Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Group

February 2024 - January 2028

CARMINE: Climate Resilient Development Pathways in Metropolitan Regions of Europe

Funding:HORIZON-CL5-2023

Description: The main objective of CARMINE is to support urban areas in becoming more resilient to climate change by jointly developing knowledge-based tools, plans, and strategies for improved adaptation and mitigation measures that address the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change Charter by 2030. With an eye toward the 2030–2035 era and longer views reaching 2050, CARMINE seeks to: - co-design and co-create guidelines and decision-support tools, such as early warning and disaster risk management systems, to improve resilience and adaptive capability; - collaborate closely to co-develop cross-sectoral frameworks for adaptation and mitigation initiatives with local to regional communities (users and stakeholders), decision- and policy-makers (local authorities); - provide science-based R&I plans that will support local adaptation assessments and plans at various tiers of climate governance.

Role of APCG: The APCG will participate in the establishment and organisation of Living Labs, as well as in the co-development of Digital Twin Simulations to Enhance Cross-Sectoral Climate Resilience Frameworks for the case study of the Athens Metropolitan Area, with a special focus on geo-designing adaptation and mitigation pathway through Nature-based Solutions.

Official Website: https://carmine-project.eu/

April 2024 - September 2028

IRISCC: Integrated Research Infrastructure Services for Climate Change risks

Funding: HORIZON-INFRA-2023-SERV-01

Description: 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

Role of APCG: The APCG is proud to contribute with access for researchers from all over the world to the air pollution monitoring superstation at Thiseio, which due to its uniqueness and extensive time series is an integral part of the IRISCC research infrastructure partnership.

Official Website:

February 2024 - December 2025

REINFORCE: impRovEments in the simulation of aerosol-clImate liNkages in earth system models: From glObal to Regional sCalEs

Funding: Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) as the Implementation Institution of Subproject 1 “Basic Research Financing (Horizontal Support of all Sciences)”, which is included in the component 4.5 “Promote Research and Innovation” of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (“Greece 2.0”)

Description: The main goal of the proposed work is to improve the state-of-play parameterizations of atmospheric aerosols in Earth System Models via the implementation of high-precision chemistry/emission modeling tools for global and regional scale projections of climate change. In more detail, REINFORCE will involve beyond-state-of-the-art aerosol research and investigate the climate implications for global and regional scale projections. REINFORCE will advance the current understanding of aerosol radiative forcing through the synergistic use of atmospheric composition and climate simulations, along with a carefully selected suite of observations. REINFORCE will significantly contribute to the major advancements of the European Earth system modeling community and will help to tackle some of the grand challenges that climate modeling currently faces. The consortium of the REINFORCE project consists of five partners, i.e., the Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), the Technical University of Crete (TUC), the University of Crete, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and it is led by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA).

Role of APCG:Coordination of the project, model development and implementation of atmosphere-climate simulations, and dissemination of the results.

Official Website:

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April 2020-April 2024

REGENERATE: REactive oxyGEN Species in aerosols: assEssing the health effect of paRticulAte matter

Funding: Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) grant for support of Post-doctoral researchers as Principal Investigators

Description: The main goal of the proposed work is to assess the potential health impact of aerosols in two locations in Athens and other five major cities in Greece via the characterization of their ROS activity, using a combination of field and laboratory studies complemented by statistical analysis, and to attribute this activity to specific aerosol sources. The findings will be used to inform the public and policy makers, in order to take measures for the reduction of human exposure to these aerosol sources. By combing field and lab work, the proposal will i) assess the spatial and temporal variability of ROS in PM in Athens by performing measurements in well characterized urban, and suburban background sites ii) investigate the chemical species and quantify the sources controlling the ROS variability in PM and iii) compare the OP of selected fine aerosol sources, known to be present in Athens, such as car exhaust, wood burning and cooking and will be derived from the lab facilities with the field samples. The final aim of this proposal is to identify and quantify the aerosol sources having the most important health impact, information which can used in regional models to obtain a more complete picture for the whole Greece and for proposing alternatives, especially for local sources in order to mitigate the adverse health effect of PM.

Role of APCG:Coordination of the project, implementation of measurements and dissemination of the results.

