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Groundbreaking research to develop soil carbon sequestration monitoring system (News)

Capturing carbon in soil is a frequent feature of climate change mitigation measures, but the variability in soils and greenhouse gas emissions makes it difficult to evaluate results. A new £1 million research project led by ... Read more

July 28, 2020

Choosing Our Tomorrows: Video Diaries of a Farming Family, set in 2050 (Research Page)

It is the year 2050. How has society reacted and adapted to climate change? A farming family have recorded three sets of video diaries. Dad (Jack), mum (Beth) and daughter (Sally). Each set of diaries decsribes life in diff ... Read more

Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Dynamics Researcher
mhairi.coyle@hutton.ac.uk
07816155104

The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK

 

My area of expertise is in measuring and modelling the deposition, concentrations and trends of ground-level ozone and other gases although I have worked in other areas including acid deposition and NH3 exchange. I have also worked with a Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (CIMS) to measure various different species and assist with instrumentation for field sites and campaigns.

Past research

Coyle Mhairi; Cape John N.; Flechard Chris; Fowler David; Helfter Carole; Jones Matthew; Kentisbeer John; Leeson Sarah R.; Leith Ian D.; Mullinger Neil; Nemitz Eiko; Roberts Elin; Simmons Ivan; Storeton-West Robert; Twigg Marsailidh; van Dijk Netty; , 2018, Meteorological measurements at Auchencorth Moss from 1995 to 2016. Geoscience Data Journal

Finco Angelo; Coyle Mhairi; Nemitz Eiko; Marzuoli Riccardo; Chiesa Maria; Loubet Benjamin; Fares Silvano; Diaz-Pines Eugenio; Gasche Rainer; Gerosa Giacomo; , 2018, Characterization of ozone deposition to a mixed oak–hornbeam forest – flux measurements at five levels above and inside the canopy and their interactions with nitric oxide. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 18, 17945-17961

Cowan N.; Helfter C.; Langford B.; Coyle M.; Levy P.; Moxley J.; Simmons I.; Leeson S.; Nemitz E.; Skiba U.; , 2018, Seasonal fluxes of carbon monoxide from an intensively grazed grassland in Scotland. Atmospheric Environment, 194, 170-178

Song Ling; Liu Xuejun; Skiba Ute; Zhu Bo; Zhang Xifeng; Liu Meiyu; Twigg Marsailidh; Shen Jianlin; Dore Anthony; Reis Stefan; Coyle Mhairi; Zhang Wen; Levy Peter; Fowler David; , 2017, Ambient concentrations and deposition rates of selected reactive nitrogen species and their contribution to PM2.5 aerosols at three locations with contrasting land use in southwest China. Environmental Pollution

Jones Stephanie K.; Helfter Carole; Anderson Margaret; Coyle Mhairi; Campbell Claire; Famulari Daniela; Di Marco Chiara; van Dijk Netty; Tang Y. Sim; Topp Cairistiona F.E.; Kiese Ralf ; Kindler Reimo; Siemens Jan; Schrumpf Marion; Kaiser Klaus; Nemitz Eiko; Levy Peter E.; Rees Robert M. ; Sutton Mark A.; Skiba Ute M.; , 2017, The nitrogen, carbon and greenhouse gas budget of a grazed, cut and fertilised temperate grassland. Biogeosciences, 14, 2069-2088

Malley Christopher S.; Cape J. Neil; Jones Matthew R.; Leeson Sarah R.; Coyle Mhairi; Braban Christine F.; Heal Mathew R.; Twigg Marsailidh M.; , 2016, Regional and hemispheric influences on measured spring peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) mixing ratios at the Auchencorth UK EMEP supersite. , 174-175, 135-141

Hayes Felicity; Mills Gina; Jones Laurence; Abbott John; Ashmore Mike; Barnes Jeremy; Cape J. Neil; Coyle Mhairi; Peacock Simon; Rintoul Naomi; Toet Sylvia; Wedlich Kerstin; Wyness Kirsten; , 2016, Consistent ozone-induced decreases in pasture forage quality across several grassland types and consequences for UK lamb production. , 543, 336-346

Hewitt D.K.L.; Mills G.; Hayes F.; Norris D.; Coyle M.; Wilkinson S.; Davies W.; , 2016, N-fixation in legumes – an assessment of the potential threat posed by ozone pollution. , 208, 909-918

Fowler D.; Steadman C.E.; Stevenson D.; Coyle M.; Rees R.M.; Skiba U.M.; Sutton M.A.; Cape J.N.; Dore A.J.; Vieno M.; Simpson D.; Zaehle S.; Stocker B.D.; Rinaldi M.; Facchini M.C.; Flechard C.R.; Nemitz E.; Twigg M.; Erisman J.W.; Butterbach-Bahl K.; Galloway J.N.; , 2015, Effects of global change during the 21st century on the nitrogen cycle. , 15, 13849-13893

Bibliography

  • Coyle, M.; Khomik, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Yelaputri, J. (2019) Carbon storage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from restored peatlands., Project Progress Report, April 2019.

