Atmosphere Optics, Spectroscopy and Lasers Laboratory  LOA-SL

Monitoring of the planetary boundary layer and tropospheric pollutants using modern techniques of remote sensing. The impact on weather events

The general objective of the project was the development and promotion in Romania of aerosol research and to investigate the atmospheric layers through the modern remote sensing techniques. An additional motivation was the case of volcanic ash particle intrusion and/ or saharan dust. When these types of particles reach the lower troposphere, they are particularly interesting to study for at least two reasons. The first reason is related to the microphysical properties (such as shape and size, which have changed during advection- in the case of ash particle). Secondly, in the absence of rainfall time sedimentation of particles in free troposphere, it may be much longer than the typically time sedimentation for anthropogenic particle in the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL), amplifying their impact on the regional radiative budget.  

• The objectives of the project were related to the study of physico-chemical phenomenon in different atmospheric layers due to the interaction of laser radiation with suspended aerosols and for that had to be made measurements of tropospheric vertical profiles of aerosols in different atmospheric conditions.  
• To highlight the distribution of aerosols it have been used modern diagnostic complementary methods such as remote sensing techniques with high spatial and temporal resolutions, meteorological data, satellite data, pollutant dispersion models, etc. To achieve all goals and for the correlation of the studies, besides the modern infrastructure existing at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Faculty of Physics (infrastructure created within the two research projects ROLINET and RADO) were required training courses and complementary measurements in the laboratories of our national and international parteners. 

In this project it was used the infrastructure of the Laboratory of Optical Atmosphere Spectroscopy and Lasers (LOA-SL) such as  

• 3D research of the atmosphere with optical equipment (LIDAR - elastic channel (532 nm) and Raman channel (607 nm), spatial resolution: 3.75 m, temporal resolution: 1 min - 5 minutes. Maximum altitude: daytime: 12 - 14 km, at night: 15-17 km, unitary overlap factor (full overlap): 500 m, partially overlap factor: 200 m;  
• Simulation model for major pollutants concentration in the troposphere and meteorological parameters: hourly forecast, hourly average, minimum and maximum daily concentrations from the ground level to an altitude of 8 km of the following chemical species: O3, NO2, SO2, PM10, PM2.5; Kirchner and Sillman indicators; hourly forecast, hourly average, daily minimum and maximum of weather parameters: temperature, wind speed, humidity MAP3D: http://map3d.inoe.ro/app/sites/pollution/lang:rom 
• Dispersion simulation model of atmospheric aerosols in the troposphere HYSPLIT: http://ready.arl.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php; 
• Passive remote sensing techniques: cameras with IR and UV detection (NicAIR); fully automated equipment for monitoring the solar activity (CIMEL SunPhotometer); monitoring and analysis equipment of tropospheric ozone, monoxide carbon, particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), sulfur dioxide, pollutants; 
• Satellite (EUMETSAT) and meteorological data; 
• Data from international networks for monitoring atmospheric aerosols (AERONET, EARLINET). 

Below, we present the dissemination plan of the project: 

ISI PAPERS 

1. A. Timofte, L. Belegante, M.M. Cazacu, Albina, C. Talianu, S. Gurlui, Study of planetary boundary layer height from LIDAR measurements and ALARO model, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Volume: 17 Issue: 7-8 Pages: 911-917, published: Jul-Aug 2015 

2. L. Belegante, M.M. Cazacu, A.Timofte, F. Toanca, J. Vasilescu, M.I. Rusu, N. Ajtai, H.I. Stefanie, I. Vetres, Al. Ozunu, S. Gurlui, Case study of the first volcanic ash exercise in romania using remote sensing techniques, accepted for publication in Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, vol. 14 (2015), No. 11   

3. M.M. Cazacu, O. Tudose, A. Boscornea, L. Buzdugan, A. Timofte, D. Nicolae, Vertical and temporal variation of aerosol mass concentration at Magurele – Romania during EMEP/PEGASOS CAMPAIGN, accepted for publication in Romanian Reports in Physics, vol. 67, No. 4, 2015 

4. M. Cazacu, O. Tudose, A. Timofte, O. Rusu, L. Apostol, L. Leontie, S. Gurlui, A case study of the aerosol behaviour optical properties under the incidence of Saharian intrusion event, Applied Ecology and Environmental Research Journal, submitted for publication.  

