The Czech Republic becomes a founding partner of the European Research Infrastructure ACTRIS ERIC, which was established by a decision of the European Commission on 25th April 2023. The Czech Republic is represented by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, the RECETOX Centre of Masaryk University, and three institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences: the Institute of Chemical Processes, the Institute of Global Change Research, and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics.
From our Institute, this important infrastructure will include the Aerosol Chemistry and Physics Research Group led by Dr. Vladimír Ždímal. The ACTRIS infrastructure is crucial for the study of atmospheric aerosols and their interactions with clouds and reactive gases in the atmosphere. Aerosols, clouds, and reactive gas components are studied both at ground stations and by remote sensing.
To understand why this infrastructure is so crucial, let us recall the main importance of atmospheric aerosols: Aerosols enter the water cycle in nature as condensation nuclei. So if, in an extreme case, there were no aerosol particles in the atmosphere, it would not rain at all because clouds could not be formed.
This is directly related to the dynamics of clouds and precipitation. In fact, clouds form faster in low-pollution air, and precipitation tends to be more evenly distributed in time and space. However, in a more polluted environment, it takes longer for precipitation to occur and extreme events (e.g. cloudbursts, hail, thunderstorms, etc.) are more frequent. It can therefore be concluded that more significant air pollution results in more frequent droughts or, conversely, floods.
By scattering and absorbing solar radiation, aerosol particles have a significant impact on global climate change. The link between aerosol pollution and cloud formation has an indirect effect on climate that is very significant, but at the same time, its prediction is subject to considerable uncertainty. Refining this prediction will allow us to predict climate evolution over time much more accurately.
We must not forget that air pollution caused by aerosol is closely linked to the health of the human population. Not only does the European Union experience 400,000 premature deaths a year as a result of air pollution, but living in areas with higher concentrations of aerosol particles leads to impaired respiratory development in children, various neurological impairments, and other negative phenomena.
The European research infrastructure ACTRIS ERIC thus offers unique opportunities to study aerosols and their interactions.
Link: https://www.actris.eu/news-events/news/actris-eric-establishment
Obr_1: Kosetice tower. Photo: Petr Vodička