About Us

Note: Year 2018 started with organisational changes at the FMI. Following these changes, the Atmospheric Remote Sensing group is now part of FMI's Space and Earth Observation Centre.

The Atmospheric Remote Sensing Group studies the atmospheric chemical composition and dynamics from the troposphere to the lower thermosphere and develops applications beneficial to the society using satellite-based observations. Our research is strongly based on development and utilisation atmospheric simulation models and also ground-based observations. We have special expertise in research and services related to air quality, ozone and UV radiation, and solar influence on atmosphere and climate. Our group has a strong international standing in production of long-term time series from satellite data through European collaboration, including the leading role in EUMETSAT AC SAF project. Our near-real-time services are used to monitor, e.g., the development of the ozone layer and volcanic eruptions.

IKA group
Atmospheric Remote Sensing group at the FMI: Iolanda Ialongo (left), Viktoria Sofieva, Anu-Maija Sundström, Niilo Kalakoski, Jari Hovila, Jukka Kujanpää, Pekka Verronen, Monika Szeląg, Seppo Hassinen, and Kaisa Lakkala. Photo by: Erkki Kyrölä.

Specific research topics include

  • the remote sensing of the atmospheric chemistry for supporting air quality and climate research
  • role of the middle atmosphere in a changing climate
  • impact of energetic particles in the polar atmosphere (see CHAMOS pages)
  • stratospheric ozone, gravity waves and turbulence in the middle atmosphere

See more information about the research of the group here.

The group has the overall responsibility of the Finnish products of the Dutch-Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on-board NASA's EOS-Aura satellite. The group also hosts the OMI co-Principal Investigator position.

The group leads the EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility on Atmospheric Chemistry Monitoring (AC SAF, former O3M SAF).

The group participates in the Envisat/GOMOS Quality Working Group work and is a member of the Odin Science Advisory Group.