Dr Jian Zhong PhD

Dr Jian Zhong

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 5523
Email
j.zhong.1@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Zhong's current research focuses on modelling the flow and thermal structures of the urban atmospheric boundary layer using a Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model and a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model. Favourable weather conditions for measurement campaigns (i.e. the deployment of the biotelemetry/bio-aerial-systems) will be identified via pre-deployment modelling, primarily using a mesoscale meteorological model (WRF, Weather Research and Forecasting) and a WRF-LES model. Subsequent analysis and interpretation of measured data will be conducted with the aid of post-deployment modelling for the measurement periods.

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) in Safety Engineering, Central South University, P.R. China, 2006-2010
  • MSc courses (Integrated PhD) in Safety Technology and Engineering, Central South University, P.R. China, 2010-2011
  • PhD in Geography & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK, 2011-2015

Research

His research areas are:

  • Modelling the interaction of emissions, chemical and dynamical processes across scales
  • Modelling the evolution of environmental nanoparticles
  • Modelling of weather and climate
  • Geographical data analytics for health modelling
  • Translating environmental research science into impacts

 

He has contributed to a number of research projects as PI, Co-I or Named Researcher etc:

  • 06/24-08/25 Forest of Arden air quality and land use, The National Trust, PI: Prof Mackenzie, CoI: Dr. Zhong, £15,000.
  • 03/24-02/26 Evaporative Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions from Vehicles in Urban Areas: Contribution to urban ozone pollution, Royal Society International Exchanges 2023 Cost Share (NSFC), PI: Dr. Zhong, CoIs: Profs Harrison, Bloss, Shi, Radcliffe, £12,000.
  • 10/23-09/26 A Health-centred Systems Approach towards Net-Zero: Transforming regional climate mitigation policies, Wellcome Trust, PI: Prof. Shi, £2m. (Named Researcher Co-I) 
  • 10/23-09/28 Global Centers Track 1: CLEETS - CLean Energy and Equitable Transportation Solutions, EPSRC, Prof Radcliffe, £6.2m. (Named Researcher Co-I) 
  • 01/23-12/23 Sustainable Urban Planning To Mitigate Overheating, Institutional QR Policy Support Fund - Research England, PI: Dr. Zhong, CoIs: Drs Ferranti, Stocker (CERC), Thomas (SurveyAR Ltd), Grayson (BCC), £49,557.
  • 04/22-05/22 Bridge the link between carbon and air pollutant emissions, IGI Clean Air – Proof of   Concept fund 2021-22, PI: Dr. Zhong, CoIs: Drs Wang and Macintyre (UKHSA), £5,000.
  • 04/22-03/23 Research Infrastructures Services Reinforcing Air Quality Monitoring Capacities in European Urban & Industrial AreaS (RI-URBANS), H2020-EU.1.4., ID 101036245, PI: Prof. Harrison, €410,000. (Named Researcher Co-I)
  • 10/21-03/22 Understanding synergies and tensions in air quality–climate adaptation needs: A UK-India Proof of Concept, NERC, PI: Prof. Bloss, £134,000. (Named Researcher)
  • 10/21-03/22 UK-China Collaboration to Optimise net zero Policy options for Air Quality and health (COP-AQ), NERC, £630,000, PI: Prof. Shi. (Named Researcher Co-I)
  • 01/20-03/22 Multi-model Air Quality System for Health (MAQS-Health), Strategic Priorities Fund, Clean Air Programme CA19-1, BEIS / Met Office (DN424739), PI: Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd (CERC), £700,000. (Named Researcher Co-I)
  • 01/19-12/24 WM-Air: West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme, NERC (NE/S003487/1), PI: Prof. Bloss; CoIs: Profs Pope, Bryson, Thomas, Chapman, Harrison, MacKenzie, Shi, Drs Cai, Jowett, Bartington, £5m. (Named Researcher)
  • 01/16-03/20 Biotelemetry/Bio-aerial platforms in the Urban Boundary Layer (Cityflocks), NERC (NE/N003195/1), PI: Dr Cai; CoIs: Profs MacKenzie, Chapman, Sadler, Drs Reynolds, Quinn, Thomas, £826,481. (Named Researcher Co-I)
  • 04/13-03/18 Fundamental Studies of the Sources, Properties and Environmental Behaviour of Exhaust Nanoparticles from Road Vehicles (FASTER), EU ERC, PI: Prof. Harrison; CoIs: Prof MacKenzie, Dr Cai et al., €2.4m. (Normal PDRA)

 

His research outputs have contributed to the impact delivery, e.g.

