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NILU

Univ. of Heidelberg

Fraunhofer Institute

Univ. of Bremen

Paul Scherrer Institute

Univ. of Oslo

Chalmers Tech. Univ.

JRC-EI

Click on the 'Partners' button to get more info on the role of partners in the FORMAT project.

Air pollution remains a significant source of health problems and WHO thresholds are frequently exceeded.

In addition, populations in urban areas are expected to increase by more than 4% between 1995 and 2010. Photochemical smog from burning of fossil fuel is one of the major air pollution problems.

Reducing the air pollution in urban areas of Europe constitutes a major challenge, and scientists, bureaucrats and politicians have to collaborate in order to solve the problems.

Unabated, the air pollution caused by burning of fossil fuels will lead to a higher incidence of respiratory disease and damage on vegetation and materials.

Click on the What is the problem button to read more about the role of formaldehyde in the formation of photochemical smog.

The main objective of FORMAT is to obtain a better knowledge of the regional and global distribution of formaldehyde, an important intermediate in the oxidation of hydrocarbons to CO and a source of oxidative radicals. This can lead to better prediction of smog episodes and to better quantification of emissions from biomass burning. A socioeconomic workpackage will quantify the benefits from the project.

Click on the Executive summary button for more details.

The main overall objectives of FORMAT are:

• To intercompare the various techniques for measurement of atmospheric formaldehyde,
  
• To obtain a better knowledge of the concentrations and distribution of formaldehyde in the troposphere over Europe and globally,
  
• To validate satellite measurements (GOME, SCIAMACHY) of formaldehyde,
  
• To compare measured and modelled formaldehyde,
  
• To use this improved knowledge to strengthen the capability of atmospheric chemistry models to calculate formaldehyde and thereby predict smog episodes in Europe,
  
• To use global models together with satellite measurements to obtain a better knowledge of the global distribution and role of HCHO as a tracer of fossil fuel and biomass burning,
  
• To assess the socio-economic impact of knowledge gained through the project.

Click on the Objectives button to get more details.