Royal Belgian Institute for Space AeronomyPhysics and chemistry of the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets, and of outer space.
Atmosphere services
BIRA-IASB generates high-quality scientific services and products that fulfill needs of the user community, across all its atmospheric research areas. Services such as:
- volcanic emission warnings
- air quality global analysis and prediction
- stratospheric ozone forecasting
- solar UV index analysis and forecasting
- accumulated radiation dose prediction
BIRA-IASB is also strongly involved in WMO/UNEP Scientific Assessments of Ozone Depletion and IPCC Assessment Reports.
EURAMET-BIOSPHERE has successfully developed tools, methodologies and measurement infrastructures needed to evaluate the mutual impact of cosmic rays and biologically active ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Such results support EU policy makers with scientific assessments and information that have the potential to substantially improve policies on climate, health and anthropogenic emission activities.
Volcanic ash and sulphur dioxide emitted by eruptions like the one currently going on with Cumbre Vieja on La Palma, are a threat to human health and aviation. Therefore, SACS warning system monitors these emissions with satellite data, and sends out warning accordingly to stakeholders.
Scientists at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) have been closely involved in the analysis of the data and the techniques behind it, as well as in the quality control and scientific exploitation of the measurements. Enthusiastic about the results, they want to take this opportunity of “Three years TROPOMI” to provide more information about this satellite mission and to share their most appealing results.
An ICOS synthesis study describing the fingerprint of the 2018 summer drought in Europe trough measurements of CO2.
The TROPOMI satellite instrument has detected decreases in nitrogen dioxide pollution worldwide during the lockdown. In some parts of China, nitrogen dioxide pollution seems to have increased again, rising even slightly higher than previous years.
The lockdown of various cities in the Chinese province of Hubei has an impact on air quality, clearly perceptible from space.
Space-borne and ground-based instruments can detect such fires from space, as part of the Copernicus Earth Observation programme coordinated by the European Commission.
The Danish ASIM experiment was installed on the outside of the European Columbus module of the ISS.