Official Website:
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January 2023 — December 2026

CiROCCO - Enhancing the In-situ Environmental Observations across Under-sampled Deserts

Funding: Funded by the European Union

Description: CiROCCO’s vision is to establish an end-to-end sensing system, composed of a distributed network of cost-effective sensing nodes coupled with state-of-the-art data fusion remote sensing and assimilation modelling techniques. The network of sensors will enhance the current lack of ground observation in desert areas, offering an operational and easy-to-maintain-and-expand solution. The installation’s sustainability will be ensured by commercialisation services, and the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR) management of data will support Cross-COPERNICUS ecosystem integration and assimilation services. The project has several objectives, including the installation and operation of in-situ, low-cost, stand-alone, electronic sensing nodes in close collaboration with post-project operating entities, establishing a low-cost and sustainable network of electronic sensing nodes in under-sampled desert areas and ecosystems in Egypt, Serbia, and Spain, developing data processing services based upon ICT infrastructure, and providing data for the research community to enhance climate change models. CiROCCO also aims to accelerate the adoption of its tools and services by the wider community to ensure impact maximisation .

Role of APCG: Co-ordination of Data Management, IPR issues and Capacity Development. Performance of low-cost AQ measurements and renewable energy simulations. Co-responsible for communication, dissemination and exploitation.

Official Website:

January 2023 — December 2026

Urban ReLeaf - Citizen-powered data ecosystems for inclusive and green urban transitions

Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme, HORIZON-CL6-2022-GOVERNANCE-01-08

Description: Urban ReLeaf is an action-oriented mission to advance citizen-powered science as a central resource for inclusive urban green planning in support of local policy making, European strategies and monitoring systems (e.g., the Green Deal, Copernicus), and global efforts such as the SDGs (e.g., Target 11.7) and GEOSS. The project will: (i) assess current urban greening policy processes within six European cities and co-create solutions that use citizen observations to complement existing data ecosystems and decision-making; (ii) support the validation and long-term inclusion of active and passive data from citizens for urban environmental monitoring within authoritative data streams, including GEOSS & Copernicus; (iii) Mobilize and empower communities through widespread participation in issues of public interest surrounding urban green infrastructure; (iv) develop a community of practice around topics related to the use of citizen observations for urban planning to foster knowledge exchange and develop capacities across multiple sectors; (v) produce flexible and innovative governance solutions to help scale-out inclusive urban green transitions in support of the European Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals; and (iv) promote recognition, adoption and trust of citizen observations and other novel data ecosystems for environmental monitoring to trigger innovation within public institutions. The project is coordinated by IIASA, who led the WeObserve project, and involves partners from previous successful H2020 citizen observatory projects and as well as six cities (Athens, Cascais, Dundee, Mannheim, Riga Utrecht) that are willing to embrace new data streams for urban greening planning and policy making and to fully engage with citizens including marginalized and vulnerable groups. Urban ReLeaf is also supported by technology partners and those with strong links to Copernicus and GEO.

Role of APCG: ...

Official Website: Under construction

December 2021 – December 2025

InCase - In Situ data for Climate Adaptation Showcases within EuroGEO

Funding: EEA/DIS/R0/21/016 (Services Supporting the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Activities in the Context of the EEA-RTD Service Level Agreement on Mainstreaming GEOSS Data Sharing and Management Principles in Support of Europe’s Environment)

Description: In response to the Invitation to Tender EEA/DIS/R0/21/016, the European Environment Agency - Service Level Agreement (EEA-SLA) Consortium shall constitute a comprehensive response to the needs expressed by the EEA blending a deep knowledge of the importance of in-situ Earth Observations, with strong ties to the associated stakeholder ecosystem. A wide range of activities will be carried out: from consulting, capacity development and awareness raising (EVF), to data sharing, standardization and interoperability and representation of major in-situ networks, incl. in climate change adaptation to promotion of novel in-situ observations, i.e. citizen science. These activities should be carried out in light of the current EEA and EU environmental and climate activities, ensuring the corresponding links to the relevant Group on Earth Observations (GEO) initiatives, flagships and activities and the Consortium’s expertise within the domain of in-situ Earth observation and geospatial data sharing and management, with focus on data relevant to climate adaptation policies and initiatives shall cover the full breadth of in-situ related aspects, their challenges and the role of EEA and GEO in overcoming them.

Role of APCG: APCG is responsible for consulting and supporting accessibility, re-usability and interoperability of data, with emphasis on situ, on losses and damage as well as climate adaptation datasets such as hazards, exposure and vulnerability, relevant for the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change and for the Destination Earth (DestinE) initiative. APCG's role is also to lead engagement with relevant GEO flagships, initiatives and community activities (e.g.: GEO Land Degradation Neutrality, GEO Wetlands, etc.), including the European Regional node of GEO, EuroGEO, the Data Working Group, Copernicus services and other international actors (e.g. UN-GGIM, UNEP, ESS, UNECE) where necessary, in the context of the tasks carried above.