  • The AIR WE BREATHE exhibition
  • Science Futures at Glastonbury Festival
  • UK Fluid Network Gallery and BBC One Panorama
  • Industry engagement
  • Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2022: Air Pollution
  • West Midlands Air Quality Framework
  • Low Traffic neighbourhood scheme in Birmingham
  • DEFRA target-setting consultation in West Midlands context
  • 2021 WHO Air Quality Guidelines and Implications for the West Midlands

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Hall, J, Zhong, J, Jowett, S, Mazzeo, A, Thomas, GN, Bryson, JR, Dewar, S, Inglis, N, Wolstencroft, M, Muller, C, Bloss, W, Harrison, R & Bartington, S 2024, 'Regional Impact Assessment of Air Quality Improvement: The Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment Tool (AQ-LAT) for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)', Environmental Pollution. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123871

Zhong, J, Stocker, J, Cai, X, Harrison, RM & Bloss, WJ 2024, 'Street-scale air quality modelling over the West Midlands, United Kingdom: Effect of idealised traffic reduction scenarios', Urban Climate, vol. 55, 101961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.101961

Zhong, J, Hodgson, JR, Bloss, W & Shi, Z 2023, 'Impacts of net zero policies on air quality in a metropolitan area of the United Kingdom: Towards world health organization air quality guidelines', Environmental Research, vol. 236, 116704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116704

Dai, Y, Mazzeo, A, Zhong, J, Cai, X, Mele, B, Toscano, D, Murena, F & MacKenzie, AR 2023, 'Modelling of Deep Street Canyon Air Pollution Chemistry and Transport: A Wintertime Naples Case Study', Atmosphere, vol. 14, no. 9, 1385. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14091385

Zhong, J, Harrison, RM, Bloss, WJ, Visschedijk, A & Denier van der Gon, HAC 2023, 'Modelling the dispersion of particle number concentrations in the West Midlands, UK using the ADMS-Urban model', Environment International, vol. 181, 108273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108273

Commissioned report

Greenham, S, Jones, S, Ferranti, E, Zhong, J, Acton, J, MacKenzie, AR & Grayson, N 2023, Mapping climate risk and vulnerability with publicly available data. A guidance document produced by the WM-Air project. University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004259

Conference contribution

Lerdrittipong, S, Zhong, J, Widmann, M, Bradley, C & Dixon, S 2024, Investigating SST's Role in Seasonal Climate Variations: A WRF Model Analysis in the Tropical Zone, Thailand. in EGU General Assembly 2024., EGU24-21379, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14/04/24. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-21379

Zhong, J, Lu, Y, Stocker, J, Hamilton, V & Johnson, K 2024, Modelling the urban heat island in Birmingham, UK at the neighbourhood scale . in EGU General Assembly 2024., EGU24-19930, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14/04/24. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19930

Zhong, J, Hood, C, Johnson, K, Stocker, J, Handley, J, Wolstencroft, M, Mazzeo, A, Cai, X & Bloss, WJ 2023, Modelling Street-Scale Resolution Air Quality for the West Midlands (UK) Using the ADMS-Urban RML System. in C Mensink & O Jorba (eds), Air Pollution Modeling and its Application XXVIII. 1 edn, Springer Proceedings in Complexity, Springer, pp. 77-82, ITM 2021, Barcelona, Spain, 18/10/21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12786-1_10

Zhong, J & Harrison, R 2023, Modelling the dispersion of particle number concentrations in the West Midlands, UK. in EGU General Assembly 2023., EGU23-3202, European Geosciences Union, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24/04/23. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-3202

Other contribution

Ghumra, A (ed.), Acil, N, Barker, J, Baziotis, C, Beltran Hernandez, A, Dai, D, Deakin, J, Dettmer, S, Fentham, D, Fontrodona-Bach, A, Hart-Villamil, R, Jenkins, B, Jia, X, Jones, AM, Morris, A, Murakami, A, Seymour, R, Da Silva Xavier, G, Smith, C, Tashev, S, Turner, J, Uche, EO, Xia, X & Zhong, J 2023, Birmingham Environment for Academic Research: Case studies volume 3. University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004303

Other report

Hall, J, Zhong, J, Harrison, R, Baldo, C, Jowett, S, Mazzeo, A & Bartington, S 2023, Health impacts of air pollution in Birmingham. University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/DFAR-M070

Baldo, C, Zhong, J, Hall, J, Muller, C, Bartington, S & Bloss, W 2023, New Air Quality Targets & Interim Goals for Fine Particulate Matter – PM2.5: Implications for the West Midlands. University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004251

Lacey, S, Zhong, J, Ghaffarpasand, O & Bartington, S 2023, Speed limits, air quality and health. University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004249

Acton, J, Zhong, J & Bloss, W 2023, What is PM2.5? An introduction to particulate matter in the atmosphere: a briefing note. University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004241

View all publications in research portal