Current projects
Title of the project: “Atmospheric aerosols and climate change”
Execution unit: Faculty of Cs. Exacta, Engineering and Surveying
Institution on which it depends: UNR and Rosario Physics Institute (IFIR)/CONICET-UNR
Accrediting and/or financing entity: UNR (1ING625)
Director: María Isabel Micheletti
Co-Director: Ruben D. Piacentini
Title of the project: “Study of atmospheric aerosols in urban and rural sites in Argentina and applications in atmospheric radioactive transfer, health and environment”
Execution unit: Rosario Physics Institute (IFIR)
Institution on which it depends: Rosario Physics Institute (IFIR)/CONICET-UNR
Accrediting and/or financing entity: CONICET (PIP 112202101 00982CO)
Director: María Isabel Micheletti
Title of the project: Pierre Auger ultra-energetic cosmic ray project.
Dr MI Micheletti is an active member of the Pierre Auger International Collaboration (www.auger.org). Fellow Virginia Binet is also currently included, as a Doctoral Fellow under the direction of Dr. Micheletti. Specific area of responsibility within the
P. Auger International Collaboration: atmospheric studies (mostly aerosols) within the Atmospheric Conditions Task, of importance for reconstructions of cosmic ray showers and for interdisciplinary studies in the area of atmospheric physics.
Title of the project: “Concentration of particulate matter and black carbon in urban, industrial and rural areas of the Central Region of Argentina in relation to land use. Estimation of risk to the health of the population”
Execution unit: Multidisciplinary Institute of Plant Biology (IMBIV)
Institution on which it depends: CONICET – UNC
Accrediting and/or financing entity: National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (PICT2018-03805)
Responsible Investigator: Dr. Hebe A. Carreras
Co-responsible researcher: Dr. María Isabel Micheletti
Brief overview
We analyze air quality given by the levels and characteristics of its components that define it: gases and particulate matter in atmospheric suspension (aerosols). For decades we have been analyzing atmospheric pollutants, gases and aerosols, using satellite tools [1-4], as well as through equipment and sampling procedures for the collection and subsequent analysis of samples using advanced experimental techniques [5, 6]. In this way, values of aerosol concentration, optical thickness or AOD (Aerosol Optical Depth) are obtained, as well as information on their characteristics: size, shape, chemical composition, optical properties. The sources and trajectories of the air masses that transport atmospheric particles are analyzed [7]. A particular case is the analysis of bioaerosols (such as pollens, spores) and their incidence in allergies [8, 9]. Aerosols also affect climate change, contributing to the greenhouse effect of global warming of the air, in two ways: a) with radiative forcing (net balance of incoming and emerging radiation from the atmosphere) negative; In this way they contribute to the cooling of the atmosphere essentially by dispersion (scattering) of radiation and b) with radiative forcing positive, increasing radiation towards the atmosphere and the earth's surface (soil and water), in this case the ones that contribute the most are the remains of burning or combustion (carbon black, soot or black carbon). The group analyzes air quality and its applications in different areas of knowledge: health and environment, climate change, attenuation of solar radiation and signals emitted by cosmic rays, impact on astronomical/astrophysics/solar facilities – in particular, at the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory [10] –, relationship with meteorological variables [11-15]. We work in an interdisciplinary manner with health professionals, natural sciences (physical, chemical, biological, atmospheric, geological, meteorological, astronomical), as well as social and political sciences for the implementation of public policies that help prevention. of risks, to the remediation of harmful effects and to environmental sanitation [16]. Gases and aerosols are analyzed in Gran Rosario and other places in Argentina, both in standard situations [17] as in atypical situations, namely: – the case of highly polluting events such as the arrival of smoke from burning in the Paraná Delta or ash originating from volcanic eruptions in the Andean region [18-20]; – the case of less contamination due to a reduction in the intensity and frequency of the emitting sources, such as the one that occurred during population isolation due to the covid-19 quarantine [21]. The distribution and spatio-temporal evolution of atmospheric pollutants are investigated. They are analyzed in relation to land use, in different sites of special interest in Argentina [22] and, especially, in Gran Rosario.
Related
Director: María Isabel Micheletti
Members: Iván Novara, Rubén Piacentini, María Virginia Binet, María Fernanda Valle Seijo, Greta Piñol and Gonzalo Yepez.
Spaces/Institutions/Academic Units: Rosario Physics Institute (CONICET-UNR), Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UNR) and Faculty of Exact Sciences, Engineering and Surveying (UNR).
Contact
maria.i.micheletti@gmail.com