Official Website: Under construction

October 2021 — September 2025

ARSINOE - Climate Resilient-Regions through systemic solutions and Innovations

Funding: Horizon 2020, Green Deal (CINEA)

Description: ARSINOE develops the methodological framework for the combination of System Innovation Approach (SIA) with the Climate Innovation Window (CIW) to create an ecosystem for climate change adaptation solutions. ARSINOE creates this ecosystem with a three-tier, approach: (a) using SIA it integrates multi-faceted technological, digital, business, governance and environmental aspects with social innovation for the development of adaptation pathways to climate change, to meet EU Green Deal targets for specific regions; (b) it links with CIW to form innovation packages by matching innovators with end-users/regions via for specific regions; (c) it fosters the ecosystem sustainability and growth with cross-fertilization and replication across scales, at European level and beyond, using specific business models, exploitation and outreach actions. The ARSINOE three-tier approach is show-cased in nine widely varied regions across Europe (demonstrators), as a proof-of-concept with regards to its applicability, replicability, potential and efficacy.

Role of APCG: APCG will participate in the Greening of Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA). Mapping urban biodiversity elements in Athens will enable the identification of hotspots of Urban Green Spaces (UGSs). In order to evaluate the functionality of UGSs in AMA, two parameters are going to be investigated: i) accessibility: the concept of the 15-minute city will be utilized to ensure that all citizens meet their needs in terms of having access to parks and open-green spaces on foot or by bike, within 15 minutes, highlighting the comparative advantages with respect to traditional urban mobility means (i.e., cars, buses). This is aligned with ensuring social inclusion and connectivity of neighborhoods, while at the same time improving urban biodiversity by addressing ecosystems’ fragmentation and ii) biodiversity conservation: the assessment of the connectivity of protected areas in AMA will pave the ground for a coherent nature network, fully complying with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The assessment will also use Earth Observation derived urban metrics. Overall, according to UGSs functionality assessment, the effectiveness of existing Nature Based Solutions (NBSs) will be evaluated and new NBSs will be proposed, where needed. The identification of UGS hot spots will form the City Green Infrastructure as a dynamic tool to be included into city strategy to put urban biodiversity into practice, and to quantify scenario-based health co-benefits related to Αir Quality (AQ) (city scale AQ modelling at 100x100 m2).

Official Website: https://arsinoe-project.eu/

2021 — 2023

DOMOS - Dust-Ocean Modelling & Observing Study

Funding: European Space Agency

Description: The Dust-Ocean Modelling & Observing Study (DOMOS) will advance the understanding of dust and ocean interactions in a changing climate through an innovative use of model and observations. The project will develop a new retrieval of dust deposition from satellite lidar data (CALIPSO and Aeolus), will validate the dust deposition field from the CAMS reanalysis and will also provide assimilation tests of IASI and Aeolus aerosol products with the goal of providing a better description of the dust aerosols, for applications in aerosol radiative impacts and ocean biogeochemistry. An improved representation of the physical and chemical characteristics of dust deposition over the ocean is crucial to interpret the observed climatic change responses and to better describe the future ones. This includes a better understanding and quantification of the deposition of soluble iron from natural and anthropogenic dust and of its contribution relative to biomass burning and anthropogenic aerosols which will be one of the main deliverables of the project. A scientific roadmap to highlight the findings of the project and identify possible gaps in the modelling and the observing approaches will also be provided.

Role of APCG: Production of state-of-the-art soluble iron deposition datasets using an improved version of the state-of-the-art Earth System Model EC-Earth3 ((Myriokefalitakis et al., 2021). EC-Earth3 contains an advanced representation of the atmospheric iron cycle, which allows quantifying the contribution of different sources and processes to the soluble iron deposition into the ocean. Our simulations will overall cover a sufficiently long period in the present time (1990 to 2019) to create dust and iron deposition climatologies in a monthly frequency.

