Objetivo
To improve our knowledge of the dynamics and chemistry of ozone in the Alpine region.
The research project VOTALP will investigate the transport and formation of ozone and other photooxidants
in the Alps. Supplementary studies will be done in the Northern Apennines that are separated from the Southern
Alps by the Po Valley. Special emphasis will be laid on vertical transport processes, because of their great
importance in mountainous regions. Four major questions will be addressed: What is the contribution of
stratospheric intrusions to Alpine ozone concentrations ? How important is the advection of polluted air towards
the Alps, for instance during foehn, and how is the air brought down into the valleys ? How important is the
in-situ production of photooxidants in Alpine valleys ? What is the effect of exchange processes between the
valley atmosphere and the free troposphere on the ozone concentrations in the valleys and in the free troposphere
? The project is broken down into four work packages.
Work package 1 investigates stratospheric intrusions and their contribution to tropospheric ozone concentrations
in the Alps.
Work package 2 addresses the synoptic scale advection of pollutants towards the Alpine region and the
meteorological and chemical mechanisms during foehn episodes.
In work package 3, thermally driven wind systems, their influence on photooxidants and the photochemical
production of ozone in the Alpine region are investigated.
Work package 4 deals with data preparation and handling and the synthesis of the VOTALP project. The general
strategy of VOTALP is to combine measurements and models of varying complexity. This approach is taken
to improve our knowledge of meteorology and air chemistry in the Alpine region. Therefore, VOTALP could
be a relevant tool for political and economical decision making in the field of air pollution.
Ámbito científico
Convocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinador
1180 WIEN
Austria