BrainMap

Mrs. Anca Nemuc

Ph.D

Scientific Researcher II - INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Researcher | Scientific reviewer | Manager | PhD supervisor

Dr. Anca Nemuc is a senior researcher at the National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics (INOE 2000), with over 20 years of experience in atmospheric physics, remote sensing, and environmental research. She has coordinated and contributed to numerous international projects under ESA, FP7, H2020, and UEFISCDI, focusing on atmospheric composition, aerosol monitoring, and satellite validation. Author and co-author of many scientific papers, she is a recognized expert in lidar and satellite data analysis, project management, and international collaboration. As a member of European expert groups and doctoral supervisor, she combines scientific excellence with leadership and communication skills in advancing environmental monitoring and research infrastructure.

Web of Science ResearcherID: https://publons.com/researcher/4320225/anca-nemuc/

Curriculum Vitae (27/10/2025)

Expertise & keywords

Investigating Methane for Climate Action Call name: PNCDI IV, P 5.8 - SP 5.8.1 - Orizont Europa - Premiere Instituții - Competiție 2024
PN-IV-P8-8.1-PRE-HE-ORG-2025-0264 2025 - 2027

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website:

Abstract:

The IM4CA project unites leading European methane experts in a concerted effort to establish the scientific foundation needed to bring the climate forcing of methane under control. Specific objectives are to: 1) Strengthen methane mitigation policy world-wide with actionable information on local methane emissions and key driving processes, 2) Provide the EU with the measurement and modeling capacity needed to monitor its methane emissions and assess its progress towards the 30% emission reduction target of the European methane strategy and the global methane pledge, 3) Explore and understand climate feedbacks on natural methane sources and sinks, and 4) Improve the accuracy of climate scenarios by resolving the controversy about the causes for the recent growth rate variations in global methane. To achieve these objectives we address a selection of key uncertainties that have IM4CA thus far limited the progress towards these goals by: i) building up critical new infrastructure for monitoring methane emissions in Europe and Tropical Africa, ii) developing methodology for efficient use of existing and upcoming satellites for measuring methane and the land surface properties needed for characterizing and attributing its emissions, and iii) translating the knowledge obtained into reliable projections of future methane and efficient emission mitigation scenarios. In doing so, the IM4CA project will enable a breakthrough in meeting the work program challenge of enhancing the quantification and understanding of natural and anthropogenic methane emissions and sinks. It will provide enhanced European assessment capacity of short- and long-term changes in methane sources and sinks integrating information from multi platforms and novel observations and transfer that capacity into actionable information needed to combat climate change.

Multi-sensor synergies for improved weather-climate-environmental products and applications, to advance European services supporting green transition Call name: PNCDI IV, P 5.8 - SP 5.8.1 - Orizont Europa - Premiere Instituții - Competiție 2024
PN-IV-P8-8.1-PRE-HE-ORG-2025-0261 2025 - 2027

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website:

Abstract:

PANORAMA will significantly enhance the quality and accuracy of EO products for supporting data-driven decision making in 3 priority areas of GEO (climate action, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development), and 7 policy areas of the European Green Deal (climate, energy, environment and oceans, agriculture, transport, research and innovation, the new European Bauhaus). The next generation of Copernicus Sentinels and EUMETSAT MTG and EPS-SG satellite constellation provides a wide range of observations for advanced monitoring of the atmosphere. PANORAMA aims to multiply the value of this information by realising multi-sensor synergies to achieve advanced products, along with improved applications on atmospheric composition and NWP (e.g., motion-estimation of aerosols & clouds, fast radiative transfer calculations, top-down emission estimations through ML/AI, data assimilation, and new physical parameterisations). The products and applications will be tested and fine-tuned in 6 pilot demonstrators to assess the impact of the new EO data on the representation and prediction of extreme weather, floods, energy, and air pollution. In its final phase, PANORAMA will materialise 3 pre-operational integrated applications over the Copernicus DIAS, to demonstrate the use of the project’s results in seamless climate-weather and environmental European services, but also to make available the tools to other users and stakeholders (e.g., integrated applications on fire-smoke and volcanic ash dispersion for CAMS and EMS, and solar energy nowcasting for the NextSense EuroGEO service). Contributions to the C3S/CMEMS Copernicus services and the Destination Earth are also foreseen. The dissemination, communication, and exploitation plan will accelerate the adoption of the project’s results by the wider community and the commercial sector to ensure impact maximisation.

Cooperation and AgReements enhancing Global interOperability for Aerosol, Cloud and Trace gas research infrastructures Call name: PNCDI IV, P 5.8 - SP 5.8.1 - Orizont Europa - Premiere Instituții - Competiție 2024
PN-IV-P8-8.1-PRE-HE-ORG-2024-0189 2024 - 2025

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://environment.inoe.ro/article/267/ro-cargo-act

Abstract:

The goal of CARGO-ACT is to deliver a clear roadmap for sustainable global cooperation between key ground-based aerosol, cloud and trace gas research infrastructures, each having invested in infrastructure and services to support their observing networks with a long-term perspective, with a view to consolidating into a sustainable global research infrastructure in the future. There is a strong desire for global integration from the research community, including weather, climate, and air quality monitoring and modelling, and in particular from space agencies, since global networks of ground-based observations are an essential component complementing Earth Observation from space, providing calibration and validation of the remote sensing information collected by

current and future satellite missions. The integration of the current ground-based networks, which may have different interests and priorities, requires cooperation and agreements at the global level, including engagement with relevant stakeholders. Their service provision is not limited to data services, but includes access to the measurement facilities, reference instruments, reference standards and laboratories, all of which are topics to be assessed in CARGO-ACT.

The specific objectives of CARGO-ACT are to, develop sustainable partnerships and decision making processes with relevant partners, demonstrate the benefits of converging interoperability and standards to stakeholders and the global research community, establish the mechanisms for providing international access to distributed research infrastructures and develop a roadmap for upscaling towards an integrated global research infrastructure for aerosol, cloud and trace gases.