Official Website: https://www.ecmwf.int/en/research/projects/domos/

October 2021 — March 2023

GAUSS - Generating Advanced Usage of Earth Observation for Smart Statistics

Funding: European Space Agency Express Procurement [Plus] – [EXPRO+]

Description: The overarching objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate applications that advance the use of Earth Observation (EO) data in the European Statistical System. Detailed discussions with the National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of Poland, Greece and Finland have taken place as to how this aim can best be achieved. The NSOs will closely follow the activities of the project as well as offer key insights throughout its duration. The consortium has strong links with each of these agencies. NOA has a memorandum of cooperation with ELSTAT for integrating Earth Observation in support of official statistics. IGIK has built a strong relationship with Statistics Poland through the EO4STAT project and others, while FMI and its local partner SYKE provide key data to Statistics Finland. Based on the discussions, a set of case studies of active and clear interest to the agencies have been identified for which the addition of EO data can significantly improve the quality of statistics with respect to current capabilities. These focus on the domains of air quality, well-being and water statistics, though they also have some applicability to other domains. These case studies should become the basis of new operational EO-based services provided to the NSOs, becoming showcases for how EO data can help the NSOs and opening the door to wider adoption of EO by the statistical community. They are chosen to be new and innovative from the perspective of the agencies, while also being sufficiently mature so as to provide a successful demonstration. The project, lessons learnt and barriers will be closely documented in a Roadmap which will delineate the process of EO becoming a solid part of the Trusted Smart Statistics concept, while also opening up new avenues for the broader use of EO by the National Statistical Offices.

Role of APCG: Project Coordination - Implementation of the Greek case study on air quality. Enhancement of the current practices of the Greek NSO regarding the Air Quality Directive (AQD) IPR Reports (statistical product 114 in the NSO’s work programme) by integrating satellite, smart-sensor and modeling data to the current data provided by the regulatory network, while spatially reaching a resolution of LAU level (as opposed to the current coarse disaggregation).

Official Website: https://www.eo4smartstats.com/

October 2021 — April 2022

QA4EO - Quality Assurance for Earth Observasion

Funding: European Space Agency Service Agreement - QA4EO/SER/SUB/30 - "Quality Assurance framework for Earth Observation: QA4EO"

Description: Under the framework of QA4EO funded by European Space Agency (ESA), the project “AOD@440nm - Improved aerosol retrievals using NO2 correction” aims to improve the retrievals of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) of different ground based networks (AERONET, SKYNET, PGN) and of satellite algorithms (S5P/TROPOMI). Main motivation is the improvement of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (AE) datasets based on a correction using synchronous NO2 data. Development of this method is based on the fact that currently satellite climatological NO2 values are used for correcting the AOD retrievals for NO2 related optical depth. However, NO2 has high spatiotemporal variability and, hence, these values are rarely representative of the actual atmospheric conditions. Recently developed PGN offers reliable, high measurement frequency ground-based data for NO2 column, alongside with current generation of satellites (S5P/TROPOMI) which provide a high NO2 spatial detail. These data will be used to evaluate the current uncertainty of AOD and AE retrievals and integrated procedures will be developed. Spatiotemporal AOD/NO2 characteristics using two (urban and suburban) neighbouring ground based stations (including AERONET, PGN and EUROSKYRAD related instrumentation) and satellite sensors will be analysed towards demonstrating the NO2 impact on AOD for such validation activities and ways to correct for it.

Role of APCG: APCG members lead the WP2: “Improved surface based aerosol retrievals using NO2 correction”. This WP is constituted by the development of algorithms, the assessment of the products, the estimation of uncertainties and the appliance of QA procedures.

October 2021 — September 2025

RI - URBANS - Research Infrastructures Services Reinforcing Air Quality Monitoring Capacities in European Urban & Industrial Areas

Funding: European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036245

Description: RI-URBANS aims to demonstrate how Service Tools (STs) from atmospheric Research Infrastructures (RIs) can be adapted and enhanced to better address the challenges and societal needs concerning air quality (AQ) in European cities and industrial hotspots. RI-URBANS responds to urgent needs to substantially reduce air pollution across EU by providing enhanced AQ observations in support of advanced AQ policy assessment. We develop and enhance synergies between AQ Monitoring Networks (AQMNs) and RIs in the atmospheric domain and combine advanced science knowledge and innovative technologies to develop pilot STs. These will enhance the AQMNs capacity to evaluate, predict and support policies for abating urban air pollution. RI-URBANS deploys tools and information systems in the hands of citizens and communities to support decision-making by AQ managers and regulators. The focus is on ambient nanoparticles and atmospheric particulate matter, their sizes, constituents, source contributions and gaseous precursors. RI-URBANS will evaluate novel AQ parameters, source contributions, and their associated health effects to demonstrate the European added value of implementing such STs. The project builds on existing initiatives for advanced research-driven AQ observations at supersites from European cities to provide the innovative AQ STs. Five implemented pilots in 9 cities will demonstrate the ability to integrate complementary STs in AQMNs and data management using FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable) principles. RI-URBANS will address all aspects of sustainability, including efficient curation, preservation and provision of access to data, training and capacity building, and how the use of tools will be secured in the future. Finally, upscaling and sustainability will be provided to the offered AQMNs-RIs interoperable services, using advanced instrumentation, modelling, source apportionment, integrated citizens observatories and mobile measurements.

