Research group of Atmospheric Matter Fluxes and Long-range Transport

The research and activities of our department are primarily focused on a long-term and continual greenhouse gases measurement (carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane  (CH₄), nitrous oxide (NOx), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), water vapor), followed by mercury and other chemical compounds. The monitoring of chemical and physical atmospheric aerosols properties and their levels, cloud cover mapping and meteorological parameters analyze belongs to our scientific domain same as the technical solution for measurement in an extreme height conditions.

Our activities are particularly based on measurements at Atmospheric station Křešín u Pacova which consists of a unique infrastructure of a 250 meter-high tall tower. The mast provides the vertical measurements of greenhouse gases, atmospheric aerosols and other specific pollutants in different height levels. The observation of atmospheric matter fluxes and long-rage transport of these compounds in a vertical profile appears to play an important role at both regional and European scale.

The station is part of the CzeCOS and ACTRIS-CZ research infrastructure belonging to the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), which ensures the Czech Republic’s participation in ICOS ERIC (infrastructure for greenhouse gas flux research) and ACTRIS ERIC (infrastructure for the study of atmospheric aerosols and their interactions with clouds and reactive gases in the atmosphere).

The Atmopheric station with the tall tower is part of the Košetice National Atmospheric observatory (NAOK), which consists of various equipment and facilities of other research institutions:

The infrastructure provides both the physical and virtual access – Open Access which is available through merit based selection process.

The research and monitoring activities of our department are unique in the central region of Europe. The high tech instrumentation as well as our professional, scientific and technical service is in accordance with the highest present quality standards. We are involved in several national and international projects and monitoring programs:

• ISKO (Air Quality Information System)
• ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System), station class 1
• ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds, and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure Network)
• GMOS (Global Mercury Observation System)
• GOS⁴M (Global Observation System for Mercury)
• EMEP (European Monitoring and Evaluation Program)
• GAW (Global Atmosphere Watch).

Our specialized data can help to answer the current scientific questions and can also improve our knowledge in the following topics:

• Global change and climate dynamics
• Long-range transport and vertical gradient of air pollutants
• Monitoring and evaluation of current remedial steps
• Model prediction of future climate change.

Measurement overview

New greenhouse gas measurement network – FluxPRISM towers

This new measurement network expands and refines our capabilities for modeling greenhouse gas fluxes at the Czech and European levels.

Keywords          

Greenhouse gases, atmospheric aerosols, cloud cover, meteorological parameters, air pollutants, global change, long-range transport, atmospheric matter fluxes, vertical gradient, tall tower, atmospheric station, Košetice observatory, national infrastructure, ACTRIS, ICOS, ISKO, GMOS, EMEP, GAW, open access.

How to participate in our research activities

• our infrastructure provides the “Open Access” possibility for internal and external users
• Bachelor, Master or PhD projects are welcome, as well as the secondary school projects
• instrument testing in extreme conditions of tall towers

For more details, please contact prokes.r@czechglobe.cz.

Selected publications

Suchánková, L.; Crumeyrolle, S.; Prokeš, R.; Holoubek, I.; Bourrianne, E.; Ždímal, V.; Chiapello, I. An insight into recent PM1 aerosol light scattering properties and particle number concentration variabilities at the suburban site ATOLL in Northern France. Science of The Total Environment 959: 178190-178190, 2025

Julaha, K.; Ždímal, V.; Holubová Šmejkalová, A.; Komínková, K.; Zíková, N. Boundary layer and mixing layer height: Models vs. Ground-based measurements intercomparison. Atmospheric Research 315: Article number 107897, 2025

Suchánková, L.; Mbengue, S.; Prokeš, R.; Zíková, N.; Ždímal, V.; Holubová Šmejkalová, A.; Holoubek, I. A seven-year-based characterization of aerosol light scattering properties at a rural Central European site. Atmospheric Environment 319(1): 1-42, Article number 120292, 2024

Mbengue, S.; Vodička, P.; Komínková, K.; Zíková, N.; Schwarz, J.; Prokeš, R.; Suchánková, L.; Julaha, K.; Ondracek, J.; Holoubek, I.; Ždímal, V. Different approaches to explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on carbonaceous aerosols at a European rural background site. Science of The Total Environment 892: Article number 164527, 2023

Heiskanen, J.; Brümmer, C.; Buchmann, N.; Calfapietra, C.; Chen, H.; Gielen, B.; Gkritzalis, T.; Hammer, S.; Hartman, S.; Herbst, M.; Janssens, I. A.; Jordan, A.; Juurola, E.; Karstens, U.; Kasurinen, V.; Kruijt, B.; Lankreijer, H.; Levin, I.; Linderson, M.; Loustau, D.; Merbold, L.; Myhre, C.; Papale, D.; Pavelka, M.; Pilegaard, K.; Ramonet, M.; Rebmann, C.; Rinne, J.; Rivier, L.; Vítková, G. The Integrated Carbon Observation System in Europe. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 103(3): 855-872, 2022

Mbengue, S.; Ziková, N.; Schwarz, J.; Vodička, P.; Holubová Šmejkalová, A.; Holoubek, I. Mass absorption cross-section and absorption enhancement from long term black and elemental carbon measurements: A rural background station in Central Europe. Science of The Total Environment 794: Article number 148365, 2021

Agyei, T.; Juráň, S.; Edwards-Jonášová, M.; Fischer, M.; Švik, M.; Komínková, K.; Ofori-Amanfo, K.; Marek, M. V.; Grace, J.; Urban, O. The Influence of Ozone on Net Ecosystem Production of a Ryegrass–Clover Mixture under Field Conditions. Atmosphere 2021(12): Article number 1629, 2021

Mbengue, S.; Serfozo, N.; Schwarz, J.; Ziková, N.; Holubová Šmejkalová, A.; Holoubek, I. Characterization of Equivalent Black Carbon at a regional background site in Central Europe: Variability and source apportionment. Environmental Pollution 260(113771): 1-11, 2020