AQUA-GRO 2012

AQUA-GRO is an intergovernmenta Greece-Romania research project, aiming to create a statistical database of the spatio-temporal evolution of the vertical distribution of aerosols over Greece and Romania using ground-based remote sensing techniques (lidar). Long-term regular measurements are performed at 2 EARLINET lidar stations (Athens and Bucharest) 3 times per week (Monday around local noon and local sunset, Thursday around local sunset) for climatological purposes. Intensive campaigns are organized at least once per year, and mobilize other lidar stations in order to investigate modifications of aerosol properties during their transport in the free troposphere, especially with respect to Saharan dust outbreaks in SE Europe.

AQUA-GRO 1st campaign was organized between 15 - 29 September 2012. Participating lidar stations: Athens, Bucharest, Oxilithos, Iasi, Timisoara. Weather and dust forecasts were distributed each day previous to the measurements. Measurements were grouped in two sessions per day: (a) daytime: 06:00 – 09:00 UT; (b) nighttime: 16:00 – 20:00 UT. During the Saharan dust outbreaks, the sessions were prolonged as follows: (a) daytime: 06:00 – 13:00 UT; (b) nighttime: 16:00 – 21:00 UT.

AMS quicklooks are available at:

Bucharest

Lidar quicklooks are available at:

Remote Sensing INOE