Role of APCG: Coordinate the implementation of "urban" pilot for the development of the solar energy, building stock and air quality components and the overall integration into the climate application; liaise with EuroGEO to align the project's contribution to the GEO strategy and two-way feedback on technical and policy developments/targets.

Official Website: https://riurbans.eu/

June 2021 — May 2024

EIFFEL - Revealing the role of geoss as the default digital portal for building climate change adaptation & mitigation applications

Funding: European Union’s Horizon 2020 Developing comprehensive and sustained global environmental observation and information systems under grant agreement 101003518

Description: EIFFEL is a project which will offer the EO-based community the ground-breaking capacity of exploiting existing GEOSS and external datasets and build upon prior knowledge, with minimal new data collection activities. Added-value services interoperable with GEOSS will be designed, using cognitive search and metadata augmentation tools based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Natural Language Processing. These tools will leverage advanced cognitive features to extract meaningful information from and enrich GEOSS metadata. Moreover, novel methods (super resolution, data fusion) for augmenting the spatiotemporal resolution of explored EO data will be proposed, in order to address the needs of the diverse EIFFEL CC adaptation and mitigation applications. The latter will cover: (i) a set of five different GEO Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs), namely in Water and Land Use Management, Sustainable Agriculture, Transport Management, Sustainable Urban Development and Disaster Resilience domains; (ii) various EU geographical and climatic regions, at local, regional, national, cross-border and pan-European scales. Further, the value of using explainable AI techniques for improving the credibility and comprehensiveness of such CC applications, so that they can offer actionable insights to the decision makers, will be showcased. EIFFEL will foster the co-design of CC adaptation policies and mitigation strategies and monitor CC effects in the respective regions.

Role of APCG: Coordinate the implementation of "urban" pilot for the development of the solar energy, building stock and air quality components and the overall integration into the climate application; liaise with EuroGEO to align the project's contribution to the GEO strategy and two-way feedback on technical and policy developments/targets.

Official Website: https://www.eiffel4climate.eu/

April 2021 — March 2025

ATMO-ACCESS - Solutions for Sustainable Access to Atmospheric Research Facilities

Funding: European Union’s Horizon 2020 Integrating and opening existing national and regional research infrastructures of European interest under grant agreement 101008004

Description: ATMO-ACCESS is the organized response of distributed atmospheric research facilities for developing a pilot for a new model of Integrating Activities. The project will deliver a series of recommendations for establishing a comprehensive and sustainable framework for access to distributed atmospheric Research Infrastructures (RI), ensuring integrated access to and optimised use of the services they provide. ATMO-ACCESS mobilizes extensive resources in the atmospheric RIs communities to engage into harmonizing access procedures in relation to policies, financial regulations and conditions for access. It will develop and test innovative modalities of access to facilities and complementary and more advanced services, including digital services, developed as part of cross-RI efforts. ATMO-ACCESS will open physical and remote access to 43 operational European atmospheric research facilities, including ground-based observation stations, simulation chambers, but also mobile facilities and central laboratories that are fundamental elements in distributed RIs. Innovative cross-RI cloud services, addressing the management of data produced via access and the use of new, integrated data products, but also virtual tools for training, are offered through virtual access to RI data centres. All work in ATMO-ACCESS integrates experiences from past access programs, thus, synergistically streamlining the work and avoiding duplication of efforts. ATMO-ACCESS will continuously engage with users and with national and international stakeholders to propose optimal conditions for a coherent and effective framework of access that has been sufficiently tested and is supported by the relevant user and stakeholder groups to establish and ensure the long-term sustainability of access with the European RI landscape.

Role of APCG: Provision of TNA access and coordination of engagement with public authorities to propose optimal conditions for a coherent and effective framework of access

Official Website: http://www.atmo-access.eu/

July 2020 — June 2025

PANGEA - PANhellenic GEophysical observatory of Antikythera

Funding: European Investement Bank and Public Investments Programme

Description: PANGEA "PANhellenic GEophysical observatory of Antikythera (PANGEA)" is a National Research Infrastructure that focuses on as the climate change and its impact on severe weather and natural disasters in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, following the monitoring standards of the World Meteorological Organization (GAW/WMO). It will operate as a National Hub for the continuous monitoring of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) streaming real-time information to the Greek State, Academia and research centers, focusing in particular on: (i) the provision of certified data and expertise on issues related to climate change, air quality and natural disasters, (ii) timely provision of services and information to public bodies in support of decision-making for the management of natural disaster crises and (iii) improvement of climate projections at the regional scale, for effective mitigation and adaptation.

