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Matthew Ashfold

Professor,

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Biography

I joined the 糖心原创 Malaysia (UNM) in 2013, subsequently being promoted to Associate Professor (in 2017) and Professor (in 2025). I served as Head of the former School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences between 2020-2025. Since 2022 I have chaired UNM's Environmental Sustainability Committee which is responsible for overseeing of related aspects of our .

Before arriving at UNM I completed my PhD (2008-2012) and a short post-doctoral appointment (2012-2013) at the University of Cambridge. My undergraduate studies were at the University of Leeds (2003-2006) and before starting my PhD research I worked at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (2006-2008).

Teaching Summary

Within our BSc Environmental Science I currently convene, and teach all or much of, the following modules: Tutorials in Environmental Science, Global Environmental Change: Part 1 and Part 2, and… read more

Research Summary

I am interested in various aspects of atmospheric and climate science, often in the context of tropical Asia and Malaysia. My research mainly involves analysis of a combination of modelled and… read more

Selected Publications

  • ASHFOLD, M. J., LATIF, M. T., MOKHTAR, A. M., SAMAH, A. A., MEAD, M. I. and HARRIS, N. R. P., 2024. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 24(10), 240072
  • VARKKEY, H., ASHFOLD, M., ANSHARI, G. Z., LECHNER, A. M., SEAH, S., WIJAYANTI, N., ALKAF, F. T. and MASRAN, S. A., 2024. ISEAS 鈥� Yusof Ishak Institute.
  • ASHFOLD, M., VARKKEY, H., WONG, Y. J., RAZAK, A., YAWANARAJAH, S., LUNT, M. and OI, E. Y. T., 2023. ISEAS 鈥� Yusof Ishak Institute.
  • TAN, Z., LATIF, M. T. and ASHFOLD, M. J., 2023. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 23(9), 220444

Within our I currently convene, and teach all or much of, the following modules: Tutorials in Environmental Science, Global Environmental Change: Part 1 and Part 2, and Environmental Modelling. I also teach parts of Global Environmental Processes and Environmental Data Analysis.

While at UNM I completed the PGCHE and I am a . In 2022 I received a Lord Dearing Award for my role in enhancing the student learning experience.

I also convene the Nottingham Advantage Award module which is open to all undergraduates at UNM. This module involves students in social learning and exposure to - fun, flexible, and immersive online content designed to inspire Malaysian youth to act for the climate, which I developed with colleagues at Universiti Malaya. Some background on the importance of this project is explained in an .

Current Research

I am interested in various aspects of atmospheric and climate science, often in the context of tropical Asia and Malaysia. My research mainly involves analysis of a combination of modelled and observational datasets. Priorities include:

Coherently addressing linked climate and air pollution challenges. Recent grants have supported interdisciplinary and policy-relevant assessments of 1) methane emissions in Malaysia (see and ) and 2) approaches to mitigating emissions - of both "haze" air pollution and greenhouse gases - from Southeast Asian peatlands (see and ). A new grant from the Ministry of Education will aim to assess the future air quality benefits that might arise from Malaysia's energy transition.

Impacts of climate change on air quality. A recently completed grant from the Ministry of Education supported research on how climate change might modify the likelihood of meteorological conditions that promote poor air quality in Malaysia, including on the impact of increasing temperatures on ozone pollution.

Transport of atmospheric pollution and impacts on air quality. Several studies have examined the ability of atmospheric models to simulate features of "haze" pollution and the resulting elevated PM2.5 concentrations in Malaysia (e.g. during major regional haze episodes in and in ). A further focus has been pollution originating in East Asia and transported by so-called "cold surges" towards the tropics, resulting in important influences on Southeast Asian and on the .

Interdisciplinary research on air pollution. Past collaborative studies have explored public views and responses to and . A past from the Toyota Foundation supported collaboration and new data collection related to the haze - early results from this project are reported in a policy brief regarding government communications over haze.

Past research conducted during my PhD considered from the oceans in Southeast Asia and their subsequent where they can influence ozone layer chemistry.

Links to my and pages.

