Partner 08 BIRA: Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy

The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA) is a research federal institute treating aeronomical problems with particular emphasis on atmospheric composition research. For about 30 years, BIRA-IASB has been involved in remote sensing of the Earth atmosphere for research concerning the chemical composition of the atmosphere. The institute is currently involved in many international projects, many of which are related to the ENVISAT platform, dealing with validation and data analysis of atmospheric instruments. Furthermore, it is involved in the preparation of several future satellite missions (e.g. ACE on SCISAT and IASI on METOP). Since the beginning of the nineties, BIRA has been involved in ground-based monitoring activities (at 3 European stations) as part of the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Changes (NDSC). Besides it experience in data retrieval, BIRA also played a major role in the validation of the GOME, TOMS and now ENVISAT data products based on NDSC data. Another part of the institute is involved in atmospheric chemistry modelling of both the troposphere and the stratosphere. BIRA has developed a comprehensive 3-dimensional chemical transport model, the IMAGES model. Furthermore modelling efforts include 4D variational data assimilation and inverse modeling. The BIRA-IASB 4D-var assimilation system (BASCOE) is currently used for operational real-time assimilation of ENVISAT data. It participates to the EU ASSET project.

Dr. Dominique Fonteynhas been involved stratospheric chemistry modelling since 1991. In 1998, he started with the development of a 4D-VAR stratospheric chemical data assimilation system around a comprehensive 3D-CTM of the stratosphere including a detailed microphysical model of the evolution Polar Stratospheric Cloud Particles. From this, BASCOE (Belgian Assimilation System for Chemical observations from Envisat) was evolved. Since August 2002, BASCOE assimilates the daily near real time MIPAS data and furthermore short term stratospheric chemical forecasts are produced on a daily basis.

Dr. Jean-François Müllerhas been involved in three-dimensional tropospheric chemistry modelling since 1988. In particular, he contributed to the development of global three-dimensional chemistry/transport of the troposphere (IMAGE and MOZART models) as well as to the development and analysis of global emission inventories for tropospheric ozone precursors. Recently, J.-F. Müller and collaborators from IASB-BIRA developed an inverse modelling framework based on the IMAGES model and intended to provide optimized regional and global emissions of ozone precursors based on a combination of surface, airborne and remote sensing observations of chemical compounds.

Dr. Jean-Christopher Lamberthas been working at BIRA-IASB for ten years in the field of atmospheric remote sensing in general and UV-visible Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) in particular. He has contributed to all stratospheric research field campaigns of the EU since SESAME in 1994. His current activities are related to the development, geophysical validation, and interpretation of atmospheric chemistry data products from ground-based spectrometers performing network operation and from the GOME and ENVISAT satellite instruments, for which he often plays a leading role. Among others, he is a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee Satellite Working Group of the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC), the validation coordinator of the GOME ozone profile working group, the prime contractor of ESA's ENVISAT long-term validation programme TASTE, and the national coordinator for Belgium of the ENVISAT SCIAMACHY Validation and Interpretation Group (SCIAVALIG). He is also involved in the SciSat-1 ACE, EOS Aura OMI and METOP GOME-2 satellite missions. Based on his experience in geophysical validation, J.-C. Lambert has built up a unique expertise in the integrated interpretation of multi-platform measurements and modelling results, taking benefit of the different perceptions of the geophysical characteristics of the measured molecules. Among other achievements, this expertise has led to the design of a unified climatology of stratospheric nitrogen dioxide combining complementary information from numerous data records. J.-C. Lambert is a member of various scientific committees such as CEOS, COSPAR, ESA's ACVT, and SCIAMACHY's Science Advisory Group.