Role of APCG: Responsible for the in situ component of the observatory

Official Website: Under construction

May 2019 — Apr 2023

e-shape EuroGEO Showcases: Applications Powered by Europe

Funding: European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 820852

Description: e-shape is a unique initiative that brings together decades of public investment in Earth Observation and in cloud capabilities into services for the decision-makers, the citizens, the industry and the researchers. It allows Europe to position itself as global force in Earth observation through leveraging Copernicus, making use of existing European capacities and improving user uptake of the data from GEO assets. EuroGEO, as Europe's contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), aims at bringing together Earth Observation resources in Europe. 27 cloud-based pilot applications under 7 thematic areas address societal challenges, foster entrepreneurship and support sustainable development, in alignment to the three main priorities of GEO (SDGs, Paris Agreement and Sendaï Framework).

Role of APCG: PI of the Pilot7 (Showcase: SC2 - Health Surveillance), titled EO-based pollution-health risks profiling in the urban environment

Official Website: http://www.e-shape.eu/

Jun 2019 — Aug 2021

InfraStress - Improving resilience of sensitive industrial plants & infrastructures exposed to cyber-physical threats, by means of an open testbed stress-testing system

Funding: H2020 Innovation Action (Grant agreement ID: 833088)

Description: The mission of InfraStress, which involves 27 European partners with complementary roles and skills, is to improve the resilience and the protection capabilities of SIPS exposed to large scale, combined, cyber-physical threats and hazards, guarantee the continuity of operations, while minimizing cascading effects in the infrastructure itself, the environment, the other CIs, and the citizens in vicinity, at reasonable cost. InfraStress will further develop TRL4+ solutions from preceding EU projects towards TRL7 level of “system prototype demonstrations in operational environment”. InfraStress also aims to produce maximum meaningful impact on the actual adoption of the proposed methods and solutions.

Role of APCG: The study of accident-related air pollution events
Official Website: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/833088

Nov 2019 — Jan 2022

Acidic gas-phase pollutants and their contribution to the atmospheric oxidative capacity and acidity in Athens

Funding: Ministry of Development and Investments

Description: The project aims to extend the current understanding of the role of gas-phase acids on the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere via high-resolution in-situ measurements and model simulations. HNO3, HCl, SO2 and HONO concentrations, as obtained during the period 2014-2016 in the city of Athens (Greece), will be analyzed to determine their primary sources as well as the factors driving their variability and transformation processes. State-of-the-art modelling tools will be further used to determine the atmospheric levels of the oxidants involved in their production pathways and consumption processes, as well as their partition in the particulate phase via thermodynamic calculations. Model simulations will be validated against observations and overall the contribution of atmospheric acidity to the gas-particle partition will be determined.

Role of APCG: coordination and implementation of the project

Official Website: -

Nov 2019 — Jan 2022

MAX3D – 3D inspection of NO2 in Athens using the MAX-DOAS remote sensing technique

Funding: Ministry of Development and Investments

Description: The project aims to capture the spatial and time distribution of NO2 in the Athens basin using MAX-DOAS measurements for the period 2012-2017. The precision and the range the of the measurements will be validated through comparison with in-situ measurements. The more thorough investigation of the pollutant’s spatial distribution will provide information on the sources of NO2 emissions, which in turn will be further corroborated by the COSMO-ART atmospheric model’s emission scenarios.

Role of APCG: coordination and implementation of the project

Official Website: -

Nov 2018 — Oct 2022

PANACEA - PANhellenic infrastructure for Atmospheric Composition and climatE chAnge)

Funding: NSRF 2014-2020 Action "Strengthening Research and Innovation Infrastructures" and financed by the Operational Program "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation" (MIS 5021516)

Description: PANACEA is the only Integrated Research Infrastructure (RE) to study atmosphere and climate change not only for Greece but also for the whole of Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, a region that has been recognized as an extremely sensitive area for climate change. The RE has been designed in full compliance with EU Regulation 651 / 06.26.2014, as the Greek component of the corresponding European infrastructures ESFRI (ACTRIS and ICOS). PANACEA covers the need to observe and monitor atmospheric composition, changes in solar radiation, climate change and the associated natural hazards in Greece. In addition, it pioneers the provision of services in areas of the economy affected by air pollution and climate change.
Role of APCG: Lead partner for air quality monitoring in Athens, coordination of joint research activities and participation in completing the deliverables in need.

