The goal of the “SACA-ACTRIS” project (State-of-the-Art Characterization of Atmosphere: Aerosols and Reactive Trace Gases) is to strengthen cooperation between Czech and Swiss scientists in air quality research by modernising our measurement technologies, transferring knowledge, and sharing experience. The large research infrastructure ACTRIS-CZ is involved in the project. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, and the Global Change Research Institute of the CAS ensure participation in the SACA-ACTRIS project. The Swiss partners are the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), representing the ACTRIS Switzerland research infrastructure.
The project, supported through Czech-Swiss cooperation with an amount of 42,965,000 CZK, focuses on improving the measurement of aerosol particle optical properties, enabling more accurate real-time identification of air pollution sources, mapping the occurrence of black carbon, and studying volatile organic compounds.
Thanks to more accurate data and a better understanding of how various pollutants affect human health, we will have more detailed information available. This will enable the design of more targeted measures that lead to cleaner air, ensuring a better quality of life for us and reducing health risks from air pollution.
Abstract and Project Objectives
The project aims to advance measurement techniques, data processing, and knowledge transfer between ACTRIS nodes in Switzerland and Czechia. The focus is on state-of-the-art methods for aerosol and trace gases, with applications to aerosol optical properties (polarimetry), near-real-time source apportionment – NRT-SA, and VOC measurement with robust QA/QC procedures. The specific objectives are to:
- transfer expertise on the Inverse Multi-Angle Polarization Polarimeter (IMAP), implement it in Czechia;
- identify PM sources by using NRT receptor modelling of online measurements, distinguish primary vs. secondary aerosol sources and local vs. long-range transported contributions at suburban and rural background sites;
- evaluate the impact of PM sources on the health-relevant oxidative potential;
- generate high-resolution BC exposure maps for Czechia, providing the first nationwide assessment of BC levels;
- characterize biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs; strengthen QA/QC capacity for VOC measurements, with emphasis on methodological support, spectral interpretation, and harmonized quality assurance.
| Beneficiary | Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ACTRIS) |
| Project partner(s) (Czech Republic) | Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences |
| Project partner(s) (Switzerland) | Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
EMPA – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology |
| Project duration | 1.1.2026–31.12.2028 |
| Main project location | National Atmospheric Observatory Košetice (NAOK), Křešín-Kramolín |
| Project website | https://actris.cz/web/saca-actris/ |
| Website: The Second Swiss Contribution | https://www.swiss-contribution.cz/en/ |
| Total eligible project costs | CZK 42,965,000 |
| Of which 85% from the Swiss contribution | CZK 36,520,250 |
| Project ID | 8K0202 |
