Helen Dacre

Dacre represented Great Britain at a number of international water polo competitions.^[3][4][5] At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Dacre was a regular fixture in the GB line up.^[6][7][8]

Dacre's research focuses on the development of extratropical cyclones, pollution transport through the atmosphere and volcanic ash dispersion.^[9] Her cyclone tracking algorithms are in widespread operational use.^[10][11]

Dacre's volcanic ash dispersion model is central to the Met Office aviation safety forecasts.^[12] Following the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano, European airspace was closed with a cost to the global airline industry an estimated $200 million per day^[13] Dacre's assessment of the accuracy of ash models is credited with reducing airspace closure times, in particular reducing the economic impact of the 2011 Grímsvötn eruption.^[2][14]