Official website: https://panacea-ri.gr/

Sep 2017 — Aug 2021

SMURBS/ERA-PLANET - SMart URBan Solutions for air quality, disasters and city growth

Funding: Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (G.A. Number: 689443)

Description: The ultimate goal of SMURBS is to promote and coordinate the "smart-city" approach into a European network of cities, serving the need for a common approach to enhance environmental and societal resilience to urban pollution, natural/manmade disasters and uncontrolled city growth, while at the same time setting the stage for integration of the still fragmented, multi-scale and multi-temporal Earth Observation (EO) resources, into information and decision making tools for individuals and local governments, in support of GEOSS and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Role of APCG: Coordination of the project and partner of the air quality group

Official Website: http://smurbs.eu

Nov 2019 — Oct 2020

ΠΕΣΠΚΑ — The establishment of the regional plan for climate change adaptation for the region of Attica

Funding: Regional Funds

Description: The Hellenic National Strategy for climate change adaptation (ΕΣΠΚΑ) is the first and primary step for the design and implementation of the necessary and crucial measures to adapt in the national, regional and local level. ΕΣΠΚΑ sets the targets and directives and means for the implementation of a state-of-the-art and effective developmental strategy for climate change adaptation. A selection of 15 important sectoral policies (e.g. Biodiversity, Energy, Building environment, Cultural heritage) are already defined and actions/measures towards adaptation are already designed. The regional planning evaluates and prioritizes these sectors for each region. The main objective of the project is the compilation of the climate change adaptation plan for the region of Attica, following the relevant existing legal frame.

Role of APCG: Responsible for the air quality sector

Official Website:

Aug 2018 — Jul 2021

EMISSION - Environmental monitoring integrated system using an IoT network

Funding: European Regional Development Fund of the EU and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH CREATE INNOVATE (project code: T1EDK-00242-EMISSION)

Description: The aim of EMISSION is to develop an IT platform for the monitoring and recording of environmental conditions in urban environments through a wireless network of sensors. EMISSION will use integrated and advanced sensors and applications (web applications and mobile ones) and is intended to cover common problems with existing monitoring infrastructures.

Role of APCG: Air quality measurements and analysis

Official Website: EMISSION project

Sep 2017 — Aug 2021

IGOSP/ERA-PLANET - Integrated Global Observing Systems for Persistent Pollutants

Funding: Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme
Description: iGOSP will contribute to reinforcement of GEO Flagship Global Observation System for Mercury and the Initiative Global Observation System for Persistent Organic Pollutants aimed to support the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Stockholm Convention, respectively.
Role of APCG: Co-leading with HZG (Germany) in fostering integration of in-situ measurements and satellite data

Official Website: http://www.igosp.eu/

Dec 2018 — Nov 2020

ADIOS - Atmospheric Deposition Impacts on the Ocean System

Funding: National Observatory of Athens internal grant

Description: The main goal of the project is to address the long-standing shortcoming regarding the global air-quality effect on marine limitations and ocean carbon cycle. This project aims to develop beyond-state-of-the-art modelling tools to simulate the atmospheric nutrient-cycle coupled to the embedded ocean biogeochemistry model in EC-Earth, taking also into account present-day socioeconomic impact.

Role of APCG: PI - Coupled atmosphere-ocean climate simulations with the state-of-the-art European Earth System Model EC-Earth.

Official Website: -

Sep 2017 — Sep 2020

PiraeusAQ - Specialized air quality measurements in the Port of Pireaus - Source identification

Project partners: (1) National Observatory of Athens (NOA, Coordinator)

APCG participation: E. Liakakou, E. Gerasopoulos, G. Grivas, G. Diakogianni, M. Lianou

Funding: Region of Attica (ΚΑΕ 9761.07.001)

Official website: -

Description: Understanding and quantification of the atmospheric pollution sources and photochemical processes of air pollution in the greater area of Pireaus (emphasis on the port area). This prototype research builts upon existing knowledge and utilizes new technologies and measurements that will amplify the basic understanding. In parallel, the levels and the main sources (vehicle trafic, industrial transport, ships) of gaseous and aerosol pollution will be monitored and identified.

Jan 2019 — Dec 2021

PARADOX-H - Particulate matter, Reactive oxygen And their Diverse Oxidative Potential-Health Effects

Funding: Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) grant for support of Post-doctoral researchers as Principal Investigators.