Research Infrastructures Services Reinforcing Air Quality Monitoring Capacities in European Urban & Industrial AreaS (RI-URBANS) Call name: EC - H2020
H2020-237082-101036245 2021 - 2025

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: Institution

Project partners: AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS (ES); LEIBNIZ INSTITUT FUER TROPOSPHAERENFORSCHUNG e.V. (DE); VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. (BE); UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI (PL); HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO (FI); FEDERAL STATE BUDGETARY INSTITUTIONOF SCIENCE ST. PETERSBURG FEDERALRESEARCH CENTER OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (RU); IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE (GB); FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBH (DE); NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO (NL); SAINT PETERSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY (RU); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 (RO); INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L ENVIRONNEMENT INDUSTRIEL ET DES RISQUES - INERIS (FR); FUNDACION PRIVADA INSTITUTO DE SALUD GLOBAL BARCELONA (ES); THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (GB); IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS (GR); STIFTELSEN NILU (NO); INSTITUT MINES-TELECOM (FR); CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE (IT); KONINKLIJK NEDERLANDS METEOROLOGISCH INSTITUUT-KNMI (NL); ILMATIETEEN LAITOS (FI); PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT (CH); METEOROLOGISK INSTITUTT (NO); ETHNIKO ASTEROSKOPEIO ATHINON (GR); UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT (NL); CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS (FR); M.V. LOMONOSOV MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY (RU); EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT (CH); BARCELONA SUPERCOMPUTING CENTER CENTRO NACIONAL DE SUPERCOMPUTACION (ES); JRC -JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE- EUROPEAN COMMISSION (BE); ACTRIS ERIC (FI); COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES (FR); "NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ""DEMOKRITOS""" (GR); ECOLE NATIONALE DES PONTS ET CHAUSSEES (FR); UNIVERSITE PARIS XII VAL DE MARNE (FR); INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT (FR); TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT (NL); SORBONNE UNIVERSITE (FR); UNIVERSITE DE TOULOUSE (FR)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 (RO)

Project website: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e5fc688f59&appId=PPGMS

Abstract:

Integrated Research Infrastructure Services for Climate Change risks Call name: PNCDI IV, P 5.8 - SP 5.8.1 - Orizont Europa - Premiere Instituții - Competiție 2024
PN-IV-P8-8.1-PRE-HE-ORG-2024-0198 2024 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://environment.inoe.ro/article/266/ro-iriscc

Abstract:

Adaptation to climate change requires in-depth understanding of climate change driven risks, including their determinants (hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities) and impacts to human, production and natural systems. Integrated Research Infrastructure Services for Climate Change Risks (IRISCC) is a consortium of diverse and complementary leading research infrastructures (RIs) covering disciplines from natural sciences to social sciences, across different domains and sectors. IRISCC provides scientific and knowledge services to foster cutting-edge research and evidence-based policymaking to improve Europe's resilience to climate change. IRISCC ensures a “one-stopshop” for various user communities on climate change risk related RI services by setting up a dedicated Catalogue of services and related access management system both for granting transnational (onsite and remote) and offering virtual access. The Catalogue of services will be built through three consecutive releases, each delivering increasingly integrated services to its user communities. The IRISCC service integration will include Service Design Labs employing co-design and transdisciplinary action, and Service Demonstrators benchmarking the integrated cross-RI services. In addition to services aimed towards the scientific community, IRISCC will offer knowledge services aimed towards policymakers and other stakeholders. This is done together with risk management platforms. The research enabled by IRISCC contributes to future reports on climate change effects (IPCC, IPBES) as well as policy- and decision-making to meet the targets of climate adaptation strategies. IRISCC contributes to training a new generation of scientists to efficiently use RI services and for data stewardship. Data from IRISCC will be open and made available in compliance with FAIR principles and linked to European initiatives such as EOSC. Strong links will be created between IRISCC and current and future efforts under Horizon Europe.

Dual telescope module for clear air turbulence detection - DETECT Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-2088 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); INSTITUTUL DE STIINTE SPATIALE-FILIALA INFLPR (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/article/264/proiect-detect

Abstract:

One of the missing developments in air transport services (for passengers and cargo) is related to the need to detect and avoid Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) events that may occur at high altitudes during airline flights. The project aims the development of an experimental prototype for the detection of air turbulences used in airline operation. The technique used for the development of this module is called backscatter amplification effect and the technology developed within the project will be of real interest both for airline companies and also for the private sector aiming to develop this product for future marketing purposes.

Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure Implementation Project Call name: P 3 - SP 3.6 - Premierea participării în Orizont 2020
PN-III-P3-3.6-H2020-2020-0016 2021 - 2023

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/article/263/about-actris-imp

Abstract:

ACTRIS IMP (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure Implementation Project) is a project funded by the European Commission through the Research Program Horizon 2020 (Grant No. 871115 - ACTRIS IMP - H2020-INFRADEV-2018-2020 / H2020-INFRADEV-2019-2). The duration of the project is four years starting January 1, 2020. ACTRIS IMP project comes as a result of the predecessor ACTRIS PPP which made the transition from a network of project-based research centers to a centralized pan-European research infrastructure, by involving both research organizations and funding bodies and ministries to support ACTRIS infrastructure. Main objective of ACTRIS PPP project is to develop the research infrastructure in terms of organization, operationalization and strategic principles have been defined within ACTRIS PPP, and will be implemented within ACTRIS IMP. This project aims to develop ACTRIS towards a new level of maturity by establishing the necessary coordination structures for coherent implementation actions, which can be implemented both at national and European level.

PROfiling the atmospheric Boundary layer at European scale Call name:
CA 18235 2019 - 2023

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD ()

Project website: http://www.probe-cost.eu/

Abstract:

The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is the layer closest to the Earth's surface within which

most human activities take place. The vertical profile of atmospheric thermodynamic

parameters in the ABL impact weather, air quality, and climate. Surface sensor networks and

satellite observations do not provide sufficient information on the high temporal variability and

strong vertical gradients experienced in the ABL. Thus, despite its importance, ABL remains

the single most important under-sampled part of the atmosphere. This observational gap

currently hampers our ability to improve weather forecasts, air quality prediction, and climate

model parameterization. However, this gap is mainly due to the lack of S&T networking and

coordination. In fact, state-of-the-art ground-based remote sensing instruments able to provide

ABL profiles (such as temperature, humidity, wind, aerosol, cloud) are currently deployed at

numerous sites in Europe, but the harmonization of data and procedures is missing, limiting

the effective use and societal benefits of the existing ABL profiling data. This Action aims to fill

this gap, bridging user needs and the S&T expertise residing in industry and academia. This

will be achieved through:

- Capacity building of instrument operators to improve the use of state-of-the-art ABL profiling

instruments;

- Fostering coordination between operational agencies and academia to tailor measurement

networks for well identified applications;

- Enhancing pan-European research coordination to develop new products and tools for data

assimilation and long-time series reanalysis;

- Identifying knowledge brokers enabling rapid exchange between academia, operational

agencies, industry and end-users to ensure full exploitation for societal benefit.

