Blog update by Preben

 On our CHASE project website you can find two new blogs and images of the current season: link

the future site where instrumentation will be installed in order to measure information on VOCs, meteorology, precipitation and particles

Interview with Alexis, our colleague of BIRA-IASB at the station

 On the webpage of our neighbour institute and partner in research projects CLIMB and Aerocloud, you can find an interview with Alexis Merlaud:  link

First radiosounding on 1 December

On 1 and 3 December, Preben and Alexis launched weather balloons with radio sondes, for measuring the vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, humidity and wind. Below, a plot of the first sounding is shown. The very low temperatures between 10 and 15 km of about -70°C are exceptional for this time of the year and are another sign of the long-lasting and huge ozone hole of this year (see also here)

We keep you updated also on the special campaign page of our CHASE project 

Finally, a new season at Princess Elisabeth has started

 Yesterday, 26 November, the first team of the Belgian Antarctic research expedition (BELARE) has arrived at Princess Elisabeth station. They will now by busy to put the station into full operational state. We will keep you updated on the progress and on the activities of our research there. This season, two colleagues are there: Preben Van Overmeiren of Ghent University and Alexis Merlaud of the Belgian Institute of Space Aeronomy. They will work on the CHASE and CLIMB projects and will also maintain the existing instrumentation of the atmospheric observatory.

Ozone hole over Antarctica

 This year's ozone hole over the South Pole region reaches immense dimensions. The minimum temperature at 50 hPa is still below -75°C, below the level when polar stratospheric clouds can form. This is unique for this time of the year. Also, the absolute minimum of the total ozone column is still below the record years. And forecasts are not showing rapid improvements. It means that levels of UV radiation reaching the surface in these southern regions are very high and respective protective measures are needed. U-to date information can be found on the website of the Copernics Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) for the ozone layer monitoring. 

ozone hole area as by 18/11/2020 - copernicusECMWF

RMI presents new report on (Belgian) climate

 On 15 October 2020, the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium has published his new report on climate. The report details the results of the most recent observations and of RMI's research on climate. The report aims to inform the scientific community, authorities and the general public on the current state of knowledge of the present and future climate in Belgium.  The report can be downloaded and is availabe in French and Dutch. 

Global strike for climate 24 April 2020

Although the COVID-19 serious crisis, the global climate challenge might not be forgotten. This Friday, there are several actions, for instance a livestream (youtube) and a webinar of climate experts Jean-Pascale van Ypersele and Sara Vicca and an online strike, organised by the Belgian klimaatcoalitie.  Information can be found on their website and their facebook page.

Short movie on CHASE

Nadine Matielli, Professeur in Gelogoy at ’ULB, presents in 'PITCH', an emission of TV and radio channel BX1, results of the Antarctic expedition, how particles samples have been taken and how they are analysed. You can watch the short movie here.