In the last 30 years a large number of satellites, devoted to the observation and monitoring of the Earth atmosphere composition, have been developed. Satellite instruments enable the measurements of atmospheric composition over the whole globe and altitudes, from the boundary layer to the stratosphere.
The expertise in atmospheric numerical modelling acquired by ISAC covers different applications and research fields such as air quality analysis and forecast, diagnostic investigations of the major processes involved in atmospheric transport phenomena, and transformation of pollutants in both the gas and particulate phase. Several models are applied and developed at ISAC, encompassing eulerian and lagrangian approaches, from local to global scales. The consolidated meteorological modelling chain (i.e.
Continuous monitoring of key atmospheric constituents, complemented by intensive observation periods addressing specific knowledge gaps, are necessary to understand how atmospheric composition has changed and is changing in time and space; what are the main sources and processes that are driving these changes, either induced by human activities or linked to natural phenomena, either cause or consequence of climate change.
Current research on air pollution – climate interactions focuses on particular regions of the planet considered to be the most vulnerable to global change, that are called "hotspots". These areas encompass pollution hotspots with high levels of toxic compounds (PM, NOx, ozone) and climate-warming agents (ozone and black carbon) as well as background regions where positive feedbacks between atmospheric warming and ecosystem lead to an amplification of the climate change.
Detecting atmospheric composition temporal and spatial changes and understanding the atmospheric lifecycle of compounds acting as climate forcers and/or being toxic to humans or ecosystems is of paramount importance in the current international research.
A large fraction of the uncertainty about the climate impacts of natural and anthropogenic emissions in the atmosphere resides in the complexity of aerosol effects and related feedbacks on radiation through cloud formation, lifetime and precipitation.
Attività di Trasferimento Tecnologico svolte nel 2020 o in corso
Le attività di collaborazione con AMBIMAT hanno come obiettivo concreto la realizzazione di progetti di ricerca nell' ambito delle scienze ambientali, con ricadute in termini applicativi e di trasmissione di competenze, con l'obiettivo ultimo di valorizzarle in termini economici.
ISAC - CNR UOS di Torino
Corso Fiume, 2
ISAC UOS di Cagliari
39°16'14. 9°07'21.0"E, Corso Italia, 9, 09028 Sestu CA