Assessment of the relationship between Biomass Burning typology and the Aerosol intensive optical properties from LIDAR measurements during smoke transport Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-1816 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/article/255/about-abba

Abstract:

Poor air quality is a major societal concern, but development of proper policies is hampered by lack of high-quality data to support decision making. The aim of this project is the development of machine learning tools based on the analysis of remote sensing data. Specifically, the project will improve lidar (light detection and ranging) automatic classification algorithms for aerosol type by allowing the identification of biomass burning (BB) smoke from different vegetation types (different smoke typology). In previous work of the principal investigator, it was shown that smoke from different regions produced different optical properties. This outcome encouraged us to develop a more detailed analysis considering the BB by vegetation type. During the project, the smoke intensive optical properties (IOPs) measured by lidar (e.g. particle depolarization ratio and Ångström exponents) will be correlated to smoke typology allowing the development of better models for aerosol prediction. The analysis will be based on the long timeseries (2008-2018) of lidar measurements at INOE and exiting state-of-the-art algorithms that INOE developed in the framework of the European Infrastructure ACTRIS. The main steps of the methodology are the following:

-Reprocess the lidar data using Single Calculus Chain from EARLINET

-Identify the BB location which contributed to the smoke measurements using HYSPLIT backtrajectory and FIRMS database

-Collect the land cover data from satellites for the regions identified for fires

-Employ the cluster analysis in order to group the fires into homogenized areas from vegetation type point of view; for each cluster, estimate the land cover index

-Assess the quantification between BB typology and IOPs

The project is fully aligned with Romanian Smart Specialization Strategy, bringing INOE’s classification algorithm to a higher TRL, allowing it to be tested by INOE’s industrial partners.

Comprehensive Approach to support Precision Agriculture and environmental management through satellite technologies and classic methods of investigation Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-3495 2020 - 2022

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRONOMICE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA (RO); Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/article/253/about-capa

Abstract:

The project ‘Comprehensive Approach to support Precision Agriculture and environmental management through satellite technologies and classic methods of investigation – CAPA’, addresses a major direction of the 21st century, namely, smart agriculture, bringing new insights into how the climate affects the phenological cycle of crops (through the occurrence of extreme events) and it also contributes to understanding the role of different air pollutants (such as greenhouse gases) in crop development. The project proposes the realization of synergies of the scientific activities integrating data on the complex eco-agro-system-culture relations, obtained by applying a conglomerate of methods and techniques (space technologies, the study of pollutants at the level of air, water, soil and plants), for a modern management of agricultural crops, in the context of intelligent agriculture. At the international level, smart agriculture is also based on the optimized management of the inputs according to the real needs of the crops, for their management and the reduction of the use of fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides and water resources. At the national level, the exploitation of satellite records in the field of agricultural management has not yet a significant spread, being used mainly in applications dedicated to environmental protection, forestry, territorial planning or in the military field. In this context, the project proposes the application and integration of spatial technologies together with in situ and ex situ analyses in the intelligent management of agriculture to monitor certain types of agricultural crops (from a pilot site), thus allowing the development of a successful model for better capitalization. of available resources.

Aerosol climatology - from remote sensing measurements to deep learning Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-2278 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/article/254/clara

Abstract:

The goal of the project is to develop an advanced aerosol climatology for Romania, starting from a pilot region centered on Bucharest area, covering the full period (2010 – present) of aerosol remote sensing and in-situ measurements from Romanian Atmospheric Research 3D Observatory (RADO), Bucharest-Magurele, using an expert analysis complemented with state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. The RADO measurements for this area will be supplemented by satellite measurements and improved modelling results.

The project is a collaboration of the National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics (INOE), Remote Sensing Department, and the Politehnica University of Bucharest (UPB), SpeeD Research Laboratory.

In the proposed project, the PT-PCCA-2013-4-1798 project MOBBE (“Computational Model for Prediction of the Biomass Burning Emissions and their Impact”) concept will be improved, extended to the most common tropospheric aerosols and complemented with a machine learning analysis. The project proposes innovative concepts, including synergistic expert analysis and deep learning techniques, fulfilling also the Romanian Smart Specialization Strategy on Analysis, Management and Security of Big Data. Extending the biomass burning aerosol climatology to all tropospheric aerosols, the project will improve significantly the characterization of aerosols and their impact on climate, air quality and cloud-precipitation processes, moving from experimental level (MOBBE) to a higher technological maturity level (validated technology in the laboratory). The validated results will be made available for use in other studies of the impact of aerosols on climate. The project outcomes will also contribute conceptually to the Copernicus effort to assimilate the ground-based remote-sensing measurements in Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).

Atmospheric Composition Uncertainty Field Studies Call name:
ESA Contract No. 4000128426/19/NL/FF/ab 2019 - 2020

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE AEROSPATIALA "ELIE CARAFOLI" - I.N.C.A.S. BUCURESTI ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD ()

Project website:

Abstract:

The main technical objective of the project is the assessment of the uncertainties of the operational level 2 atmospheric composition products derived especially (but not exclusively) from the TROPOMI instrument on board of the Sentinel 5 Precursor (S5p) satellite. This will be achieved by performing collocated airborne and ground based measurements of the respective products during four dedicated field studies in 2019-2020.

Aerosols, Clouds and Trace gases Preparatory Phase Project Call name: P 3 - SP 3.6 - Premierea participării în Orizont 2020
PN-III-P3-3.6-H2020-2016-0058 2017 - 2019

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/category/93/roactris-ppp

Abstract:

The Research Infrastructure (RI) ACTRIS – Aerosols, Clouds and Trace Gases - is the pan-European RI that consolidates activities amongst European partners for observations of aerosols, clouds, and trace gases and for understanding of the related atmospheric processes, to provide RI services to wide user groups. ACTRIS is composed of 8 connected elements: distributed National Facilities (observation platforms and exploratory platforms) both in Europe and globally, and 7 Central Facilities (Head Office, Data Centre and 5 Calibration Centres). ACTRIS provides access to its facilities, open-access data, research support, instrument calibration and development, and training to various user groups. By providing data and access ACTRIS enhances science, but it also generates an disseminates knowledge, boosts technological development, and creates human capital and jobs for the benefit of the

society. ACTRIS will positively impact on e.g. human health, climate resilience, and protection from environmental hazards and reduction of air pollution. ACTRIS has been selected to the ESFRI roadmap in 2016 as mature enough to be implemented within the next ten years. ACTRIS Preparatory Phase Project (PPP) will have a significant role in enabling the transition from a projectbased network of research facilities to a centrally coordinated integrated pan-European RI. ACTRIS PPP brings together a wide community of research performing organizations, research funding organizations and ministries needed to take the decisions and actions to move forward in the implementation of the ACTRIS. The main objectives of ACTRIS PPP are to develop the organizational, operational and strategic frameworks of the RI. The work includes legal, governance, financial, technical, strategic, and administrative aspects carried out in 9 work packages. The main outcomes of PPP are signature-ready documents for establishment of a legal entity with well-defined operations and a sound business plan.