  • Coyle, M.; Khomik, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Yelaputri, J. (2019) Carbon storage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from restored peatlands., Project Progress Report, April 2019.

Reindeer able to maintain circadian rhythm in total light or darkness (News)

Even if it has been dark for months, Rudolph always knows when it is Christmas Eve. In a new paper published in Scientific Reports, an international collaboration of scientists from the James Hutton Institute, the University of ... Read more

December 18, 2018

Exploring the potential of remote sensing to estimate peatland carbon emissions (News)

Peatlands store large amounts of terrestrial carbon and any changes to their carbon balance could cause large changes in the greenhouse gas balance of the Earth's atmosphere. There is still much uncertainty about how the GHG d ... Read more

October 2, 2018

Hutton soil scientists help develop first Global Soil Organic Carbon Map (News)

Soil scientists from the James Hutton Institute, along with colleagues at Cranfield University, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, have contributed to the development of the first Global ... Read more

December 5, 2017

Hutton expertise to support 1.2 billion dollar Indian initiative aimed at combating climate change (News)

Research from the James Hutton Institute will be utilised in a new initiative, with a potential spend of 1.2 billion dollars, aimed at tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in India. One of the major ... Read more

November 21, 2017

Stochastic Anaerobic Digestion Economic Assessment Tool (Research Page)

What is anaerobic digestion? Anaerobic digestion is a process by which micro-organisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen, leading to the production of biogas and bio-fertilisers. Anaerobic digestion tech ... Read more

Nitrous oxide in soil – the contribution of this greenhouse gas to climate change (Event)

Professor Liz Baggs (Head of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen) will give an overview of what we now know about how the contributions of biological and chemical processes to nitrous oxide emission have evolved over time. ... Read more

Soils@Hutton - Soil and Climate Change (Research Page)

Learn more about soils & climate change ... Read more

Measures for greenhouse gas mitigation in agriculture (Event)

This meeting organised by the Society of Chemical Industry will examine the competing pressures of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agricultural sector while ensuring food security. Measures for Greenhouse Gas Miti ... Read more

Exploring low-carbon transitions by means of model integration (Event)

This seminar "Exploring low-carbon transitions by means of model integration" will be given by Associate Professor Alexey Voinov from the University of Twente, the Netherlands, at the James Hutton Institute in Aberd ... Read more

Vibrant Rural Communities workshop (Research Page)

A workshop was held at Birnam Arts and Conference Centre on 20 November 2013 to provide an update on research being conducted as part of the Vibrant Rural Communities theme of the Food, Land and People Strategic Research programme ... Read more

Are there scalable and sustainable ways of removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere? (Event)

David Addison and Guy Lomax of Virgin Airlines will deliver this seminar entitled "Are there scalable and sustainable ways of removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere?" at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen ... Read more

Scenarios and land use futures (Research Page)

Environmental, economic and social issues associated with agriculture are often fundamental for rural prosperity and sustainability, with consequent implications for any debate about future land use. A key to supporting the planni ... Read more

Information and Computational Sciences
Information and Computational Sciences
Human-Natural Systems Research Scientist
gary.polhill@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK

 

Current research interests

I specialise in agent-based modelling of socio-environmental systems, and rigorous approaches to their design and interpretation. Agent-based modelling involves explicit representation of individuals and their interactions, observing the emergent effects these have on the dynamics of the system. It is a relatively new technique, offering an alternative to more traditional approaches to formal analysis of social systems. Within this context, I am particularly interested in options for managing environmental change in coupled human-natural systems through incentive schemes, but in the context of other drivers of human behaviour. We have developed models that can simulate and compare the effects of different rules for incentivising land managers on biodiversity at the landscape scale, whilst varying other drivers of decision change, such as markets, climate and social norms. I have also worked on agent-based modelling of lifestyles, pro-environmental behaviours and transitions to more sustainable ways of living, and current work is examining value chains and resilience in Scottish and Norwegian rural systems.

A key issue in developing models of this kind is transparency, and I am interested in the role of formal ontologies in describing and annotating simulation models and experiments. This is work I have developed in projects with the University of Aberdeen and in subsequent projects.

