Centre for Atmospheric Science

Dr Maria Russo

Assistant Research Professor


I am an NCAS Associate Research Professor working with Prof. Luke Abraham and  Prof. Alex Archibald in the Centre for Atmospheric Science.

I use numerical models and observations to investigate physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere. I work with UKCA, the United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosols community model, based on the Met Office Unified Model. I have past experience in addressing the effect of model horizontal resolution on a number of different dynamical and chemical processes. Currently, I'm working on better integration of models and observational (VISION project) and the climate impact of aircraft NOx emissions (REVEAL-NOx project). 

 

Key Research Interests

  • Decadal changes in tropospheric ozone.
  • Integrating model and observational data for better understanding of atmospheric processes and atmospheric model evaluation.
  • Tropical deep convection and its impact on Troposphere/Stratosphere exchange.
  • Lightning emissions and their impact on Chemistry and Climate.
  • Very short lived ozone depleting species (VSLS) and their impact on ozone.
  • Impacts of emission changes and climate on regional atmospheric composition.

 

Experience

  • Research Scientist: 2006-present. University of Cambridge.
  • Research Scientist: 2008-present. National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS)
  • Regional Climate Scientist: 2002-2006. Met Office, Hadley Centre.
  • PhD: 1998-2001. University College London.
  • Master Degree, Chemistry: 1992-1997. University of Palermo, Italy.

 

Publications

UK scraps airborne lab that tracks climate, pollution and weather systems
EG Nisbet, MR Russo
Nature
(2026)
651
(doi: 10.1038/d41586-026-00941-x)
Evaluation of UKESM aerosol size and composition using ATom measurements indicates missing marine aerosol formation mechanisms
X-C He, NL Abraham, H Ding, MR Russo, DP Grosvenor, Y Ge, X Wang, AC Jones, P Campuzano-Jost, B Nault, A Kupc, D Blake, JL Jimenez, CJ Williamson, J Weber, AT Archibald, H Gordon
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP)
(2026)
26
(doi: 10.5194/acp-26-3805-2026)
Evaluation of UKESM aerosol size and composition using ATom measurements indicates missing marine aerosol formation mechanisms
X-C He, NL Abraham, H Ding, MR Russo, DP Grosvenor, Y Ge, X Wang, AC Jones, P Campuzano-Jost, B Nault, A Kupc, D Blake, JL Jimenez, CJ Williamson, KS Carslaw, J Weber, AT Archibald, H Gordon
(2025)
(doi: 10.5194/egusphere-2025-3700)
Data supporting the North Atlantic Climate System Integrated Study (ACSIS) programme, including atmospheric composition; oceanographic and sea-ice observations (2016-2022); and output from ocean, atmosphere, land, and sea-ice models (1950-2050)
AT Archibald, B Sinha, MR Russo, E Matthews, FA Squires, NL Abraham, SJ-B Bauguitte, TJ Bannan, TG Bell, D Berry, LJ Carpenter, H Coe, A Coward, P Edwards, D Feltham, D Heard, J Hopkins, J Keeble, EC Kent, BA King, IR Lawrence, J Lee, CR Macintosh, A Megann, BI Moat, K Read, C Reed, MJ Roberts, R Schiemann, D Schroeder, TJ Smyth, L Temple, N Thamban, L Whalley, S Williams, H Wu, M Yang
Earth System Science Data
(2025)
17
(doi: 10.5194/essd-17-135-2025)
Virtual Integration of Satellite and In-situ Observation Networks (VISION) v1.0: In-Situ Observations Simulator (ISO_simulator)
MR Russo, SL Bartholomew, D Hassell, AM Mason, E Neininger, AJ Perman, DAJ Sproson, D Watson-Parris, NL Abraham
Geoscientific Model Development
(2025)
18
(doi: 10.5194/gmd-18-181-2025)
Virtual Integration of Satellite and In-situ Observation Networks (VISION) v1.0: In-Situ Observations Simulator
MR Russo, SL Bartholomew, D Hassell, AM Mason, E Neininger, AJ Perman, DAJ Sproson, D Watson-Parris, NL Abraham
(2024)
(doi: 10.5194/gmd-2024-73)
Data supporting the North Atlantic Climate System: Integrated Studies (ACSIS) programme, including atmospheric composition, oceanographic and sea ice observations (2016–2022) and output from ocean, atmosphere, land and sea-ice models (1950–2050)
AT Archibald, B Sinha, M Russo, E Matthews, F Squires, NL Abraham, S Bauguitte, T Bannan, T Bell, D Berry, L Carpenter, H Coe, A Coward, P Edwards, D Feltham, D Heard, J Hopkins, J Keeble, EC Kent, B King, IR Lawrence, J Lee, CR Macintosh, A Megann, BI Moat, K Read, C Reed, M Roberts, R Schiemann, D Schroeder, T Smyth, L Temple, N Thamban, L Whalley, S Williams, H Wu, M-X Yang
(2024)
(doi: 10.5194/essd-2023-405)
Seasonal, interannual and decadal variability of tropospheric ozone in the North Atlantic: comparison of UM-UKCA and remote sensing observations for 2005–2018
MR Russo, BJ Kerridge, NL Abraham, J Keeble, BG Latter, R Siddans, J Weber, PT Griffiths, JA Pyle, AT Archibald
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
(2023)
23
(doi: 10.5194/acp-23-6169-2023)
Supplementary material to "Seasonal, interannual and decal variability of Tropospheric Ozone in the North Atlantic: Comparison of UM-UKCA and remote sensing observations for 2005–2018"
MR Russo, BJ Kerridge, NL Abraham, J Keeble, BG Latter, R Siddans, J Weber, PT Griffiths, JA Pyle, AT Archibald
(2022)
(doi: 10.5194/acp-2022-99-supplement)
Seasonal, interannual and decal variability of Tropospheric Ozone in the North Atlantic: Comparison of UM-UKCA and remote sensing observations for 2005–2018
MR Russo, BJ Kerridge, NL Abraham, J Keeble, BG Latter, R Siddans, J Weber, PT Griffiths, JA Pyle, AT Archibald
(2022)
2022
(doi: 10.5194/acp-2022-99)