  • KO, Z. W., WIGUNO, A., JOYNSON, J., ASHFOLD, M. J. and KHOIROH, I., 2026. Next Energy. 10, 100490
  • TAN, Z., LATIF, M. T. and ASHFOLD, M. J., 2025. Air Quality Modelling in Malaysia: Evaluating the Hypothetical Operational Use of PM2.5 Forecasts. In: Air that we Breathe: Understanding Air Quality in Malaysia Department of Environment. 499-535
  • VARKKEY, H., ASHFOLD, M. J., ANSHARI, G. Z., LECHNER, A. M., SEAH, S., ALKAF, F. T. and WIJAYANTI, N., 2025. Available at: <https://2adca5d5-22fa-418e-bb3c-f2f1cebdcf7f.filesusr.com/ugd/138b42_b1380f6d1a144df1b2d5d82c7949e00f.pdf>
  • VARKKEY, H., MILLER, M. and ASHFOLD, M., 2024. Fulcrum. Available at: <https://fulcrum.sg/peatlands-and-the-climate-this-years-cop29-must-build-on-cop28/>
  • VARKKEY, H., ASHFOLD, M., ANSHARI, G. Z., LECHNER, A. M., SEAH, S., WIJAYANTI, N., ALKAF, F. T. and MASRAN, S. A., 2024. ISEAS 鈥� Yusof Ishak Institute.
  • ASHFOLD, M. J., LATIF, M. T., MOKHTAR, A. M., SAMAH, A. A., MEAD, M. I. and HARRIS, N. R. P., 2024. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 24(10), 240072
  • WIMALASIRI, E. M., ASHFOLD, M. J., WALKER, S., NISSANKA, S. P. and KARUNARATNE, A. S., 2023. Journal of Agricultural Sciences - Sri Lanka. 18(1), 55-75
  • WIMALASIRI, E. M., ASHFOLD, M. J., JAHANSHIRI, E., WALKER, S., AZAM-ALI, S. N. and KARUNARATNE, A. S., 2023. PLOS ONE. 18(3), e0283298
  • TAN, Z., LATIF, M. T. and ASHFOLD, M. J., 2023. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 23(9), 220444
  • ASHFOLD, M., VARKKEY, H., WONG, Y. J., RAZAK, A., YAWANARAJAH, S., LUNT, M. and OI, E. Y. T., 2023. ISEAS 鈥� Yusof Ishak Institute.
  • VARKKEY, H. and ASHFOLD, M., 2023. The Star. Available at: <https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2023/10/25/most-current-api-should-be-provided-for-best-health-decisions>
  • VARKKEY, H., ASHFOLD, M., RAZAK, A. and WONG, Y. J., 2023. Available at: <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wQorwAoFRa6DLv1CZzzL_iUL_0CBJrwR/view>
  • ASHFOLD, M., 2022. Available at: <https://betweenthelines.my/lessons-from-the-malaysia-floods-2021/>
  • TEO, H. C., RAGHAVAN, S. V., HE, X., ZENG, Z., CHENG, Y., LUO, X., LECHNER, A. M., ASHFOLD, M. J., LAMBA, A., SREEKAR, R., ZHENG, Q., CHEN, A. and KOH, L. P., 2022. Global Change Biology. 28(21), 6385-6403
  • WONG, Y. J., ASHFOLD, M. and VARKKEY, H., 2022. Available at: <https://thepetridish.my/2022/10/17/reducing-emissions-in-malaysia-methane-as-a-policy-priority/>
  • ALFAJRI, SETIAWAN, A., VARKKEY, H., ASHFOLD, M., DE PRETTO, L., WONG, P. Y. and IVES, C., 2021. Available at: <https://www.tecsea.info/post/public-and-religious-values-in-the-context-of-local-and-transboundary-haze-pollution-in-indonesia>
  • WONG, P. Y., VARKKEY, H., ASHFOLD, M., DE PRETTO, L., IVES, C., MASRAN, S. A. and KUMAR, P. V., 2021. Available at: <https://www.tecsea.info/post/malaysia-s-role-in-transboundary-haze-pollution-reconciling-policy-with-public-and-consumer-values>
  • ASHFOLD, M. and VARKKEY, H., 2021. Available at: <https://www.thevibes.com/articles/opinion/31791/do-malaysians-understand-our-climate-commitments-matthew-ashfold-helena-varkkey>