Past research

I have been involved in a number of international and inter- and transdisciplinary research projects, listed below (note that for older projects links are liable to get mothballed):

  • The CAVES (Complexity, Agents, Volatility, Evidence and Scale) project (2005-2008) was funded by the European Commission's Sixth Framework Programme New and Emerging Science and Technology Pathfinder Initiative on Tackling Complexity in Science.
  • PolicyGrid (2006-2009) and PolicyGrid II (2009-2012) were collaborations with the University of Aberdeen funded by the Economic and Social Research Council through the National Centre for e-Social Science. This work also led to a short project called SwarmCloud with the aim of grid-enabling the FEARLUS model. (See also PolicyGrid and PolicyGrid II entry on ESRC's research catalogue.)
  • The GILDED (Governance, Infrastructure, Lifestyle Dynamics and Energy Demand) project (2008-2012) was funded by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme.
  • The LOCAW (Low Carbon at Work: Modelling Agents and Organisations to Achieve Transition to a Low Carbon Europe) project (2011-2013) was funded by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme.
  • The MIRACLE (Mining Relationships Among Variables in Large Datasets from Complex Systems) project (2014-2015) was funded by Round 3 of the Digging into Data Challenge. The UK contribution was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council via Jisc.
  • The GLAMURS (Green Lifestyles, Alternative Models and Up-scaling Regional Sustainability) project (2014-2016) was funded by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme.