Atmospheric studies in support of ESA's sentinel 4 and 5 products Call name:
ROSA-STAR-C3 2016, ID 505 2017 - 2019

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE AEROSPATIALA "ELIE CARAFOLI" - I.N.C.A.S. BUCURESTI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE AEROSPATIALA "ELIE CARAFOLI" - I.N.C.A.S. BUCURESTI (); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (); UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" ()

Affiliation:

Project website:

Abstract:

In the context of validation-calibration activities of the satellite data obtained from ESA’s Sentinel 4, 5 and 5P,

the present project proposal aims to develop an integrated scientific platform in which both airborne remote sensing and ground-based facilities will be involved. The main goal is to develop scientific missions for atmospheric research validation of the satellite products and to improve ESA’s Sentinel 4, 5 and 5P data accuracy and long term stability of their related products. In order to achieve the proposed objective of this project, the activities will start with the analysis of state of the art facilities and technologies, continuing with the integration of airborne and ground-based instruments into a complex research platform. Then, a measurement campaign for testing, optimizing and defining the appropriate procedures for using the research platform in Cal/Val and scientific national missions/campaigns will be accomplished. The last step of the project consists in performing a measurement campaign for validation-calibration of ESA’s Sentinel 4, 5 and 5P. All data and results obtained during the measurement campaigns will be integrated in a new developed database, available for scientific community.

Aerosol properties retrieval from remote sensing spectroscopic measurements Call name:
STAR/Project No.162/2017, 2017 - 2019

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website:

Abstract:

AiRFRAME (Aerosol properties retrieval from remote sensing spectroscopic measurements) represents the Romanian contribution to international efforts in setting up a ground-based network of monitoring stations which will be used for the calibration and validation of different product regarding the atmosphere during the commissioning and operational phase of existing and future ESA space missions.

Understanding climate change includes the understanding of the chemistry related to climate and the chemistry–climate interactions on regional scale as well as for the entire System Earth on the global scale which is one of the great challenges in atmospheric science today and still a strongly developing field in climate modelling. Satellites provide the primary resources of obtaining a global perspective and comparing different parts of the globe. But long-term ground-based observational databases are essential to validate their products.

Even when the satellites will be fully operational, the Contributing Missions will continue to be essential, delivering complementary data to ensure that a broad range of observational requirements is satisfied. Information on atmospheric variables could be provided in support of European policies. Services could include the monitoring of air quality, water vapour, aerosols and solar radiation as part of climate monitoring.

This initiative is targeting mostly the calibration-validation activities of Sentinel 5 Precursor (TROPOMI instrument), referring specifically to the NO2 and aerosol products, but also are expected important contributions to ADM-Aeolus, EarthCARE, Sentinel 4, Sentinel 5 precursor and Sentinel 5 missions. AiRFRAME’s objectives are twofold: on one hand, to improve the state-of-the-art monitoring station in Romania, based on existing capacities and upgrades; on the other hand, to extend the number of parameters available from Pandora-2S systems and to increase the potential of calibration/validation activities of ESA space missions. Subsequent scientific objectives referring to the study of horizontal and vertical gradients in a highly polluted area, correlation with meteorology and sources, will be also addressed.

The general objective of the AiRFRAME’s project is to improve the capability of ESA mission’s calibration/validation activities using ground based differential optical absorption spectrometric measurements. A software prototype will be developed during the project implementation, dedicated to Pandora systems retrievals of aerosols properties.

The project is targeting the aerosol retrieval from Pandora system, which is on highly interest in the scientific community, but not yet developed by the network. The number of parameters available in the Pandonia network will be then increased, with aerosol properties. The software represents an original work worldwide from which can benefit all Pandora network systems and other differential absorption spectrometric measurements. Part of the technology proposed to be included here have been already proposed in the literature for other DOAS systems, but now will be extended to other kind of instruments and spectrometric bands.

The consortium operates a large variety of in situ and remote sensing instruments to measure gases and particulates in the atmosphere. Between these an direct-sun DOAS is in use, which is the most accurate technique for deriving column NO2 (C(NO2)) from ground-based instruments conform to the recent studies. Diurnal and seasonal variability will be studied both for the NO2 (with the PANDORA system) and aerosols (with the aerosol lidar).

The Pandora system is part of Pandora network, which ensure a proper utilization of the instruments and larger coverage. The NO2 ground-based monitoring will follow the rules of the existing community, in order to ensure a proper implementation of the measurement and data handling procedures.

The vertical and horizontal variability of the NO2 and aerosols fields in the area of Bucharest will be investigated, as a possible source of error to be included in the TROPOMI’s level 2 products. Complex situations within a satellite pixel area such as: partly clouds, spatial gradients, inhomogeneous terrain, high aerosol loadings, lead to more challenges to the TROPOMI’s Level-2 retrieval algorithms. Bucharest is, from this point of view, a perfect site to test the accuracy and the sensitivity of the retrievals, because of the density of the sources, considerable aerosol loads and changing weather patterns.

Development of quadrupole and multipole ion trap based mass spectrometers for optical characterization and chemical analysis of atmospheric aerosol particles Call name:
606 (ROSA) 2017 - 2019

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA LASERILOR, PLASMEI SI RADIATIEI - INFLPR RA

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA LASERILOR, PLASMEI SI RADIATIEI - INFLPR RA (); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (); MIRA TECHNOLOGIES GROUP SRL ()

Affiliation:

Project website: http://quest.inflpr.ro

Abstract:

The project aims to investigate urban aerosol particles and characterize their optical properties in a combined approach, consisting of ground based measurements using electrodynamic (Paul) ion traps and mass spectrometry techniques. Our approach suggests using two independent experimental methods: Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (QIT-MS) and Aerosol Mass Spectrometry (AMS), to which we intend to add satellite based datasets and observations. The prototype configuration (developed under this project) will be tested to accurately characterize atmospheric nanoparticles in support of present and future satellite based data and observations.

