ACTRIS Marketplace

Sodankylä: The Finnish Meteorological Institute’s (FMI) Sodankylä facility (67°22’ N, 26°39’ E) hosts programs exploring upper air chemistry and dynamics, atmospheric column and profile measurements, snow/soil hydrology, biosphere-atmosphere interaction and satellite calibration-validation studies. The Sodankylä station contributes to Aeronet, NDACC, TCCON, GRUAN and other networks.  

At Sodankylä infrastructure is available for various atmospheric measurements. The services include:

- support for in situ balloon borne measurements of atmospheric composition. Examples are balloon-borne observations of atmospheric trace gases and aerosol properties. Regular radiosonde profiles are taken twice per 24 hours, at noon and at midnight. It is also possible to increase frequency of automated sonde launches for special observational periods.

- auxiliary ground-based observations are performed by various spectrometers dedicated to atmospheric composition measurements. 

The technical solution for measurement in extreme high levels. Possibility to test specialized instrumentation in demanding conditions (shocks, vibrations, vertical gradients) of a 250 m high tall tower. The instrumentation can be placed on individual measuring platforms (8 m, 50 m, 125 m, 230 m), the instrument dimensions are limited by platform size and lift capacity.

Testing of the instrumentation by the unmanned aerial system (UAS). Possibility to use own UAS (necessary to comply with the legal regulations and laws of the Czech Republic, including insurance) within the specific conditions close to the tall tower. There is an option to compare/calibrate measurement parameters with regular tall tower data sets (meteorology, greenhouse gases, physical and chemical properties of aerosols, cloud mapping, etc.).

Opportunity to use the NAOK´s infrastructure fenced and secured area - sampling platforms, power supply, concrete platforms for sampling.

Providing results from online measurements –NO-NOX-NO2, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, CO, physical and chemical properties of aerosol particles.

Results availability from offline measurements - PM10, PM2.5, PM1, chemical composition - cations (PM2.5), anions (TSP), EC/OC (PM2.5), PAHs, heavy metals (PM10, PM2.5).

Accommodation directly at NAOK in rooms with private bathrooms (12 double rooms) with the possibility of local non-vegetarian food :o), use of seminar room with the capacity of 20 people, availability of small kitchen with limited equipment.

More information about measurement is here: https://actris.cz/web/data-and-measurement/

IASC will work with researchers and innovators to develop and test new techniques for measuring atmospheric gases and particles. 

Existing standard operating procedures can be used for comparing the performance of new techniques with established techniques. 

IASC will work with innovators in both the public and private sector to test the performance of near-to-market sensors and instruments for measuring atmospheric gases and particles. 

Existing standard operating procedures can be used for comparing the performance of new products with established measurement methods.

MAC personnel will work with researchers and innovators to develop and test new techniques and instrumentation for measuring atmospheric gases and particles. 

Existing standard operating procedures can be used for comparing the performance of new techniques with established techniques.

MAC will work with innovators in both the public and private sector to test the performance of: 

i) products influenced by atmospheric composition and properties. Product performance reports can be prepared under controlled atmospheric conditions

and 

ii) near-to-market sensors and instruments for measuring atmospheric gases and particles. Existing standard operating procedures can be used for comparing the performance of new products with established measurement methods.

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

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. 

An important supplement to stationary measurements can be mobile measurements of atmospheric environment parameters (e.g. air pollution, meteorological and biometeorological parameters, etc.). Such measurements can be performed using drones, car platforms, bicycles and other similar vehicles, as well as on foot. The experience of the team of the WOPAS indicates that the results of such measurements can be used, among others, for recognition of spatial variability of measured parameters on a local and micro scale, recognition of variability of measured parameters outside the area covered by stationary measurements, indication of areas particularly exposed to hazards related to the atmospheric environment.

Within these services, the WOPAS team offers both urban oriented measurements and measurements in mountain areas. Moreover during campaigns the usefulness of sensors can be tested. Mobile measurements provide unique insights into spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric parameters, identifying hotspots and supporting tailored mitigation strategies in both urban and challenging mountainous environments.