The Izaña Atmospheric Research Center took part in the first intercomparison of instruments carried out by the Spanish Atmospheric DMA Network from April 18–24 2010 at El Arenosillo in Huelva

The Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (CIAI) took part in the first instrument intercomparison campaign carried out by the Spanish Atmospheric DMA Network (REDMAAS). The REDMAAS, financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain), aims to facilitate the exchange and transfer of knowledge among groups working on measuring size distribution of fine and ultrafine particles (nanoparticles) through Condensable Particle Counters (CPC) and Differential Mobility Analyzers (DMA). This kind of instrument is used to study air quality and atmospheric pollution by fine and ultrafine particles.

The intercomparison of CPC and DMA was done at the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) Atmospheric Sounding Station “El Arenosillo” (Huelva) with five Spanish groups taking part who are currently researching air quality and atmospheric sciences using this equipment and who belong to the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the Spanish Research Center for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), the University of A Coruña, the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center of the Meteorological State Agency of Spain.

The intercomparison exercises allow quantification of the degree of comparability of the measurements taken by the instruments of each research group, which usually work in very different geographical conditions and contexts. This kind of instrument is used to carry out studies on the origin of fine (0.1 to 1 micron in diameter) and ultrafine (less than 0.1 micron in diameter) particles and the effect of these on health and the climate.

Participants (from left to right): Sergio Rodríguez (CIAI-AEMET), Anna Ripoll (CSIC), Juan Luis Trijillo (CIAI-AEMET), Jorge Pey (CSIC), Purificación López (Universidad A Coruña), Alberto Hernanz (CIEMAT), Francisco Gómez (CIEMAT), Mar Sorribas (INTA), Mariano Sastre (CIEMAT), María Piñeiro (Universidad A Coruña), Mercedes Fernández (INTA).

Francisco Gómez (in front), Principal Investigator of the project, and some investigators in the lab during the installation and the first calibration of the instruments.