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES 

1. A. Timofte, M. M. Cazacu, F. Unga, D. C. Bostan, G. Tiron, B. Albina, S. Gurlui, Study of regional AERONET data for improving precipitation forecasting, ELSEDIMA ( Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management), Cluj-Napoca, 18–19 Septembrie 2014, poster presentation 

2. A. Timofte, M. M. Cazacu, L. Belegante, D. C. Bostan, B. Albina, L. Leontie, S. Gurlui,  Analysis and validation of  Planetary Boundary Layer height forecasted by ALARO, by means of LIDAR data, ELSEDIMA ( Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management), Cluj-Napoca, 18–19 Septembrie 2014, oral presentation 

3. D. Nicolae, L. Belegante, M. M. Cazacu, A. Timofte, S. Gurlui, N. Ajtai, H. Stefanie, A. Ozunu, I. Vetres, I. Ionel, D. Visoiu, Romanian participation to volcanic ash exercise VOLCEX 2014, ELSEDIMA (Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management), Cluj-Napoca, 18–19 Septembrie 2014, oral presentation 

4. M. M. Cazacu, A. Timofte, F. Unga, B. Albina, L. Hrostea, M. Iftime, G. Bulai, S. Gurlui,  Aircraft particle emissions and its influences over optical parameters from AERONET, ELSEDIMA ( Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management), Cluj-Napoca, 18–19 Septembrie 2014, poster presentation 

5. M. Cazacu,  A.Timofte, D. Dimitriu, G. Bulai, M. Strat, S. Gurlui, Aerosol Remote Sensing:
Fast Laser Optical Emission Spectroscopy, ELSEDIMA (Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management), Cluj-Napoca, 18–19 Septembrie 2014, oral presentation 

6. A. Timofte, M. M. Cazacu, B. Albina, G. Dascalu, D. Gh. Dimitriu, S. Gurlui, Planetary Boundary Layer Dynamics: optical emission and space-time resolved spectroscopy, 14th EMS Annual Meeting & 10th European Conference on Applied Climatology (ECAC), 06 – 10 October 2014, Prague, Czech Republic, poster presentation 

7. B. Albina, M.M. Cazacu, A. Timofte, S. Gurlui, Thermography techniques correlated with lidar data for pbl identification and height variation study, TIM14 Physics Conference – Physics without frontiers, Timisoara, 20 – 22 nov. 2014, poster presentation 

8. A. Timofte, M.M. Cazacu, B. Albina, L. Belegante, C. Radu,  L. Hrostea, M. Iftime, L. Leontie, S. Gurlui, PBL remote sensing measurements in comparison with alaro model during LORELAY Campaign 2014, TIM14 Physics Conference – Physics without frontiers, Timisoara, 20 – 22 nov. 2014, poster presentation 

9. B. Albina, M.M. Cazacu, A. Timofte, S. Gurlui, Aeronet optical parameters under the influence of aircraft particle emissions, TIM14 Physics Conference – Physics without frontiers, Timisoara, 20 – 22 nov. 2014, oral presentation 

10. B. Albina, O. Rusu, A. Timofte, L. Leontie, G. Tiron, M. M. Cazacu, S. Gurlui,Environmental impact of the pollutant intrusions upon the Ciric-Iasi leisure area, Simpozionul Internațional Present Environment and Sustainable Development, din cadrul Facultății de Geografie, a Universității “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași, 5−7 iunie 2015, oral presentation 