Research Centre for environment and Earth Observation Call name:
POC-A.1-A.1.1.1.-F-2015, ctr. 152 2016 - 2019

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://ceo-terra.inoe.ro/

Abstract:

Activitatile proiectului CEO-Terra includ imbunatatirea si extinderea infrastructurii existente la INOE (2 locatii, una in Magurele si unul in Cluj-Napoca). INOE a dezvoltat o strategie specifica care sta la baza actiunilor din CEO-Terra pentru a contrabalansa punctele slabe si amenintarile, si profitand de punctele tari si oportunitati:

Modernizarea a 3 laboratoare RADO (INSITU, PASSIVE, ACTIVE)

Dezvoltarea Centrului de Calibrare Lidar (LiCal)

Dezvoltarea Centrului Magurele pentru Studii ale Atmosferei si Radiatiei (MARS) si Centrului de date MARS

Modernizarea Laboratorului de Metode Optospectrale pentru evaluarea Calitatii Apei (MOCA)

Modernizarea Laboratorului de Factorii de Mediu

Modernizarea laboratorului INDICO

Technical Assistance for a Romanian Atmospheric Mobile Observation System Call name:
ESA/4000118115/16/NL/FF/gp, 2016-2019 2016 - 2019

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website:

Abstract:

RAMOS - Technical Assistance For A Romanian Atmospheric Observation System is an ESA-ESTEC project which proposes to develop and integrate an integrated facility based on combination of ground-based and airborne remote sensing capabilities to retrieve several atmospheric species (greenhouse gases, air pollutants, aerosols).

Development of a European HSRL airborne facility Call name:
ESA 4000112373/14/NL/CT 2013 - 2019

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website:

Abstract:

MULTIPLY - Development of a European HSRL airborne facility, is a ESA-ESTEC project which proposes the development of a novel multi-wavelength HSRL system (3b + 2a + 3d) for airborne operation, capable of retrieving the aerosol extinction, backscatter and depolarization profile distributions. The system will be designed to be especially compact and robust, both optically and mechanically.

SaTellite pRoducts vAlidaTion USing ground based lidar stations Call name:
ROSA STAR CDI 152/2017 -

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners:

Affiliation:

Project website:

Abstract:

The STRATUS project is designed to meet EU efforts to calibrate and validate ESA earth observation programs by providing the backbone to understand and study new satellite products and to make the first steps to perform complementary measurements for validation and calibration purposes. The main goal of the project is to offer the means to validate and calibrate satellite observations by offering a wide range of ground based unbiased atmospheric products over extended time scales and monitor the stability of satellite products over the envisaged locations. The implementation of the project will help strengthening the know how in satellite validation and help build the required infrastructure to further participate to cal/val activities lead by ESA or the EU.

Romanian Cluster for Earth Observation Call name:
ROSA-STAR-C3, 109/2016 2016 - 2019

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); TERRASIGNA SRL (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA PAMANTULUI - INCDFP RA (RO); INSTITUTUL NAŢIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE MARINĂ "GRIGORE ANTIPA"-I.N.C.D.M. CONSTANŢA (RO); INSTITUTUL NAŢIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE ÎN SILVICULTURĂ "MARIN DRĂCEA" (RO); INSTITUTUL DE STIINTE SPATIALE-FILIALA INFLPR (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO); TEAMNET SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL SRL (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: https://ro-ceo.ro/

Abstract:

The overall scope of RO-CEO is to increase the capacity of Romanian organizations to contribute to ESA’s EO programmes and projects, by setting-up the Romanian Cluster for Earth Observation, a formal association of organizations, with its own statute and agenda. The main roles of the cluster are: a) to promote (to ESA and other space-relevant organizations) the specific interests and relevant capacities at national level, and attract more investments and contracts for the Romanian institutions; b) to improve the provision of services to end-users by joining complementary skills and expertise; c) to ensure the sustainability of the EO sector in Romania by enabling EO market development.

SAtellite based Monitoring Initiative for Regional Air quality Call name:
ESA/RFQ/3-14446/16/I-NB -

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: Norwegian Institute of Air Research

Project partners:

Affiliation:

Project website: http://samira.nilu.no

Abstract:

SAMIRA (SAtellite based Monitoring Initiative for Regional Air quality) is a project funded by the European Space Agency and coordinate by NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research. The overall goal of SAMIRA is to improve regional and local air quality monitoring through synergetic use of data from present and upcoming satellites, traditionally used in situ air quality monitoring networks and output from chemical transport models. Through collaborative efforts in four countries (Poland, Romania, The Czech Republic, and Norway) with different, but pressing air quality problems, SAMIRA aims to support the selected institutions and associated users in their national monitoring obligations as well as to generate novel research in this area.

Coordinating and integRating state-of-the-art Earth Observation Activities in the regions of North Africa, Middle East, and Balkans and Developing Links with GEO related initiatives towards GEOSS Call name:
H2020-SC5-2014-2015, G.A. 690133 2016 - 2018

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: NATIONAL OBSERVATORY OF ATHENS (NOA)

Project partners: NATIONAL OBSERVATORY OF ATHENS (NOA) (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://geocradle.eu/

Abstract:

GEO-CRADLE brings together key players from three regions (Balkans, North Africa and Middle East) representing the entire Earth Observation (EO) value chain,

with the overarching objective of establishing a multi-regional coordination network that:

- Promotes the uptake of EO services and data in response to regional needs;

- Supports the effective integration of existing Earth Observation Capacities in the region;

- Facilitates the engagement of the complete ecosystem of EO stakeholders in the region;

- Enhances the participation in and contribution to the implementation of GEOSS and Copernicus in North Africa, Middle East and the Balkans.

By doing so, GEO-CRADLE aspires to pave the ground for a new large initiative in this very particular by all means (e.g. geostrategic, climate, cultural) region.

ACTRIS-2 - Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure Network Call name:
INFRAIA-1-2014-2015 no. 654109 2015 - 2018

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Project partners: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: https://www.actris.eu/

Abstract:

The ACTRIS-2 Integrating Activities (IA) addresses the scope of integrating state-of-the-art European ground-based stations for long-term observations of aerosols, clouds and short lived gases. It consolidates and improves services offered within FP7 funded Integrated Infrastructures Initiative ACTRIS (2011-2015). ACTRIS-2 takes up the overarching objectives of ACTRIS to further integrate the European ground-based stations and to construct a user-oriented RI, unique in the EU-RI landscape, for aerosols, clouds, and short-lived gas-phase species.