Bibliography

  • Ge, J.; Polhill, G. (2020) Agent-based models of coupled social and natural systems., In: Sang, N. (ed.). Modelling Nature-based Solutions: Integrating Computational and Participatory Scenario Modelling for Environmental Management and Planning. Cambridge University Press, Chapter 2, pp56-81.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Sanchez-Marono, N.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Dumitru, A.; Garcia-Mira, R.; Bonnes, M.; Bonaiuto, M.; Carrus, G.; Marricchiolo, F.; Fornara, F.; Ilin, C.; Steg, L.; Ruepert, A.; Keizer, K. (2017) Interactions matter. Modelling everyday pro-environmental norm transmission and diffusion in workplace networks., In: Alonso-Betanzos, A., Sanchez-Maro?o, N., Fontenla-Romero, O., Polhill, J.G., Craig, T., Bajo, J. & Corchado, J.M. (eds.) Agent-Based Modeling of Sustainable Behaviors. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, Chapter 2, pp27-52.
  • Grimm, V.; Polhill, J.G.; Touza, J. (2017) Documenting social simulation models: The ODD protocol as a standard. (Revised), In: Edmonds, B. & Meyer, R. (eds.). Simulating Social Complexity: A Handbook. 2nd edition. Springer, Berlin, pp349-365.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Salt, D. (2017) The importance of ontological structure: why validation by `fit-to-data? is insufficient., In: Edmonds, B. & Meyer, R. (eds.) Simulating Social Complexity: A Handbook. 2nd edition. Springer, 141-172.
  • Sanchez-Maronon, N.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2017) Empirically-deprived behavioural rules in agent-based models using decision trees learned from questionnaire data., In: Alonso-Betanzos, A., Sanchez-Marono, N., Fontenla-Romera, O., Polhill, J.G., Craig, T., Bajo, J. & Corchado, M. (eds.). Agent Based Modelling of Sustainable Behaviors. Springer, Switzerland, Chapter 3, pp53-76.
  • Ge, J.; Polhill, J.G. (2017) Preliminary results from an agent-based model of the daily commute in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, UK., In: Jager, W., Verbrugge R., Flache A., de Roo G., Hoogduin L. & Hemelrijk C. (eds.) Advances in Social Simulation 2015. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 528. Springer, Cham., pp129-142.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Gotts, N.M. (2017) How precise are the specifications of a psychological theory? Comparing implementations of Lindenberg and Steg's Goal-Framing Theory of everyday pro-environmental behaviour., In: Jager, W., Verbrugge R., Flache A., de Roo G., Hoogduin L. & Hemelrijk C. (eds.) Advances in Social Simulation 2015. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 528. Springer, Cham., 341-354.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Milazzo, L.; Dawson, T.; Gimona, A.; Parker, D. (2017) Lessons learned replicating the analysis of outputs from a social simulation of biodiversity incentivisation., In: Jager, W., Verbrugge R., Flache A., de Roo G., Hoogduin L. & Hemelrijk C. (eds.) Advances in Social Simulation 2015. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 528. Springer, Cham., 355-365.
  • Sanchez-Maronon, N.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2015) Designing decision trees for representing sustainable behaviours in agents., In: Bajo, J., Hernandez, J.Z., Mathieu, P., Campbell, A., FernandezCaballero, A., Moreno, M.N., Julian, V., AlonsoBetanzos, A., JimenezLopez, M.D. & Botti, V. (eds.). Trends in Practical Applications of Agents, Multi-Agent Systems and Sustainability: The PAAMS Collection, Advances in Intelligent Systems and Sustainability, Springer, Berlin, Volume 372, 169-176.
  • Grimm, V.; Polhill, J.G.; Touza, J. (2013) Documenting social simulation models: the ODD protocol as a standard., In: Edmonds, B. & Meyer, R. (eds.). Simulating Social Complexity: A Handbook. Springer, Berlin, Part II, pp117-133.
  • Gimona, A.; Polhill, J.G.; Davies, B.B. (2011) Sinks, sustainability and conservation incentives., In: Sources, Sinks and Sustainability (eds. Liu, J., Hull, V., Morzillo, A., and Wiens, J). Cambridge University Press, Chapter 8, pp155-178.
  • Gotts, N.M.; Polhill, J.G.; Law, A.N.R. (2010) Agent-based simulation in the study of social dilemmas., In: Gilbert, N. (ed.). Computational Social Science. SAGE Benchmarks in Social Research Methods Series, Volume 3. Sage Publications. ISBN-10: 1847871712, ISBN-13: 978-1847871718.
  • Polhill, J.G. (2009) Agent-based modelling of socio-economic processes related to the environment: Example of land-use change., In: Baveye, P., Mysiak, J., Laba, M. (eds.). Uncertainties in Environmental Modelling and Consequences for Policy-Making. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C - Environmental Security, Springer, 61-76. ISBN 978-90-481-2634
  • Gotts, N.M.; Polhill, J.G. (2009) Narrative scenarios, mediating formalisms, and the agent-based simulation of land use change., In: Squazzoni, F. (ed.). Epistemological Aspects of Computer Simulation in the Social Sciences, Proceedings from 2nd International Workshop on Epistemological Perspectives on Simulation (EPOS), Brescia, Italy, 4-5 October 2006. Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 5466, 99-116.
  • Pignotti, E.; Edwards, P.; Preece, A.; Gotts, N.M.; Polhill, J.G. (2008) Enhancing workflow with semantic descriptions of scientific intent., In: Goos, G., Hartmanis, J. & van Leeuwen (eds.). The Semantic Web: Research and Applications, 5th European Semantic Web Conference, Tenerife, Spain, 1-5 June 2008. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 5021, Springer, Berlin, pp644-658.
  • Parker, D.C.; Brown, D.G.; Polhill, J.G.; Deadman, P.J.; Manson, S.M. (2008) Ilustrating a new "conceptual design pattern" for agent-based models of land use via five case studies - the MR POTATOHEAD framework., In: Lopez Paredes, A. & Hernandez, I. Agent-Based Modelling in Natural Resource Management. INSISOC, Valladolid, Spain, 23-51
  • Polhill, J.G.; Parker, D.C.; Gotts, N.M. (2007) Effects of land markets on competition between innovators and imitators in land use: results from FEARLUS-ELMM., In: Edmonds, B., Hernandez Iglesias, C. & Troitzsch, K.G. Social Simulation: Technologies, Advances and New Discoveries. Information Science Reference, London, Chapter 7, 81-97.

  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Colley, K.; Ge, J.; Sat, D. (2018) The SMARTEES Project and The James Hutton Institute?s potential contribution to the Torry Heat Network project., Appendix 10.4 in support of Torry Heat Network, Report to be presented to Aberdeen City Council.
  • Salt, D.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2016) Deliverable 2.2: Report on the ontology generation and data and knowledge integration., Green Lifestyles Alternative Models and Up-scaling Regional Sustainability / GLAMURS EU SSH.2013.2.1-1 Grant Agreement No. 613420.
  • Salt, D.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2016) Deliverable 2., Report for Glamurs Ontology Project.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Ge, J.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A. (2016) Out-of-range wattage in CurrentCost energy monitor readings., Short Report to CurrentCost.
  • Sutherland, L.A.; Gotts, N.M.; Polhill, J.G. (2006) CAVES: Complexity, agents, volatility, evidence and scale., Grampian Region Field Research Report. CAVES EU F6 Project.
  • Matthews, R.B.; Gilbert, N.; Roach, A.; Polhill, J.G.; Gotts, N.M.; Izquierdo, L.R. (2005) Development of a rural economy and land use simulation modelling strategy., Final Project Report of RELU Development Activity RES-224-25-0102, Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB158QH, UK.

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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.