Problems to be solved

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.

Scientific objectives and approach

Formaldehyde is a good indicator for photochemical smog. It is therefore important that we are able to measure this compound in an accurate way. The single most important objective of the format project is to improve the measurement techniques that are used to measure this compound. More specifically the objectives are:

  1. To intercompare the various techniques for measurement of atmospheric formaldehyde,
  2. To obtain a better knowledge of the concentrations and distribution of formaldehyde in the troposphere over Europe and globally,
  3. To validate satellite measurements (GOME, SCIAMACHY) of formaldehyde,
  4. To compare measured and modelled formaldehyde,
  5. To use this improved knowledge to strengthen the capability of atmospheric chemistry models to calculate formaldehyde and thereby predict smog episodes in Europe,
  6. 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,
  7. To assess the socio-economic impact of knowledge gained through the project

Expected impacts

The project will lead to a better overview of the formaldehyde distribution both regionally in the Po valley (chosen as a typical polluted area) and on a global scale through analysis of satellite data. This will again give us better insight in the extent of fossil fuel and biomass burning, both in Europe and globally. The various methods for measuring formaldehyde will be intercompared, and it is the aim to arrive at a better agreement between the various techniques. Atmospheric chemistry models will be compared to field measurements. It is the aim that the tools used to warn authorities and the public in the case of smog episodes will be improved.