East European Centre for Atmospheric Remote Sensing Call name: P 3 - SP 3.6 - Premierea participării în Orizont 2020
PN-III-P3-3.6-H2020-2016-0009 2016 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/category/91/roecars

Abstract:

ECARS is a project financed by the European Union under H2020 framework programme (Grant No. 692014 — ECARS — H2020-TWINN-2015/H2020-TWINN-2015).The project duration is three years, from January 1st 2016 to December 31st 2018. ECARS addresses the challenges of the Twinning programme by tackling deficiencies and networking gaps between INOE (RADO), a very dynamic research institution in Romania, and internationally-leading counterparts at EU level. The main objective of ECARS project is to boost research capacity in the field of remote sensing and to create a pole of excellence in Eastern Europe. In order to achieve this, it is intended to:(1)strengthen INOE(RADO)expertise in the field of remote sensing using the full range of resources (terrestrial, airborne and satellite), (2)improving performance indicators in research by reducing the scientific gap between INOE(RADO) and internationally leading research institutions in the same area, and (3)increasing international visibility of INOE(RADO)research team and creating strong partnerships with both the scientific community and potential users and/or the general public.

Centre for Atmospheric REmote Sensing and Space Earth observation Call name:
Project no.55/2013 STAR program 2013 - 2017

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/article/130/about-caresse

Abstract:

CARESSE represents an initiative to concentrate and organize existing capacities for atmospheric remote sensing in Romania, in order to become a relevant and competent partner for ESA’s EO missions. CARESSE relies on RADO – the Romanian Atmospheric 3D research Observatory (through its coordinator, INOE) and its strategic (national and international) partners to:

(A) create a sustainable high-quality research and training nucleus for atmospheric remote sensing in view of future EO missions;

(B) develope and organize existing scientific and technological capacities for space-related applications of atmospheric remote sensing;

(C) prepare to fulfill the specific requirements of ESA, and strengthen international collaboration.

The team has a significant expertise in ground-based remote sensing, excellent networking connections, and operates state-of-the-art research instruments, unique in SE Europe. Data provided by the lidars, sun photometers, microwave radiometer, and C-ToF AMS are used by ground-based networks (EARLINET, AERONET, MWRNET, ACTRIS), but also for satellite CAL/VALs (e.g. CALIPSO-EARLINET CAL/VAL program). CARESSE intends to solve the weaknesses identified by the SWOT analysis, and promote the super site at INOE as a nucleus for high-quality research and training on atmospheric remote sensing.

Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure Call name: P 3 - SP 3.6 - Premierea participării în Orizont 2020
PN-III-P3-3.6-H2020-2016-0006 2016 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://environment.inoe.ro/category/92/roactris-2

Abstract:

ACTRIS2 is a European project funded under Horizon2020 Research and Innovation Framework Program (H2020-INFRAIA-2014-2015). Project duration is four years: May 2015 - April 2019. ACTRIS2 project is based on a distributed infrastructure, coordinated by a consortium of 31 partners and 21 institutions involved as third-party research and academia. Built on ACTRIS IA project foundation (FP7 Framework Program), ACTRIS2 intends to continue to integrate representative European scientific research stations with the objective of continuously monitoring aerosols, clouds and short-lived gas species from atmosphere. The main purpose is to provide a complex picture of the physical, chemical and optical properties of atmospheric constituents with a high degree of accuracy and consistency. Detecting changes and trends in the composition of the atmosphere as well as understanding their impact on the high troposphere and the stratosphere is needed to establish links and feedback between climatic variability and atmospheric composition. Another objective is to ensure access to information and to provide the means for their efficient use by a wider community of users. ACTRIS2 also aims to increase the technological level and quality of services offered to the user community, as well as promoting the links between research, education and innovation in the field of environmental sciences.

Science Centers Network Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1095 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE FIZICA ATOMICA

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE FIZICA ATOMICA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA LASERILOR, PLASMEI SI RADIATIEI - INFLPR RA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH (RO); P.M. CONCEPT CONSULTING SRL (RO); SIVECO ROMANIA SA (RO); MEDNET RESEARCH SRL (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http:// www.scinet.ro

Abstract:

Education and research represents the means by which a society have to build knowledge which will lead to prosperity, sustainability and personal development for every citizen.

In the current period, as shown in international studies there are some concerns relating to poor performance of students in basic skills. To understand the importance of good science education, we should think how science contribute to our everyday lives. The benefits and results from a scientist's work have an impact on our daily activities.It is confirmed that hands-on practicals in laboratories, visits outside school and non-formal learning environments are the most enjoyable aspects of studying the sciences. It is often argued that practical work is central to teaching and learning in science and that good quality practical work helps develop pupils’ understanding of scientific processes and concepts.

Generally, science centers aim is to connect the general public to science, giving them the opportunity to explore scientific and technical worlds and ask questions. There are many roles that can be assigned to a science center from firsthand experience to encouraging curiosity. Practical work undertaken inside the Science Centers like hand-on experiments, demonstrations and more other alike activities are important ingredients in learning science and in the same time can increase students sense of ownership and motivation. This experiential learning under scientists guiding will lead for sure to a comprehensive practical knowledge of learners.

The present project proposal focuses on creating an innovative model for out of school science learning combined with an interactive digital platform - eScience Center. This goal will be accomplished by developing the Science Center Network SCINET which will gather four major physics institutes (IFA, INOE, INFLPR, IFIN HH) and three companies (PMCC, SIVECO Romania, MEDNET RESEARCH). The three main objectives that will lead to SCINET existence are: Creation, organization and operationalization of SCINET; Development of creative and experiential capacities of highschool students to stimulate the interest in scientific research and innovation by creating two models (I model - Innovative Model for Science Learning INSCI; II model - Digital platform eScience Center); Promote the role of science among highschool students, transnational cooperation, exchange of experience and knowledge, network joining in order to increase visibility and to ensure long-term sustainability.

Fulfilling all these objectives will contribute to bridge the gap between formal and non-formal education and will promote science learning at pre-university level.

Unlike many other countries, Romania don't have a Science Center Network, SCINET being the first Science Center Network in Romania. Considering this, the two innovative models (INSCI and eScience Center) that will be created, tested and implemented represent a major need for the network to operate in a professional manner and to have the expected results.

SCINET will be a cooperative structure where partners will contribute with their respective strengths, at the same time receiving incentives for their own activities. The network will have an important role for today's world science and maybe to lay the fondation for future science careers.

The two models and their success criteria: The project will contribute directly, at national level, to the design and development educational models: I model (off campus) - Innovative Model for Nonformal Science Learning InSci and II model (online model) eScience Center - associated to science centers activities. At European level, the project will provide an inside view on the set-up and running of several science centers grown in connection to some major research institutes and, in the mean time, will offer information on the implementation of a national network of science centers.

