ACTRIS Marketplace

Calibration and audit of an ICOS station with ICOS mobile laboratory. 

TIME CONSTRAINTS: The service is available but must fit into the audit schedule of the ICOS mobile laboratory.

AVAILABILITY PERIOD: The service is available. Location is subject to change, due to the mobility of the ICOS mobile laboratory.

Deployment of the Atmo-Lab or CMLab to user-defined custom location. Requires coordination between user and service provider.

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Must fit into the deployment schedule of ATMO-Lab or CMLab

Deployment duration of > 1 month

Preparation and transport time must also be considered 

AVAILABILITY PERIOD: The service is available but must fit into the deployment schedule of ATMO-Lab or CMLab

Calibration and operational checks for CPCs.

CPC calibration includes:

• the check of the main operational parameters (flows, temperatures, laser current, etc.),

• measurement of CPC counting efficiency (3-40 nm),

• check/adjustment of CPC cut-off diameter (10 nm for ACTRIS),

• measurement of CPC output linearity (1 000 - 50 000 #/ccm).

Training of operators for correct set-up and operation and basic maintenance of the CPCs. 

PACC is a new unit of CAIS-ECAC, but the hosting laboratory at ICPF CAS has a long lasting history in these measurements and is fully harmonized with WCCAP (TROPOS, Leipzig, Germany). 

Calibration and operational checks for MPSSs.

MPSS calibration includes:

• the check of the main status parameters (flows, HV, etc.),

• check of the recommended set-up (bipolar charger, sensors - RH/T&p in aerosol and sheath flow, positive polarity HV supply, flow ratio, etc.),

• sizing check (NIST latex particles 203 nm),

• plumbing time check (up- and down-scan),

• check/adjustment of the sheath flow,

• comparison of the particle number size distribution against reference instruments (MPSS and total count CPC) on atmospheric aerosol.

Training of operators for correct set-up and operation and basic maintenance of the MPSSs. 

PACC is a new unit of CAIS-ECAC, but the hosting laboratory at ICPF CAS has a long lasting history in these measurements and is fully harmonized with WCCAP (TROPOS, Leipzig, Germany).

Estimation of size resolved losses (penetration efficiency) of any parts of the sampling line.

The measurement set-up allows for:

• monodisperse testing aerosol (20-400 nm, salt solutions - usually ammonium sulphate, etc.),

• penetration estimation up to 99.99999%,

• built-in correction for the detector (CPC) inconsistency,

• automated and fully controlled measurement process.

PACC is a new unit of CAIS-ECAC, but the hosting laboratory at ICPF CAS has a long lasting history in these measurements including testing of filtration efficiency of over 250 different types of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) during COVID pandemic. 

Offer of technical audits for the measurements stations and measurements set-up

Compliance with ACTRIS standards (based on CEN/TS/best practice/decades of experience):

• sampling inlets,

• sampling lines,

• aerosol conditioning (drying),

• correct operation (parameters) of microphysical instruments.

Recommendations for improvements and possible arrangements in order to comply with standard operating procedures. 

PACC is a new unit of CAIS-ECAC, but the hosting laboratory at ICPF CAS has a long lasting history in aerosol measurements and in the last 3 years being also responsible for technical audits of ACTRIS AIS NFs. 

The course is open to ACTRIS related people (NF technicians, Advanced master students, Ph.D. students and early career scientists) and also to external (non-ACTRIS) users.

The course offers fundamental knowledge in aerosol sampling & conditioning as well as methods for aerosol in-situ measurements of physical and chemical aerosol variables (covering the whole variety of ACTRIS aerosol in-situ variables). The course includes a visit to the National Atmospheric Observatory Kosetice (NAOK) and hands-on training for some aerosol instruments.

Detailed information can be found at:

https://www.actris-ecac.eu/summer-school-2025.php

The service includes:

• accommodation at NAOK.

• all meals.

• transportation from Prague to NAOK and back.

   

  AVAILABILITY PERIOD: One weeks, once per year

Operation of the aerosol lidar located at the PANGEA station and the user’s own lidar instrument for testing and validation purposes while following the ACTRIS protocols for lidar measurements procedures and data quality assurance and quality control.

The service includes:

• Administrative support for the deployment and installation of the user’s instrument at the PANGEA premises

• Technical support at the facility to fulfill visitor needs and constraints related to installation, deployment and operation of equipment (e.g. power connections, remote access, storage, internet network).

• Operation of the PANGEA lidar and provision of lidar products for the comparison with the lidar to be tested/validated

• Scientific support for supervision and analysis of collected data (physical or remote)

TIME CONSTRAINTS: On-site lidar intercomparison in spring & summer

Application, testing, and validation of the user’s custom algorithm for lidar data processing and product retrievals based on lidar measurements from PANGEA instrumentation. The possibility to include testing of the algorithm based on simulated lidar signals (e.g. from an EARLINET algorithm intercomparison exercise) is also provided. 

The service includes:

• Provision of lidar measurements from PANGEA station

• Support in the processing and analysis of raw lidar data from the PANGEA instrumentation 

• Support in the algorithm testing/validation using simulated lidar signals 

Short and long-term experimental Cal/Val campaigns at PANGEA premises, using PANGEA’s infrastructure and user’s own instrumentation. The infrastructure at PANGEA includes ACTRIS compliant aerosol and cloud remote sensing instrumentation, along with complementary measurements for meteorological parameters and radiation. Additional instruments from the users can be also accommodated indoor or outdoor, as needed.