  • MURULITHARAN, M. and ASHFOLD, M., 2021. East Asia Forum. Available at: <https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/08/17/depoliticising-southeast-asias-forest-fire-pollution/>
  • VARKKEY, H., ASHFOLD, M., DE PRETTO, L., IVES, C., WONG, P. Y., MASRAN, S. A. and KUMAR, P. V., 2021. Policy Brief: Haze and Government Communication in Malaysia Institute for Policy and Engagement. Available at: </policy-and-engagement/Documents/Policy-briefs/Haze-POLICY-BRIEF-003.pdf>
  • MOHYEDDIN, N., SAMAH, A. A., CHENOLI, S. N., ASHFOLD, M. J., MEAD, M. I., ORAM, D., LATIF, M. T., SIVAPRASAD, P. and MOHD NOR, M. F. F., 2020. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics. 1-24
  • FILUS, M. T., ATLAS, E. L., NAVARRO, M. A., MENEGUZ, E., THOMSON, D., ASHFOLD, M. J., CARPENTER, L. J., ANDREWS, S. J. and HARRIS, N. R. P., 2020. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 20(2), 1163-1181
  • PANAGI, M., FLEMING, Z. L., MONKS, P. S., ASHFOLD, M. J., WILD, O., HOLLAWAY, M., ZHANG, Q., SQUIRES, F. A. and VANDE HEY, J. D., 2020. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 20(5), 2825-2838
  • ADCOCK, K. E., ASHFOLD, M. J., CHOU, C. C.-K., GOOCH, L. J., MOHD HANIF, N., LAUBE, J. C., ORAM, D. E., OU-YANG, C.-F., PANAGI, M., STURGES, W. T. and REEVES, C. E., 2020. Environmental Science & Technology. 54(7), 3814-3822
  • DROSTE, E. S., ADCOCK, K. E., ASHFOLD, M. J., CHOU, C., FLEMING, Z., FRASER, P. J., GOOCH, L. J., HIND, A. J., LANGENFELDS, R. L., LEEDHAM ELVIDGE, E., MOHD HANIF, N., O'DOHERTY, S., ORAM, D. E., OU-YANG, C.-F., PANAGI, M., REEVES, C. E., STURGES, W. T. and LAUBE, J. C., 2020. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 20(8), 4787-4807
  • CHANG, F. J. and ASHFOLD, M. J., 2020. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 489, 012027
  • ASHFOLD, M., WONG, P. Y., VARKKEY, H., DE PRETTO, L., MILLER, M. A., ASTUTI, R., IVES, C., MASRAN, S. A., LIU, F. H. M. and KUMAR, P. V., 2020. Available at: <https://www.tecsea.info/post/public-values-and-sentiments-regarding-transboundary-haze-pollution-in-singapore>
  • LECHNER, AM, GOMES, RL, RODRIGUES, L, ASHFOLD, MJ, SELVAM, SB, WONG, EP, RAYMOND, CM, ZIERITZ, A, SING, KW, MOUG, P, BILLA, L, SAGALA, S, CHESHMEHZANGI, A, LOURDES, K, AZHAR, B, SANUSI, R, IVES, CD, TANG, Y-T, TAN, D, CHAN, FKS, NATH, TK, SABARUDIN, NAB, METCALFE, S, GULSRUD, NM, SCHEURSCH, M, CAMPOS-ARCEIZ, A, MACKLIN, MG and GIBBINS, C, 2020. Blue-Green Systems. 2(1), 331-351
  • MOHD HANIF, N., REEVES, C. E., ORAM, D. E., ASHFOLD, M. J., PANAGI, M., FLEMING, Z. L., GOOCH, L. J., LAUBE, J. C., ABU SAMAH, A., AMIN ABDULLAH, A. and STURGES, W. T., 2020. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 616, 012011
  • OOI, M. C. G., CHAN, A., ASHFOLD, M. J., OOZEER, M. Y., MORRIS, K. I. and KONG, S. S. K., 2019. Geoscience Frontiers. 10(2), 405-415
  • CHIN, Y. S. J., DE PRETTO, L., THUPPIL, V. and ASHFOLD, M. J., 2019. PLOS ONE. 14(3), e0212206
  • NADZIR, M. S. M., ASHFOLD, M. J., KHAN, M. F., ROBINSON, A. D., BOLAS, C., LATIF, M. T., WALLIS, B. M., MEAD, M. I., HAMID, H. H. A., HARRIS, N. R. P., RAMLY, Z. T. A., LAI, G. T., LIEW, J. N., AHAMAD, F., UNING, R., SAMAH, A. A., MAULUD, K. N., SUPARTA, W., ZAINUDIN, S. K., WAHAB, M. I. A., SAHANI, M., MULLER, M., YEOK, F. S., RAHMAN, N. A., MUJAHID, A., MORRIS, K. I. and SASSO, N. D., 2018. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 25(3), 2194-2210