Computational Model for Prediction of the Biomass Burning Emissions and their Impact Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1798 2014 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://mobbe.inoe.ro

Abstract:

The pollution from biomass burning (including wildfires) combined with urban pollution from human activities, the main sources of primary aerosols (fine particles, respirable), can have a significant impact on human health and on climate at local, regional and global scale, through the emissions of high concentrations of aerosol particles containing organic and inorganic matter and black carbon. 40% of the global emission of black carbon comes from biomass burning. The aerosols emitted can became condensation nuclei in the process of cloud formation influencing cloud radiative properties. As of now, cloud formation processes and the influence of aerosols are not fully understood and lead therefore to significant uncertainties in weather forecasts and climate change scenarios.

The purpose of the project MOBBE (Computational Model for Prediction of the Biomass Burning Emissions and their Impact) is to quantify and to predict the effects of the aerosols from biomass burning and their impact on two major environmental issues: (a) air quality and (b) climate and meteorology at local, regional and global scale. The project aims to investigate the potential sources and the properties of aerosols from biomass burning, urban aerosols and long-range transport aerosols over Romania performing a first research case study in the Bucharest area, using improved inversion algorithms. The results (a new parametrization scheme of the physical processes of the biomass burning aerosols, sources and properties) will be implemented during the project in the FLEXPART aerosol dispersion model based on the Lagrangean particle dispersion mechanism. As meteorological input data, the model will use new data from COSMO model. Anthropogenic and natural emissions of biomass burning will be compared with the daily analysis and the fine mode aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 550 nm provided by the radio-spectrometer MODIS launched by NASA on the Aqua and Terra satellites, MAAC II, and with an independent dataset of AOD from the AERONET network. All the above information will be integrated in a “MOBBE Web Tool”.

The project will improve significantly the quantification of the present and future impact of biomass-burning emissions on the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere. This project will also provide relevant information concerning the aerosols radiative contribution in the context of climate change at global level. The data will be integrated in the ACTRIS-EBAS database.

The MOBBE research project is an interdisciplinary environmental research infrastructure based on continuous measurements, two intensive experimental field campaigns (summer and winter campaign) and eight flight hours of a research aircraft, that integrates in-situ monitors, ground-based and airborne observations, with a detailed analysis of satellite data and numerical modeling results. The satellite data are provided by the MODIS instruments from the satellites Terra and Aqua, by the Caliop lidar from the satellite CALIPSO and by EUMETCast.

MOBBE is a national consortium of two national institutes of research, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics (CO-RADO) and National Institute for Aerospace Research “Elie Carafoli” (P1-INCAS), the National Meteorological Administration (P2-NMA) and a service provider and instruments manufacturing company related to environmental monitoring (P3-ESYRO). All partners will join their expertise, infrastructure and efforts in order to develop an innovative methodology and a new powerful modelling tool “MOBBE Web Tool” for air monitoring, available for atmospheric and environmental research groups, as well as for environmental agencies, urban air quality agencies, industries, and decision makers.

Neural network Aerosol Typing Algorithm based on LIdar data Call name:
ESA 4000110671/14/I-LG 2014 - 2016

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://NATALI.INOE.RO

Abstract:

NATALI - Neural network Aerosol Typing Algorithm based on LIdar data aims to intensify the participation of the Romanian scientific community to the "ESA contributing missions" through the development of new tools for aerosol typing based on optical (active) remote sensing data. These products are relevant for several satellite missions, as detailed in Section 6, and have multiple applications for Earth Observation Envelope Programme (EOEP-4). Moreover, they will foster a wider use of the satellite services in fields like air quality, climate change, atmospheric research, and aviation safety.

Initial Training for Atmospheric Remote Sensing Call name:
▪ FP7-PEOPLE-2011-ITN no. 289923 2012 - 2016

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: University of Cologne, Institute of Geophysics & Meteorology

Project partners: University of Cologne, Institute of Geophysics & Meteorology (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology (RO); National Technical University of Athens (RO); Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (RO); University of Reading (RO); University of Potsdam, Institute of Mathematics (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://itars.uni-koeln.de/static/

Abstract:

ITaRS (Initial Training for Atmospheric Remote Sensing) brings together a group of universities, research organisations and high-tech companies from different disciplines (meteorology, geosciences, physics, electrical engineering, mathematics) with the aim to foster training and further development in the area of remote sensing of the atmosphere.

Airborne Romanian Measurements of Aerosols and Trace Gases Call name:
▪ ESA RFP IPL-PEO/FF/gp/14.91 2014 - 2016

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE AEROSPATIALA "ELIE CARAFOLI" - I.N.C.A.S. BUCURESTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO); Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (RO); Max Planck Institute (RO); Norwegian Institute for Air Research (RO); Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://uv-vis.aeronomie.be/aromat/

Abstract:

The Airborne ROmanian Measurements of Aerosols and Trace gases (AROMAT) campaigns were held in Romania in September 2014 and August 2015. The AROMAT campaigns were supported by ESA in the framework of its Copernicus Earth observation programme. The AROMAT activities were coordinated by BIRA and included eight other research institutions from Romania (University of Galati, INOE, and INCAS), Germany (Universities of Bremen, Berlin, and MPIC) the Netherlands (KNMI), and Norway (NILU).

The objectives of the AROMAT campaigns were (i) to test recently developed airborne observation systems dedicated to air quality satellite validation studies such as the AirMap (university of Bremen), the NO2 sonde (KNMI), and SWING (BIRA), and (ii) to prepare the validation programme of the future Atmospheric Sentinels, starting with S5P to be launched in early summer 2016.

Combined use of LIdar - RAdar for the evaluation of phenomena associated with cloud seeding for efficient prevention of hail Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-2074 2014 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: ENVIROSCOPY SRL

Project partners: ENVIROSCOPY SRL (RO); ELECTROMECANICA PLOIESTI S.A. (RO); ADMINISTRATIA NATIONALA DE METEOROLOGIE RA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://lira.inoe.ro

Abstract:

Hail events represent an important natural disaster associated with great economic losses, especially in agriculture. The most vulnerable regions in Romania are in Central – South, where there is a large probability that convective clouds are formed. Although hailstorms affect crop yield and/or quality dramatically, 40% of the total agricultural land is not protected against hail.

Anti-hail rockets program is based on dispersing pyrotechnical mixtures of silver-iodide. They act as condensation nuclei, creating a large number of small hail particles which melt and fall in form of drops. Nevertheless, it is extremely difficult to validate the effect of the seeding, due to superposition of strong natural atmospheric variations.

By combining different remote sensing instruments, a much better estimation of the microphysical cloud properties can be made, including the efficiency of the AgI dispersion and hail crystals modification.