Description: The project aims to evaluate the contribution of different sources to the atmospheric oxidative potential (OP) and their seasonal variability throughout a year in a heavily inhabited and polluted environment such as Athens and will provide an unprecedented dataset of ROS activity measurements both locally and regionally. A variety of state-of-the-art instrumentation and well established measurement techniques will be applied in continuous measurements and intensive field campaigns. The findings of PARADOX-H will unravel the OP-PM exposure link for the 5 million inhabitants residing in the Greater Athens Area throughout a year. It will provide important insight on the toxicity of various PM sources that can be linked to diverse health effects. Finally, PARADOX-H will quantitatively elucidate both the local and the regional influence of distinct aerosol sources in the area, inferring, thus, which sources systemically cause health problems to such a majority of the Greek population residing in Athens.

Role of APCG: Coordination of the project, implementation of measurements and dissemination of the results.

Official Website:
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2017 — 2020

THESPIA 2 – Development of synergistic and integrated methodologies and tools for the observation, managements and forecast of environmental parameters and pressures

Funding: KRIPIS: National Strategic Reference Framework NSRF 2014 - 2020, GSRT

Jan 2017 — Dec 2019

ACTRIS-PPP - Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure Preparatory Phase Project

Funding: EU Horizon 2020 Coordination and Support Action (grant agreement No 739530)

Description: The Research Infrastructure (RI) ACTRIS – Aerosol, 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 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.

Role of APCG: Lead partner of WP8 which aims to analyze the socio-economic impacts associated with the development and operation of the ACTRIS RI and coordination of national partners.

Official Website: https://www.actris.eu/

Feb 2016 — Jan 2018

GEO-CRADLE - 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

Funding: European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme

Description: 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.

Role of APCG: (IAASARS project) Compilation of user needs with respect to air quality and climate, Participation to the pilot studies for 'Adaptation to climate change' and 'Energy'. Leading liaison activities.

Official Website: GEO-CRADLE official website

2015 — 2016

Implementation of measurements and analyses of environmental indices for atmospheric quality along the Egnatia Highway (N. Greece)

Funding: Egnatia S.A.

Description: The project aimed to monitor and analyze the air pollution related to the transport of vehicles upon the newly constructed highway in Northern Greece.
Role of APCG: Coordination of the project, implementation of measurements and dissemination of the results.

Official Website: -

2012 — 2013

ACL/NOA - Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory of the National Observatory of Athens

Funding: GSRT

Description: The Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory (A.C.L.) of NOA was founded in 1996. In 2005, the Laboratory upgraded its existing infrastructure, for the provision of chemical analyses and air pollutants measurements services, with emphasis on hazardous for public health chemical compounds (II). From then on, A.C.L./NOA has developed and applied an integrated Quality Management System according to ELOT EN ISO-IEC 17025 international standard, for the provision of accredited services targeted towards the detection and measurement of chemical compounds that are harmful to the environment and public health. The immediate objective of A.C.L./NOA is the provision of high quality accredited services for measuring atmospheric and other pollutants, in order to meet the demands of Greek society, state and private bodies, for sustainable economic and technological development, coupled with environmental and public health protection

Role of APCG: Co-ordinator of the project

Official Website: aclab.meteo.noa

Mar 2010 — Feb 2015

ΝΕΟ - Navarino Environmental Observatory

Funding: TEMES S.A.

Description: Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO) is dedicated to research and education on the climate and the environment of the Mediterranean region. The educational programs are closely linked to the research carried out in the region. Covering a wide range of topics of both local and global relevance, the research activities of NEO are carried out by scientists from the Bert Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University and the Atmospheric Environment Division of Biomedical Research at the Academy of Athens. Within its activities, atmospheric composition and meteorological parameters are continuously monitored in order to track the origin of particulate and gaseous pollutants and detect climate change signals. Global and regional scale modeling is applied for climate projections and future pollution level simulations. Located at Costa Navarino, NEO is fast becoming a dynamic hub where scientists from all over the world conduct frontline research, develop new tools and methods, as well as meet to exchange knowledge and ideas.
Role of APCG: PI of the atmospheric station in NEO
Official Website: http://www.navarinoneo.gr

About Us

Our group activities are targeted towards understanding physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere, seizing the opportunity provided by the complex and vulnerable Mediterranean environment. It is our mission to promote world-class atmospheric research in the area by shedding light on problems of compelling scientific interest and increasing social relevance.

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National Observatory of Athens (NOA)

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P : +30 210 81 09 124

E : egera@noa.gr

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