NCAS Research Scientist

Telephone number

01223 748896

Email address

mrr32@cam.ac.uk

Centre Highlights

• July 2025: The PACESETTERS project launches one of its Real-World Labs (RWL) in Galway, marking a key milestone in the project's mission to connect creative practice with climate transformation. Prof. Annela Anger-Kraavi gives a talk "Where Are We Now?" sharing insights on what's needed to drive meaningful climate transition.

• June 2025: New publication: Compounding injustices can impede a just energy transition

• January 2024: The CCPG have successfully submitted a proposal for PACESETTERS!

• September 2nd 2023: Dr Annela Anger-Kraavi has co-authored a paper analysing just transition narratives in European coal regions. Read the paper here. 

• December 13th 2022: The CCPG have co-authored a paper on game-changing innovations towards net-zero, published in Energy Strategy Reviews. Read the open access paper here.

• November 15th 2022: The final conference of PARIS REINFORCE is taking place today in Sorbonne. Read more about the event here. 

• October 24th 2022: The CCPG have successfully submitted a proposal for the Cambridge-Tsinghua joint research initiative! 

• May 5th 2022: We've submitted to the UNFCCC's Global Stocktake (GST). More information is available on our news page. 

• March 23rd 2022: Multiple CAS academics have published a paper investigating the future role of anthropogenic methane emissions. Read the open access paper here.

• Feb 18th 2022: Dr Parris and Dr Anger-Kraavi have co-authored a paper that develops a tool to support co-designed transformative change. Read the open access paper here.

• Dec 16th 2021: Dr Parris has co-authored a paper that introduces a tool to support plastic pollution policy. Read the open access paper here.

• Nov 22nd 2021: Dr Anger-Kraavi has co-authored a paper with Paris Reinforce. Read the open access version here. 

Want to know more about our high-profile publications? Check out our Publication Highlights!

 

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