional information about the long term measurement program can be found here.