"We want to base our methods on state-of-the-art, high technology methods," Christiaens concluded. "We hope to get more precise on a smaller grid and taking account of cloudiness information on ground UV doses and pollutant levels. As a consequence, we may fine-tune our laboratory experiments to provide more customised products to consumers."
Air quality monitoring
Other TEMIS users will include statutory bodies charged with monitoring air quality, including the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forest and Landscape (BUWAL). The aim is to supplement data gathered from the National Air Pollution Monitoring Network (NABEL), which monitors air at 16 different locations across Switzerland for pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone and fine aerosol particles.
"The air pollution situation across the country covers a large range of pollution levels due to its geographic situation," said Brigitte Buchmann of the Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), which runs the 16-station NABEL network for BUWAL. "There are highly polluted sites in the centre of cities but also stations used for global background information such as the top of Jungfraujoch, 3580 metres above sea level."
Located at the heart of Europe, nitrogen dioxide from as far away as Manchester is known to reach Switzerland, along with dust from the Sahara.
Part of EMPA's interest in TEMIS is in using satellites to track pollution as it travels from 'hotspot' regions. "This is of big interest for air quality assessment. At present we use meteorological transport models to link gro
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Contact: Olivier Arino
olivier.arino@esa.int
39-06-941-80-564
European Space Agency
18-Aug-2003