The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC) is dedicated to advancing the understanding of atmospheric processes that shape air quality and climate. Our research addresses the chemical and physical mechanisms governing the atmosphere, with a particular focus on the interactions between air pollution and climate change.
LAC comprises six research groups working across gas-phase chemistry, aerosol chemistry and physics, and smog chamber studies. By combining field observations, laboratory experiments, and advanced numerical and statistical modeling, we investigate the formation, transformation, and impacts of atmospheric pollutants across spatial and temporal scales.
We operate a wide range of state-of-the-art instrumentation—both commercial and custom-developed—deployed in smog chambers, mobile laboratories, and targeted field campaigns. Long-term measurements at key monitoring sites, including the high-alpine Jungfraujoch and the lowland station in Payerne, provide unique insights into atmospheric composition, long-range transport, and climate-relevant processes. These activities are embedded within major international research infrastructures such as ACTRIS and Global Atmosphere Watch.
LAC is actively involved in national and international research initiatives focusing on particulate matter, atmospheric oxidation processes, and their implications for air quality, human health and climate. Our results are widely disseminated through scientific publications, reports, and digital platforms.
We collaborate closely with universities, governmental institutions, and industry partners worldwide, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to address pressing environmental challenges.
Mission
- Elucidate the key processes controlling gas-phase composition and aerosol formation in the atmosphere
- Identify sources, transformation pathways, and sinks of air pollutants
- Quantify the role of atmospheric constituents in climate change, including aerosol–cloud–climate interactions
- Assess the impact of anthropogenic emissions on air quality, ecosystems, and climate, with a focus on sensitive regions such as the Alps, the Arctic and Antarctic etc...
Through this work, LAC contributes to a robust scientific foundation for air quality management and climate policy.