11. M. M. Cazacu , A. Timofte, O. Rusu, B. Albina, G. Bulai, L. Leontie, S. Gurlui, Advanced optical remote sensors for airborne and spaceborne platforms, The 4th International Conference on the Physics of Optical Materials and Devices, 31 August - 4 Septembrie 2015, Budva, Montenegro – oral presentation 

NATIONAL CONFERENCES 

1. A. Timofte, M. M. Cazacu, L. Belegante, D-C. Bostan, B. Albina, L. Leontie, S. Gurlui, Analiza înălțimii Statului Limită Planetar prognozat de modelul de arie limitată ALARO, prin intermediul datelor lidar, Sesiunea Anuală de Comunicări Științifice, București, 6-7 nov. 2014, oral presentation  

2. A. Timofte, M. M. Cazacu, S. Gurlui, D. Nicolae, L. Belegante, C. Talianu, Utilizarea sistemelor lidar în România, pentru investigarea intruziunilor de cenușă vulcanică, Sesiunea Anuală de Comunicări Științifice, București, 6-7 nov. 2014, oral presentation 

3. B. Albina, M.M Cazacu, A. Timofte, S. Gurlui, Study on variation of atmospheric aerosols optical parameters using statistical Aeronet data analysis, FARPHYS, Iași, 25 oct 2014, poster presentation 

4. O. Rusu , L. Leontie, B. Albina, A. Teodor., I. A. Popescu, A. Timofte, G.Tiron, M. M. Cazacu, S. O. Gurlui, Monitorizarea factorilor de mediu in zona de agrement Ciric in vederea identificarii intruziunilor de poluanti, The 44th National Conference on Physics and Modern Education Technologies - FTEM 2015, 15-16 Mai 2015, Iași, România –poster presentation  

5. B. Albina, M.M. Cazacu, A. Timofte, S. Gurlui, Preliminary Analysis of the First Measurements at the New AERONET’s Iasi Site, The 44th National Conference on Physics and Modern Education Technologies - FTEM 2015, 15-16 Mai 2015, Iași, România –poster presentation 

6. A. Timofte, L. Leontie, Monitoring of the Planetary Boundary Layer and tropospheric pollutants using modern techniques of remote sensing. The impact on weather events, Workshop- Stadiul actual al cercetărilor privind temele de cercetare doctorală/post-doctorală finanțate prin proiectul Programe doctorale şi postdoctorale - suport pentru creşterea competitivităţii cercetării în domeniul Ştiinţelor exacte, 19 mai 2015, Iași, poster presentation 

7. A. Timofte, M.M. Cazacu, L. Belegante, H. Ştefănie, C. Radu, B. Albina, S. Gurlui, Laser and Optical Remote-sensing of atmospheric LAYers (LORELAY) campaign, during autumn season, Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2015 Meeting, 19 Iunie 2015, București, România – oral presentation  

8. M. M. Cazacu, O. Tudose, A. Boscornea, L. Buzdugan, A. Timofte, D. Nicolae, Vertical and temporal variation of aerosol mass concentration at Magurele – Romania during EMEP/PEGASOS campaign, Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2015 Meeting, 19 Iunie 2015, București, România – oral presentation  

9. H.I. Ștefãnie, M.M. Cazacu, A. Timofte, F. Benciu, A. Dandocsi, S. Solomos, A. Ozunu, Assessingthe presence of biomass burning aerosols above Romania during the fires around Chernobyl – Ukraine in May 2015 using remote sensing techniques, Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2015 Meeting, 19 Iunie 2015, București, România – oral presentation 

10. A. Timofte, L. Leontie, Study of planetary boundary layer height from LIDAR measurements and ALARO model, Sesiunea de Comunicări Științifice Studențești- FARPHYS 2015 și în paralel o sesiune de postere din cadrul Workshop-ului POSDRU 159/1.5/S/137750, 24 octombrie 2015, Facultatea de Fizică, din cadrul Universității “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași, poster presentation