  • ADCOCK, K. E., REEVES, C. E., GOOCH, L. J., LEEDHAM ELVIDGE, E. C., ASHFOLD, M. J., BRENNINKMEIJER, C. A. M., CHOU, C., FRASER, P. J., LANGENFELDS, R. L., MOHD HANIF, N., O'DOHERTY, S., ORAM, D. E., OU-YANG, C.-F., PHANG, S. M., SAMAH, A. A., ROCKMANN, T., STURGES, W. T. and LAUBE, J. C., 2018. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 18(7), 4737-4751
  • ISLAM, M. A., CHAN, A., ASHFOLD, M. J, OOI, C. G. and AZARI, M., 2018. Atmosphere. 9(9), 352
  • ASHFOLD, M. J., HANSON, S., JIM ILHAM, J. I., MOUG, P. and THUPPIL, V., 2018. Asia Dialogue. Available at: <http://theasiadialogue.com/2018/12/11/is-malaysia-doing-enough-to-avoid-1-5c-of-global-warming/>
  • HARRIS, N. R. P., CARPENTER, L. J., LEE, J. D., VAUGHAN, G., FILUS, M. T., JONES, R. L., OUYANG, B., PYLE, J. A., ROBINSON, A. D., ANDREWS, S. J., LEWIS, A. C., MINAEIAN, J., VAUGHAN, A., DORSEY, J. R., GALLAGHER, M. W., LE BRETON, M., NEWTON, R., PERCIVAL, C. J., RICKETTS, H. M. A., BAUGUITTE, S. J.-B., NOTT, G. J., WELLPOTT, A., ASHFOLD, M. J., FLEMMING, J., BUTLER, R., PALMER, P. I., KAYE, P. H., STOPFORD, C., CHEMEL, C., BOESCH, H., HUMPAGE, N., VICK, A., MACKENZIE, A. R., HYDE, R., ANGELOV, P., MENEGUZ, E. and MANNING, A. J., 2017. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 98(1), 145-162
  • OOI, M. C. G., CHAN, A., ASHFOLD, M. J., MORRIS, K. I., OOZEER, M. Y. and SALLEH, S. A., 2017. Urban Climate. 20, 228-250
  • SULONG, N. A., LATIF, M. T., KHAN, M. F., AMIL, N., ASHFOLD, M. J., WAHAB, M. I. A., CHAN, K. M. and SAHANI, M., 2017. Science of The Total Environment. 601-602, 556-570
  • ASHFOLD, M. J., LATIF, M. T., SAMAH, A. A., MEAD, M. I. and HARRIS, N. R. P., 2017. Atmospheric Environment. 166, 498-509
  • ORAM, D. E., ASHFOLD, M. J., LAUBE, J. C., GOOCH, L. J., HUMPHREY, S., STURGES, W. T., LEEDHAM-ELVIDGE, E., FORSTER, G. L., HARRIS, N. R. P., MEAD, M. I., SAMAH, A. A., PHANG, S. M., OU-YANG, C.-F., LIN, N.-H., WANG, J.-L., BAKER, A. K., BRENNINKMEIJER, C. A. M. and SHERRY, D., 2017. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 17(19), 11929-11941
  • WIMALASIRI, E. M., ASHFOLD, M. J., WALKER, S., NISSANKA, S. P. and KARUNARATNE, A. S., 2017. Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension. 20(1 & 2), 32-44
  • ASHFOLD, M. J., PYLE, J. A., ROBINSON, A. D., MENEGUZ, E., NADZIR, M. S. M., PHANG, S. M., SAMAH, A. A., ONG, S., UNG, H. E., PENG, L. K., YONG, S. E. and HARRIS, N. R. P., 2015. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 15(6), 3565-3573
  • DOMINICK, D., LATIF, M. T., JUNENG, L., KHAN, M. F., AMIL, N., MEAD, M. I., NADZIR, M. S. M., PHANG, S. M., SAMAH, A. A., ASHFOLD, M. J., STURGES, W. T., HARRIS, N. R. P., ROBINSON, A. D. and PYLE, J. A., 2015. Atmospheric Environment. 117, 187-199
  • ARCHIBALD, A. T., WITHAM, C. S., ASHFOLD, M. J., MANNING, A. J., O'DOHERTY, S., GREALLY, B. R., YOUNG, D. and SHALLCROSS, D. E., 2015. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene. 3(000068), 1-16
