FP6 priority
1.1.6   Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems
1.6.3
Title of the proposal

Long-term Monitoring of Atmospheric Pollution by Astronomical Techniques

Institute
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute
SK-059 60 Tatranska Lomnica, Slovak Republic
www.ta3.sk
Contact
Name:
Dr. Jozef ZIZNOVSKY, PhD.
Phone:
+421 52 4467866
E-mail:
ziga@ta3.sk


Research subject for a potential FP6 project

Analysis of two extensive collections of UBV photoelectric measurements of atmospheric extinction (from years 1962 – 1995) obtained at two different sites (Skalnate Pleso and Brno Observatories) revealed seasonal and long-term variations. As photoelectric measurements can distinguish between two components of the extinction, (one of them is caused by Rayleigh scattering on air molecules, the second one by the scatter of light on dust particles), we came to the conclusion, that the variable component of extinction is caused by dust in the Earth\'s atmosphere. The current rate of the relative growth of dust extinction is appr. 11 % per year. As Skalnate Pleso is a mountain observatory (1783 m above sea level), we can use these measurements as a pollution indicator in Central Europe. Some predictions of the pollution can be done. New extinction data were obtained since 1995 at Skalnate Pleso and Stara Lesna Observatories.Comparison with similar data covering different geographical sites at different elevation in Europe are highly needful.


Recent international cooperation of the research team

Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic


Proposer´s relevant publications related to the research subject

Z. Mikulasek, J. Papousek, J. Tremko, M. Vetesnik and J. Ziznovsky: Atmospheric extinction at the Brno and Skalnate Pleso Observatories I. Instrumentation, observations and review of data.Contrib. Astron. Obs. Skalnate Pleso Vol. 30, (2000), 89 - 98.

Z. Mikulasek, J. Papousek, J. Tremko and J. Ziznovsky: Atmospheric extinction at the Brno and Skalnate Pleso Observatories II. Interpretation of observations. Models of extinction. Long-termand seasonal variations. Prediction.Contrib. Astron. Obs. Skalnate Pleso Vol. 31, (2001), 90 - 118.

J. Svoren, J. Ziznovsky, J. Tremko and Z. Mikulasek: Atmospheric extinction from cometary observations, In: Proceedings of NATO Adv. Res. Workshop „Optics of Cosmic Dust“, eds. M. Kocifaj and G. Videen, in press