The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK’s national measurement institute and is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate measurement standards, science and technology. For more than a century NPL has developed and maintained the nation’s primary measurement standards. NPL has been pioneering environmental measurements for over 25 years and has a comprehensive portfolio of expertise and measurement techniques designed to solve real life monitoring problems. NPL offers a complete range of solutions from long-term routine point sampling to state-of-the-art atmospheric surveys using remote sensing techniques such as differential absorption lidar. NPL's unique combination of staff and equipment make it one of the premier environmental measurement facilities in Europe. All measurements undertaken are of the highest quality and underpinned by accurate calibration techniques with traceability to international standards.
NPL undertake measurements for:
- Atmospheric research and large scale international monitoring campaigns involving balloon, ground based and airborne instrumentation.
- Pollution monitoring including air quality, stack and fugitive emissions.
- Bespoke monitoring provision for industrial clients, for example long term boundary fence monitoring, sampling of emissions from bulk tanker operations and offshore measurements.
- Ground based monitoring of the stratosphere.
- Monitoring diffuse sources such as landfill using open-path and remote sensing techniques.
NPL has carried out measurements of greenhouse gases for government and industry. We recently completed a TSB sponsored project, 'C Save' ( Carbon Storage: assessment and validation of emissions) with BP and Signal Group to develop new instrumentation for measurement of carbon dioxide losses and emissions.
In 2012 we launched The Centre for Carbon Measurement based at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), to build on our international reputation in measurement for climate change research, technology development and environmental monitoring. The Centre is working with partners to reduce uncertainties in climate data and provide the robust measurement that is required to account for, price and trade carbon emissions. It also helps accelerate the development and adoption of low carbon technologies.