The service includes:

• Data collection and data analysis of the PANGEA instrumentation

• Administrative and technical support on the (de)mobilization, installation, and operation of the user’s instrumentation

• Support from the scientific staff to collect, process and analyze the data.

• Support from the scientific staff to set the measurements schedule coincident with satellite overpasses

Provision of lidar products in a near real-time window (e.g. within 3 hrs from measurement time) to a repository for use in model applications (e.g. Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service). 

The service includes:

• Data analysis of the PANGEA lidar measurements in near real-time

• Data provision in near real-time to an online repository to be used as input in model applications (e.g. CAMS)

Identification and provision of customized datasets from PANGEA measurements focusing on aerosol-cloud-radiation interactions based on synergistic combination of remote sensing datasets and user constraints. This service is also applicable in order to obtain customized datasets about special situations, such as natural hazards (volcanic eruptions, wildfire events, dust outbreaks, special weather situations). It can also find application for evaluation studies of numerical weather simulations.

Additionally, external research groups are invited to bring their own equipment (remote sensing or in situ) in order to get completeness in the essential variables for short and long-term experimental campaigns at PANGEA premises. The infrastructure at PANGEA combines ACTRIS compliant aerosol and cloud remote sensing instrumentation, along with complementary measurements for meteorological parameters and radiation.

The service includes:

• Support from the scientific staff to process and analyze the PANGEA data. 

• Additionally, for the experimental campaigns:

  • Administrative support for the deployment and installation of the user’s instrument at the PANGEA premises

  • Technical support at the facility to fulfill visitor needs and constraints related to installation, deployment and operation of equipment (e.g. power connections, remote access, storage, internet network).

  • Support from the technical staff to install and operate the user’s instruments

Training on using NOA’s custom algorithm for lidar data analysis. The NOA algorithm is capable of processing the lidar signals and retrieving the lidar products: profiles of the  aerosol and thin clouds optical properties (e.g. particle backscatter and extinction coefficients, lidar ratio, depolarization ratio), water vapor mixing ratio, Angstrom exponent.

The service includes:

Training on using NOA’s custom algorithm for lidar data analysis and product retrievals

The remote island of Antikythera in Greece, is a unique marine observatory, being frequently affected by desert dust outbreaks while no significant human activities occur at a distance shorter than 70 km from the site.

The site is designed to be operational after 2026 for aerosol and trace gases (including greenhouse gases) in situ atmospheric measurements by combining state of the art online and offline techniques (sampling). Currently, equipment from ATMOS-NOA is transferred to the site by means of the NOA mobile unit to cover the access needs. Trips to the island on at least a monthly basis, for 2-3 days, are required for instrument maintenance/calibration.

The site can be used for comparison and testing of in-situ equipment. The available equipment of ATMOS-NOA is used in combination with external equipment if needed (external groups are invited to bring their own equipment).

Physical access includes use of the facilities, as well as help in the preparatory work, and technical and scientific support during the execution (physical or remote after set-up).

The services include:

• Support for accessing facilities (physical).

• Provision of workspace for visitors: desk space and internet access (physical).

• Advice for shipping of materials, transportation, reception and storage of equipment.

• Advice for managing accommodation near the site.

• Technical support at the facility to fulfill visitor needs and constraints related to installation, deployment and operation of equipment: set-up support, power connections, internet access, storage, security constraints (physical).

• Technical support to remotely operate and audit the external instrumentation (remote after installation).

• Scientific support for supervision and analysis of collected data (physical, remote).

• Unlimited observations and measurements as long as they do not interfere with other projects or instruments availability

  SERVICE STATUS: The service will be offered after 2026. The service is currently provided depending on the ATMOS-NOA equipment availability (transport of instruments from Athens to Antikythera). 

  TIME CONSTRAINTS: None for remote access. Limited physical access during the  November-March period. 

The remote island of Antikythera in Greece, is a unique marine observatory, being frequently affected by desert dust outbreaks while no significant human activities occur at a distance shorter than 70 km from the site.

The site can be used for research projects on aerosol and trace-gases in-situ measurements. The site is designed to be operational after 2026 for aerosol and trace gases (including greenhouse gases) in situ atmospheric measurements by combining state of the art online and offline techniques (sampling). Currently, equipment from ATMOS-NOA is transferred to the site by means of the NOA mobile unit to cover the access needs. External groups are invited to bring their own equipment. Trips to the island on at least a monthly basis, for 2-3 days, are required for instrument maintenance/calibration.

Physical access includes use of the facilities, as well as help in the preparatory work, and technical and scientific support during the execution (physical or remote after set-up).

The services include:

• Support for accessing facilities (physical).

• Provision of workspace for visitors: desk space and internet access (physical).

• Advice for shipping of materials, transportation, reception and storage of equipment.

• Advice for managing accommodation near the site.

•  Technical support at the facility to fulfill visitor needs and constraints related to installation, deployment and operation of equipment: set-up support, power connections, internet access, storage, security constraints (physical).

• Technical support to remotely operate and audit the external instrumentation (remote after installation).

• Scientific support for supervision and analysis of collected data (physical, remote).

• Unlimited observations and measurements as long as they do not interfere with other projects or instruments availability

  SERVICE STATUS: The service will be offered after 2026. The service is currently provided depending on the ATMOS-NOA equipment availability (transport of instrument from Athens to Antikythera). 

  TIME CONSTRAINTS: None for remote access. Limited physical access during the  November-March period.