LAC - Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry
The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC), established on 1 January 2000, is a laboratory of the Energy and Environment Research Division (ENE) at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
Mission
The mission of the LAC is to create understanding of the processes determining the chemistry and physics of gases and aerosol particles in the atmosphere in order to determine the impact of the energy system on atmospheric composition and the impact of atmospheric composition on air quality, human health, weather and climate change.
The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC) investigates the impact anthropogenic activities have on fundamental processes in the atmosphere, and with that on air quality, human health, and the climate. A strong focus lies on the links between energy generation and use and its impact on the environment, which have become ever more important since the adaptation of the net-zero strategy in Switzerland. The LAC consists of six interacting groups that operate cutting-edge facilities and instrumentation in the lab and in the field, and run computer models. We are responsible for the long-term observations of atmospheric aerosol at the research station Jungfraujoch and at the Payerne observatory, and run an atmospheric chamber facility at PSI, all embedded in the Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). We are highly collaborative within PSI, nationally, and internationally.
News & Highlights
La cause de l’extrême pollution atmosphérique nocturne à New Dehli a été élucidée
Des chercheurs du PSI ont découvert ce qui cause la forte pollution atmosphérique nocturne à New Dehli.
Andrea Baccarini – Winner of the Prix de Quervain
Andrea Baccarini, former PhD at the Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry at PSI won the prestigious Prix de Quervain.
Jungfraujoch Carbon Balance Campaign measures wildfire emissions from southern Europe
The Jungfraujoch Carbon Balance Campaign is a measuring campaign within the ACTRIS project. It is conducted by the Paul Scherrer Institute in collaboration with the Stiftung HFSJG, Empa, FHNW, as well as groups from Lille (France), York (England), and Aerosol d.o.o. (Slovenia). The campaign’s aim is to comprehensively measure and characterize the diversity of carbon-containing molecules present in the air in hopes to obtain helpful information on their role in climate and weather relevant processes.
Winner of the Schmauss Award 2022!
Imad El Haddad, scientific head (a.i.) of the lab of atmospheric chemistry at PSI, won the Schmauss Award 2022!
The Schmauss award, named after physicist and meteorologist August Schmauss is awarded by the Gesellschaft für Aerosolforschung (GAeF) to recognize outstanding research contributions in the field of atmospheric aerosol science.