Ultra Trace Species
UlTrace
Head
In the atmosphere, chemical compounds (“species”) drive important processes relevant for climate and stratospheric ozone although they are present at extremely low concentrations. Species with mixing ratios of tens of molecules per billion of air molecules (ppb= part ber billion, 10-9) and below are termed ultra trace species.
In order to improve predictions of the evolution of global climate and the ozone layer all relevant atmospheric chemical and micro-physical conversion processes of UlTrace species have to be correctly represented in climate models. Therefore, these processes need to be identified, understood, and parameterized, which is only possible with extremely sensitive, precise and accurate measurements. In addition, satellite instruments require regular validation via in situ measurement techniques.
Therefore, our group is designing, building, and operating highly specialized instrumentation capable of quantifying a large range of Ultrace species on different atmospheric platforms and in the laboratory.
The senior group members also have long-standing high competence in organizing, conducting, and interpreting airborne and balloon borne field measurements and have been leading very successful EC and ERC research projects as well as international arctic and tropical aircraft field campaigns:
- EUPLEX (PDF, 4 MB) (2002-2005)
- RECONCILE (2009-2013)
- STRATOCLIM (2013-2019)
- EXC3ITE (2015-2020)