The main goal of LIRA's project is to investigate cloud transformations as consequence of seeding, and determine best operational procedures to enhance efficiency and reduce side effects in case of hail suppression, using a smart combination of remote sensing techniques (passive and active): lidar, radar, microwave radiometry, satellite imagery. LIRA aims at: a) Design of an experimental model using radar, lidar and microwave radiometry to monitor ice formation inside clouds, before, during and after cloud seeding; b) Identification of application-driven suitable parameters for efficient cloud seeding, based on modeled and experimental data; c) Increasing visibility, protecting intellectual rights.

This project brings together research, operational and economical institutions to produce new knowledge and introduce new techniques and methods for early warning of the hailfall, objective selection of the seeding parameters and quantitative assessment of the intervention's efficiency. Our approach is to actually measure inside the cloud. We will use the synergy between radar, lidar and microwave radiometer, but we add the depolarization capability of the lidar, which will permit, by combination with radar, to monitor remotely the changes in the ice / liquid water content of the cloud. We will visualize the dispersion of the seeding agent inside the volume before activation, to look for correlations between seeding parameters (target location, rocket speed, time of spreading the agent, etc.) and efficiency in suppressing hail. Original work will be done for the design and upgrade of the depolarization lidar, but also for the development of data processing and analysis algorithms. The possibility of forecasting hail based on EUMETCAST data will also be analyzed. Several algorithms will be improved by direct validation with measurements (retrieval of wind speed from radar - validation with sodar, cloud height from EUMETCAST - validation from lidar, cloud particle depolarization from lidar - intervalidation with radar). Moreover, we will put our knowledge at the service of the society, by transferring experimental techniques to operational procedures.

Apart from the scientific knowledge which will be achieved during the experiment (subject of 6 communications at prestigious international conferences and 4 ISI papers), LIRA intends to elaborate 1 patent, related to the algorithm for combining radar and lidar data in order to extract the 3D map of the mixed clouds.

By combination of techniques, expertise and knowledge, LIRA will bring weather modification from empirically accepted to scientifically proved. Several noticeable results are envisaged: >>elaboration of a new technology to dynamically monitor cloud seeding effects; >>advances in understanding physical phenomena associated to cloud seeding; >>development of an experimental method for the objective assessment of cloud seeding efficiency; >>identification of opportunities to extend the methodology from hail suppression to rainfall generation.

Clouds and Aerosols Profiling in support of ESA’s Sentinel 4 and 5 missions Call name:
ROSA-STAR Program 38/2012 2012 - 2015

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://capesa.inoe.ro

Abstract:

The main goal of the project is to intensify the participation of the Romanian scientific community to the "ESA contributing missions" through the development and intensification of the Atmospheric Remote Sensing (ARS) research activities.

Fast Laser Imaging, Detection and Ranging of Aerosol Emissions in Aircraft Plumes Call name:
Programul de Cercetare-Dezvoltare-Inovare pentru Tehnologie Spaţ 2013 - 2015

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://spectroscopy.phys.uaic.ro/darlioes.html

Abstract:

The aim of this project is to analysing the climate pollution influence, current and future impacts of subsonic aviation, radiative effects resulting from aircraft engine emission, UV radiation This project may have a high contribution in understanding the atmosphere phenomenon, phisico-chemical processes in the environmental protection. The technology used is based on the laser spectroscopy that introduces complementary approach to the classical methods that include satellite data. Because of high temporal and spatial resolution trace particles detection up to 15 Km in altitude the system may solve some critical point in the atmosphere physics but also in the influence of the certain perturbation like natural phenomenon or human activity (industry, aircraft emission, cosmic impact, storms Sun, etc), all of these having a crucial influence over the climate change and the entire ecosystem.

Developing the emerging research potential of Romanian Lidar Centre Call name:
FP7-REGPOT-2008-1, project no.229907 2009 - 2012

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://delice.inoe.ro/

Abstract:

Demonstration of lidar based clear air turbulence detection Call name:
FP7-AAT-2008-RTD-1,Project no.233801 2009 - 2012

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: THALES Avionics

Project partners: THALES Avionics (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://www.delicat.inoe.ro/

Abstract:

The objective of DELICAT is to validate the concept of LIDAR based medium range turbulence detection, allowing efficient protection of the passengers and crew by actions such as seat belts fasten. The validation will be based on the comparison of the information on a turbulent atmospheric area, provided on one side by the remote LIDAR sensor and on the other side by the aircraft sensors (acceleration, air speed, temperature).

Romanian Atmospheric Research 3D Observatory Call name:
Norwegian Cooperation Programme Project no.115266 2009 - 2011

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO); NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Project website: http://rado.inoe.ro

Abstract:

The Romanian Atmospheric 3D research Observatory–RADO is a distributed atmospheric research infrastructure based on the voluntary association of several research institutes and universities in Romania. Its main function is to perform experimental and theoretical research for atmospheric composition and air quality assessment, including impact on climate and climate variability.

European Aerosol Research Lidar Network - Advanced Sustainable Observation System Call name:
FP6: 025991 -

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale (CNR-IMAA) Contrada S. Loja I-85050 Tito Scalo (Potenza) Italy

Project partners:

Affiliation:

Project website: https://www.earlinet.org/index.php?id=145

Abstract:

The present knowledge of the aerosol distribution is far from sufficient to properly estimate the role of aerosols in changes of the global and regional environmental conditions and climate. Improving the observation system for aerosols will contribute to almost all areas of societal benefits listed in the GEOSS Implementation Plan. Since it is in particular the information on the vertical distribution that is lacking, advanced laser remote sensing is the most appropriate tool to close the observational gap.

EARLINET-ASOS, starting on the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) infrastructure, consisting of 20 lidar stations distributed over Europe, will contribute to the improvement of continuing observations and methodological developments that are urgently needed to provide the multi-year continental scale data set necessary to assess the impact of aerosols on the European and global environment and to support future satellite missions.

The main objective is to improve the EARLINET infrastructure resulting in a better spatial and temporal coverage of the observations, continuous quality control for the complete observation system, and fast availability of standardized data products. This will be reached by strengthening the co-operation among the partners with several networking activities: exchange of expertise with the main goal of defining and disseminating best practice and knowledge; quality assurance program for both algorithms and instruments for assessing and assuring common high quality standards; optimization of instruments for achieving a better temporal coverage and standardization of performance; optimization of data processing with the goal of establishing an automatic processing from raw data to final products; establishing a database provided with an user interface for dissemination of data.

The expected outcome is the most comprehensive data source for the 4-D spatio-temporal distribution of aerosols on a continental scale.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects