ACTRIS Marketplace

PACS-C2 provides the possibility of testing new instrumentation and to perform (inter)calibrations or intercomparisons. 
Existing standard operation procedures can be used for comparison of new with established analytical techniques/instruments with the user.  

Specific experiments performed by using the available equipment at AGORA, combined with external equipment if needed. 
For example: use of polar nephelometer to study controlled ambient particles.
The service includes:
-      Administrative support to comply with internal procedures for accessing facilities (physical).
-      Administrative and technical support for providing a workspace for visitors:  desk space with computer and internet access, meeting rooms, kitchen and lunch room (physical).
-      Administrative support for managing accommodation near UGR and at mountain stations.
-      Administrative support and advice for transportation, reception and storage of equipment.
-      Technical support at the facility to fulfill visitor needs and constraints related to installation, deployment and operation of equipment: power connections, remote access, storage, security constraints, internet network (physical).
-      Technical support to remotely operate AGORA instrumentation (remote).
-      Scientific support for supervision and analysis of collected data (physical, remote).
-      Unlimited observations and measurements as long as they do not interfere with other projects or instruments availability.

Intercomparison campaigns. Comparison with AGORA instruments that follow ACTRIS protocols, in situ, remote sensing at urban (UGR) and mountain (SNS, CP) conditions.

The service includes:
-      Administrative support to comply with internal procedures for accessing facilities (physical).
-      Administrative and technical support for providing a workspace for visitors:  desk space with computer and internet access, meeting rooms, kitchen and lunch room (physical).
-      Administrative support for managing accommodation near UGR and at mountain stations.
-      Administrative support and advice for transportation, reception and storage of equipment.
-      Technical support at the facility to fulfill visitor needs and constraints related to installation, deployment and operation of equipment: power connections, remote access, storage, security constraints, internet network (physical).
-      Technical support to remotely operate AGORA instrumentation (remote).
-      Scientific support for supervision and analysis of collected data (physical, remote).
-      Unlimited observations and measurements as long as they do not interfere with other projects or instruments availability.

Training through research of:
a) operation and calibration techniques of remote sensing and in situ instrumentation available in AGORA 
b) algorithms for retrieval physical magnitudes from remote sensing instrumentation (LIRIC, GARRLIC, POLIPHON). This training can be performed by remote access

The service includes:
-      Administrative support to comply with internal procedures for accessing facilities (physical).
-      Administrative and technical support for providing a workspace for visitors:  desk space with computer and internet access, meeting rooms, kitchen and lunch room (physical).
-      Administrative support for managing accommodation near UGR and at mountain stations.
-      Technical support to remotely operate AGORA instrumentation (remote).
-      Scientific support for supervision and analysis of collected data (physical, remote).
-      Unlimited observations and measurements as long as they do not interfere with other projects or instruments availability.

Measurement of air samples and calibration of cylinders for isotopic composition of CH4 (δ13C and δD) at Utrecht University.
These measurements can be used for source attribution and isotope budgeting. 
Atmospheric samples should be provided in clean glass or metal flasks, suitable bags or cylinders in which CH4 is stable. 
Samples from other media (water, sediments, etc.) can be analyzed as well. Specification of the sample containers and expected concentrations is beneficial.

Measurement of gas samples for clumped isotopic composition of CH4 (Δ13CDH3 and ΔCD2H2) at Utrecht University.
These measurements can be used for determining methane formation temperatures and non-thermodynamic equilibrium processes. 
Samples should be provided in suitable flasks. The concentration needed is typically > 5%, and it may be possible to analyze samples with CH4 as low as 0.5 %, upon discussion. One analysis needs at least 5 ml STP of pure methane. The samples should always be discussed in advance. 

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Possible long waiting times

Measurement of air samples for isotopic composition of CΟ (δ13C, δ18O) at Utrecht University.

Measurement of air samples for isotopic composition of H2 (δD) at Utrecht University.

LOCATION: Italy, Tito (Potenza)
CIAO, the CNR-IMAA Atmospheric Observatory (40.60 N, 15.72 E, 760 m a.s.l.) is a research facilities managed by the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) at Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (IMAA).

This service is meant to increase the expertise of the users but also to spread ACTRIS standards and methodologies to stakeholders and users. It can offer different possibilities related to:
• application of algorithms for Lidar data analysis
• experimental technical aspects typically encountered in Lidar systems
• access and use of the ACTRIS Single Calculus Chain (SCC)

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Multi-day stay of external users at CIAO must be discussed and planned with CNR-IMAA. External users are allowed to access the “CIAO observatory only under CNR-IMAA personnel supervision. Accessibility rules can change as a function of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOCATION: Italy, Tito (Potenza)

The service will consist in the direct intercomparison of a lidar system with the ACTRIS lidar reference system operating at CIAO. At present it is able to provide aerosol backscatter at 1064, 532 and 355 nm, extinction at 532 and 355 nm, depolarization measurements at 532. In the future, the new reference lidar system will also be able to provide depolarization measurements at 1064 and 355 nm, and water vapor mixing ratio. The intercomparison will check the instrumental and technical performances of the lidar system in terms of range corrected signals, including several QA tests and correction procedures like trigger delay, first range bin, telecover, Rayleigh fit test, depolarization calibration, dead-time corrections.

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Multi-day stay of external users at CIAO must be discussed and planned with CNR-IMAA. External users are allowed to access the “CIAO observatory only under CNR-IMAA personnel supervision. Accessibility rules can change as a function of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOCATION: Italy, Tito (Potenza)

Access and integration of data provided by different ACTRIS and ICOS (next future) active, passive and in-situ instruments operating at CIAO, included the possibility to carry out integrated studies through the access with the user instrument. Specific measurements campaign can be planned based on user request.
CIAO geographic position, in the Mediterranean basin but on a mountain far from big cities, makes the observatory a perfect location for investigating different aerosol types and atmospheric processes and setting up experiments with the support of the researches and technicians operating CIAO.
 

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Multi-day stay of external users at CIAO must be discussed and planned with CNR-IMAA. External users are allowed to access the “CIAO observatory only under CNR-IMAA personnel supervision. Accessibility rules can change as a function of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SERVICE STATUS: The service is available (operational and ready to be offered). At present the following instruments are available at CIAO: multi-wavelength Raman lidar, photometer, multiwavelength Raman lidar, Doppler lidar, cloud radar, microwave profiles, ceilometer, radio-sounding.  

LOCATION: Italy, Tito (Potenza)

A well-equipped laboratory is offered to test and characterize optical components typically used in Lidar systems. The laboratory is equipped with experimental setups for training in operation, calibration, quality control and basic debugging of Lidar related blocks. 
 

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Multi-day stay of external users at CIAO must be discussed and planned with CNR-IMAA. External users are allowed to access the “CIAO observatory only under CNR-IMAA personnel supervision. Accessibility rules can change as a function of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOCATION: Italy, Tito (Potenza)

A modular Lidar laboratory is offered to set-up and test different lidar configurations: aerosol fluorescence; tropospheric aerosol optical properties; temperature with rotational Raman from troposphere to stratosphere; liquid water content; HSRL configuration; scanning measurements. 

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Multi-day stay of external users at CIAO must be discussed and planned with CNR-IMAA. External users are allowed to access the “CIAO observatory only under CNR-IMAA personnel supervision. Accessibility rules can change as a function of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOCATION: Italy, Monte Cimone (Modena)
The "O. Vittori" observatory at Mt. Cimone (44°12' N, 10°42' E, 2165 m a.s.l.), is a research facilities managed by the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) and hosted by the Italian Air Force (CAMM). 

Calibration of chemioluminescence NOx analyzers with NO dilution and GPT. Equipment: zero air generator (Thermo 1160), dilution system (Thermo146i with range of dilution flow (0-5 SLPM), range of span flow (0-100 sccm)), 5ppm NO standard in N2 (NPL). Air-conditioning systems are available at the laboratories where instruments are located together with devices for protection by power surges and lightning.

This service includes:
-     Administrative support for helping the users with shipping of materials (before and after the campaign).
-     Administrative support for the fulfilment of the internal procedures related with the provision access (Mt. Cimone is located in a military area).
-     Storing of the equipment at the CNR-ISAC headquarters before and after the access.
-     Technical support at the infrastructure by senior technicians, including support during installation of equipment and execution of measurements.
-     Interaction with senior atmospheric scientists for data interpretation and optimal definition of experiment strategy.
-     Shipping to the infrastructure from Bologna (not dangerous goods) for equipment with total volume < 2 m3 (max: 350 kg) except than during snow season. The transport of dangerous good or larger/heavier materials which need special vehicles is NOT included in the offered services.
-     Daily transportation of max 2 people to the infrastructure (during the snow season this cannot be fully guaranteed).

AVAILABILITY PERIOD: All year round, but accessibility cannot be fully guaranteed during the snow season.

TIME CONSTRAINTS: Multi-day stay of external users at the “O. Vittori” observatory must be discussed and planned with CNR-ISAC. External users are allowed to access the “O. Vittori” observatory only under CNR-ISAC personnel supervision. Accessibility rules can change as a function of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.