Pollutants and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere - understanding gas-gas and gas-solid interactions towards a cleaner atmosphere

ended

ATMOS denotes a consortium of eleven scientific institutions, six beneficiaries and five partners which main objective is to establish a collaborative effort for the study of scientific problems related to the atmosphere pollution elements, with an emphasis on training students in atmospheric sciences. This project points to: 1) create a network of highly qualified multidisciplinary researchers which strengthens the collaboration among researchers from EU and third countries; 2) develop novel approaches aiming at characterizing the atmospherical pollutants and their interactions, and communicating the results to the general public; 3) share and disseminate scientific information which contributes to atmosphere pollutants detection and the development of innovative gas capture techniques; 4) enhance the academic prospects of the participants, in particular, of female researchers from third countries. ATMOS provides a novel multifaceted approach. The key advances are highlighted in three scientific packages. The main novelties of the project are: a) The spectroscopic description of rather complex uncharacterized organic volatil compounds focused to their detection by the large scale and local instruments; b) the study of reactive processes to understand in detail the connection between VOCs and atmospheric radicals and to describe the relevant role of radicals; c) the exploitation of some pollutants as reagents towards the preparation of innovative materials, contributing to the reduction of their presence in the environment. ATMOS employs laboratory techniques for spectroscopy and molecular fluid dynamics, atmosphere simulation chambers, and technical tools (air monitoring station or synthesis of new capture materials), combined with quantum chemical calculations and theoretical developments. Secondments and networking activities, such as two workshops, a winter school, and an international conference, are designed to facilitate the interdisciplinary work.