  • NAVARRO, M. A., ATLAS, E. L., SAIZ-LOPEZ, A., RODRIGUEZ-LLOVERAS, X., KINNISON, D. E., LAMARQUE, J.-F., TILMES, S., FILUS, M., HARRIS, N. R. P., MENEGUZ, E., ASHFOLD, M. J., MANNING, A. J., CUEVAS, C. A., SCHAUFFLER, S. M. and DONETS, V., 2015. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112(45), 13789-13793
  • DE PRETTO, L., ACREMAN, S., ASHFOLD, M. J., MOHANKUMAR, S. K. and CAMPOS-ARCEIZ, A., 2015. PLOS ONE. 10(12), e0143655
  • RUSSO, M. R., ASHFOLD, M. J., HARRIS, N. R. P. and PYLE, J. A., 2015. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 15(24), 14031-14040
  • ASHFOLD, M. J., HARRIS, N. R. P., MANNING, A. J., ROBINSON, A. D., WARWICK, N. J. and PYLE, J. A., 2014. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 14(2), 979-994
  • MOHD NADZIR, M. S., PHANG, S. M., ABAS, M. R., ABDUL RAHMAN, N., ABU SAMAH, A., STURGES, W. T., ORAM, D. E., MILLS, G. P., LEEDHAM, E. C., PYLE, J. A., HARRIS, N. R. P., ROBINSON, A. D., ASHFOLD, M. J., MEAD, M. I., LATIF, M. T., KHAN, M. F., AMIRUDDIN, A. M., BANAN, N. and HANAFIAH, M. M., 2014. Bromocarbons in the tropical coastal and open ocean atmosphere during the Prime Expedition Scientific Cruise 2009 (PESC 09) Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 14(15), 8137-8148
  • ROBINSON, A. D., HARRIS, N. R. P., ASHFOLD, M. J., GOSTLOW, B., WARWICK, N. J., O'BRIEN, L. M., BEARDMORE, E. J., NADZIR, M. S. M., PHANG, S. M., SAMAH, A. A., ONG, S., UNG, H. E., PENG, L. K., YONG, S. E., MOHAMAD, M. and PYLE, J. A., 2014. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 14(16), 8369-8388
  • ASHFOLD, M. J., HARRIS, N. R. P., ATLAS, E. L., MANNING, A. J. and PYLE, J. A., 2012. Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics. 12(14), 6309-6322
  • ASHFOLD, M. J., 2012. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. Available at: <http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-400>
  • KHAN, M. A. H., NAZMUL HOQUE, M. M., ALAM, S., ASHFOLD, M. J., NICKLESS, G. and SHALLCROSS, D. E., 2011. Journal of Environmental Sciences. 23(1), 60-64
  • PYLE, J. A., ASHFOLD, M. J., HARRIS, N. R. P., ROBINSON, A. D., WARWICK, N. J., CARVER, G. D., GOSTLOW, B., O'BRIEN, L. M., MANNING, A. J., PHANG, S. M., YONG, S. E., LEONG, K. P., UNG, E. H. and ONG, S., 2011. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 11(2), 529-542
  • PYLE, J. A., WARWICK, N. J., HARRIS, N. R. P., ABAS, M. R., ARCHIBALD, A. T., ASHFOLD, M. J., ASHWORTH, K., BARKLEY, M. P., CARVER, G. D., CHANCE, K., DORSEY, J. R., FOWLER, D., GONZI, S., GOSTLOW, B., HEWITT, C. N., KUROSU, T. P., LEE, J. D., LANGFORD, S. B., MILLS, G., MOLLER, S., MACKENZIE, A. R., MANNING, A. J., MISZTAL, P., NADZIR, M. S. M., NEMITZ, E., NEWTON, H. M., O'BRIEN, L. M., ONG, S., ORAM, D., PALMER, P. I., PENG, L. K., PHANG, S. M., PIKE, R., PUGH, T. A. M., RAHMAN, N. A., ROBINSON, A. D., SENTIAN, J., SAMAH, A. A., SKIBA, U., UNG, H. E., YONG, S. E. and YOUNG, P. J., 2011. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 366(1582), 3210-3224
  • KHAN, M. A. H., ASHFOLD, M. J., NICKLESS, G., MARTIN, D., WATSON, L. A., HAMER, P. D., WAYNE, R. P., CANOSA-MAS, C. E. and SHALLCROSS, D. E., 2008. Atmospheric Science Letters. 9(3), 140-146

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