Sonnblick Observatory​

The Sonnblick Observatory at Mt. Hoher Sonnblick

A view of the measuring terraces at the roof.

The Sonnblick Observatory (SBO) is an observatory and research platform focus on atmosphere, cryosphere and biosphere sciences. It is located in the Austrian Alps at the border of the provinces Salzburg and Carinthia, close to the villages Rauris and Heiligenblut. The Sonnblick Observatory, owned by the association Sonnblick Verein, is operated by the Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG).

Monitoring and research is supported by various institutions like the Technical University Vienna (TU Wien), the Austrian Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt) or the University of Natural Resources and Lifes Sciences (BOKU) as well as Austrian ministries.

Contribution to international networks:
NDACC, GAW, GCW; BSRN, ARAD, LTER, GCOS, GTN-P, GTS, EPOSA, VAO

Role in ACTRIS:

  • Mountain station
  • Central facility:
    • Centre for cloud in situ measurements:
    • Central facility unit: Centre for Calibrating Integrating Cloud Probes (CCICP)
  • National facility:
    • Aerosol in situ measurements
    • Cloud in situ measurements

Retrievals:

  • Meteorology parameter
  • Greenhouse gases
  • Reactive gases
  • Aerosols
  • Precipitation chemistry
  • Glaciology
  • Permafrost
  • Electrical field strength
  • Radiation
  • Nuclear radiation and radon
  • Biosphere
  • Seismic

Contact:

Dr. Elke Ludewig
elke.ludewig@geosphere.at
www.sonnblick.net

 

 

Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems - Sensor Systems and Sensor Physics

The Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems (EMS) at Graz University of Technology significantly contributes to the ACTRIS network through advanced sensing technologies for aerosols and gases. The Sensor Systems and Sensor Physics, and Photonic Sensors groups specialize in developing adapted measurement systems for environmental monitoring, air quality assessment, traffic pollution measurement, and icing cloud characterization.

Their research includes technologies such as photoacoustic spectroscopy, condensation particle counters, optical particle detection, and electrical particle detection. EMS operates a well-equipped aerosol reference laboratory with state-of-the-art instruments like the Jing miniCAST, TSI SMPS, and custom-made aerosol generators. They focus on improving aerosol and gas sensors for specific environments, such as traffic-related emissions and environmental trace gas quantification through laser-based techniques like TDLAS and PAS.

EMS also advances cloud characterization, particularly the measurement of liquid and ice water content in clouds, supported by in-house calibration tools. Their capabilities extend to complete sensor system design, including signal processing, hardware design, and system calibration.

Role in ACTRIS:

  • development of advanced sensor techniques
  • traffic pollution measurement
  • aerosol reference laboratory

Retrievals:

  • in situ aerosol and trace gase measurements
  • in situ cloud (liquid and ice water content) measurements

Contact:

Univ.-Prof. Mag.rer.nat. Dr.rer.nat. Alexander Bergmann
Institute of Electrical Measurements and Sensoric 
alexander.bergmann@tugraz.at
https://www.tugraz.at/en/institutes/ems/research/sensor-systems-and-sensor-physics-group
https://www.lens-horizoneurope.eu/
https://structured-matter.com




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Pandora – measuring reactive trace gases (e.g.: NO2 and O3)

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PFR – Sun Photometer measuring aerosol optical depth (AOD)



LuftBlick Earth Observation Technologies

 

LuftBlick (founded in 2012) is an internationally operating science and engineering company located at Kreith, near Innsbruck, Austria.

Our core business is atmospheric remote sensing in the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared, with data management and instrument hosting. Our expertise includes design of ground-based and satellite-instrumentation, development of instrument control software, laboratory and field calibration, retrieval algorithms for atmospheric trace gases (e.g. O3, NO2), instrument network hosting, operational network data and image processing, satellite validation support, data search and collocation, data harmonization, quality control, analysis and conversion.

LuftBlick’s key personnel has many years of experience in atmospheric research and has been serving as consultants or collaborators for institutions like ESA, NASA, the Skin Cancer Foundation, or Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center.

Role in ACTRIS:

  • Common operator of a central facility unit
  • Trace gas remote sensing (CREGARS), unit: UVVIS-AT

Retrievals:

  • Meteorology parameter
  • Reactive trace gases (NO2, O3, HCHO, SO2)

Contact:

Dr. Alexander Cede 
alexander.cede(at)luftblick.at 
http://pandonia.net
http://pandonia-global-network.org

Lab calibration of a Pandora



Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien)

TU Wien has concentrated its research in five research focal areas (and one additional field) – one of them being Energy and Environment, where emphasis is set on interdisciplinary research and cross-linking of activities of research groups. Generally, research activities linked to ACTRIS contribute to the research field ‘Environmental Monitoring and Climate Adaption’.

ACTRIS connects projects carried out within the research units or groups Environmental Analytics, Physical Chemistry of the Atmosphere,  Water Quality Management, Geophysics, This can be visualized via recent activities at the Sonnblick Observatory. Research at this high mountain site allows the characterization of background conditions above Europe, to identify long range transport of natural or anthropogenic pollution events and to investigate basic and applied research questions related to atmospheric processes and deposition. 

Present research projects comprise aerosol characterization, ice nucleation, wet deposition and permafrost monitoring. 

Role in ACTRIS:

  • Coordinator within ACTRIS Austria
  • Contributions to aerosol and cloud measurements at Sonnblick

Retrievals:

    • Aerosol parameter
    • Cloud and precipitation measurements

Contact:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Anne Kasper-Giebl
Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics
anneliese.kasper-giebl@tuwien.ac.at