The Latin America Lidar Network (LALINET), was created during the first Workshop on LiDAR Measurement in Latin America (WLMLA) in 2001, to better understand aerosol distribution over South America and its impact on weather and climate.
This year is organized the 12th edition of the Workshop on Lidar Measurements in Latin America (XII WLMLA) hosted by IPEN (Instituto de pesquisas energéticas e nucleares) in São Paulo, Brazil, from 7th to 12th April 2024.
The goal of this event was to share knowledge between LiDAR researchers and students, promoting cooperation between scientific members of the LiDAR community, and fostering future LiDAR research projects to strengthen the Latin-American Lidar Network (LALINET).
Two representatives from CIMEL, Dr.Ioana Popoviciand Dr. Igor Veselovskii, had the opportunity to present our LiDAR technology and share some data collected on smoke and dust events using our CE376 LiDAR and the CE710 LILAS depolarization and fluorescence channels.
It was also the opportunity to introduce our new LiDAR CE710 developed within AGORA-Lab.
Special thanks to LALINET and IPEN for the organization of this conference.
French President Emmanuel Macron Leads CIMEL and Various French Companies in Brazil for Economic Diplomacy and Green Transition Innovation
Keywords: Aerosols, monitoring, remote sensing, green transition, innovation.
March 25-28th 2024
Once again CIMEL had the honor to be part of the French delegation accompanying the French president Emmanuel MACRON this time in Brazil in São Paulo from 25th to 28th March 2024.
Organized by MEDEF International and Business France, this delegation of over 80 French companies was embarking on a journey to Brazil, aimed at fostering stronger economic ties between the two countries.
Through a comprehensive agenda created around multiple business possibilities, heavy discussions have been conducted between French companies and other stakeholders. CIMEL, in particular, has actively participated in meetings with significant entities such as the Brazilian Space Agency (INPE), the University of São Paulo, the Institute of Advanced Studies (IPEN), as well as ministers and responsible for finance, cities, energy, and environment.
Encounter with the Remote Sensing experts from the University of São Paulo.
It was particularly interesting for CIMEL to meet these scientific entities in sectors such as space research, advanced technology, and energy, as these areas align closely with CIMEL’s expertise and potential for collaboration and innovation.
CE318 site – University of São PauloCIMEL visiting the University of São Paulo
The most popular event of the visit is the Franco-Brazil Business Forum addressing energy transition, which involves President Macron and Geraldo Alckmin – the Vice-President of Brazil. The Forum discussed the initiatives of how the investments will change color into “green” for both governments and revealed plans for sustainable development.
CIMEL meeting the French President during the Business Forum.
The presence of Laurent Saint-Martin, Director General of Business France, brought a decisive vision of the strengths of France with its delegation.
As CIMEL continues to forge ahead in its quest for international expansion, this business trip served as a demonstration of its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and global leadership in the sector of atmospheric and environmental monitoring.
🇫🇷 🇸🇦 | Exciting times for 120 French companies as Business France, led by Franck Riester and in collaboration with the Secretariat General for Investment and the Movement of French International Enterprises, ventures into Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant metamorphosis, offering unparalleled opportunities for French companies of all sizes across various sectors. CIMEL is actively contributing to this innovative transformation.
NEOM City, a groundbreaking project, stands as a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s ambition for the future. This futuristic city, focusing on innovation and sustainability, presents immense possibilities for collaboration and investment. CIMEL, recognizing its potential, is actively engaged in discussions and presentations to showcase its expertise in contributing to NEOM’s environmental purposes.
Furthermore, last week marked the beginning of the 1st International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms, hosted by the National Center for Meteorology in #KSA, with CIMEL’s involvement. Follow the three days of lectures at https://youtu.be/rVHzYSVog_U, where CIMEL played a key role in sharing insights and ongoing activities related to #SDS within WMO and the United Nations.
An inspiring week, where CIMEL’s dual commitment to economic transformation and environmental responsibility takes center stage.
Dr. Stéphane VICTORI speech during the First International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms
CIMEL was able to explain how our cutting-edge technology enhances aerosols remote sensing capabilities. The synergy between our aerosol photometers and LiDARs, integrated into the iAAMS software, allows for comprehensive data analysis and visualization of aerosols (characterization, location, concentration…). The incorporation of the GRASP algorithm refines aerosol characterization and better concentration profiles, proving invaluable in monitoring sand and dust storms. This technological advancement highlights a collective commitment to economic transformation and environmental responsibility, positioning CIMEL as a key player in a sustainable future.
At the invitation of King Carl XVI Gustaf, the French PresidentEmmanuel MACRON, went on a diplomatic state visit in Sweden (Stockholm, Lund and Malmö), organized in collaboration with Business France andBusiness Sweden from January 29th to 31st 2024.
He was accompanied by his wife, Brigitte Macron, ministers of the French government such as Minister of Research Sylvie RETAILLEAU, along representatives of the French Parliament, public authorities, and cultural organizations.
CIMEL is proud to have been part of the French delegation of 12 companies that joined this mission to strengthen relations between France and the Swedish market.
This mission aims to enhance more collaboration on innovation concerning the space industry and ecological transition, where Cimel is fully involved.
CIMEL could demonstrate how our solutions help address challenges related to satellite data validation, air quality and climate change by providing valuable insights and new data. Our objectives are to develop aerosols monitoring networks across Europe, especially through ACTRIS and to bring a strong added value to the air quality application.
A Business Forum organized by Business Sweden took place in Stockholm under the high patronage of King Carl XVI Gustaf. Around 200 Swedish and French business representatives were present for the occasion, with the heads of state and ministers from Sweden and France. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel graced the delegation with their presence.
Cimel through our Sales and Marketing Director, Idris SANHAJ was able to talk to the French President Emmanuel MACRON about an innovative project that is set to be implemented soon. This will highlight the national strategic technological innovation combined with the recent scientific progress.
By combining climate modeling, through in-situ sensors, our ground remote sensing and satellite data, we allow more accurate air quality forecasting and so decision-making for public health and environmental management.
To summarize, our participation in this mission in Sweden has been immensely fruitful.
We had the privilege of engaging with numerous partners, fostering meaningful connections, and presenting our innovative solutions.
We are grateful for the visibility provided by this mission, which has undoubtedly contributed to expanding our presence in the global market and advancing our mission to address critical environmental challenges through cutting-edge and made-in-France solutions.
On the night of Wednesday, August 22, 2018, the CIMEL’s micro-LiDAR flew for the first time in a stratospheric balloon for the validation of the project, from Timmins Air Force Base, in Ontario (Canada).
Stratéole-2 is a program of observation of the dynamics of the atmosphere in the intertropical zone developed in partnership between CNRS and CNES. TheLATMOS (Atmosphere, environment and space observations laboratory) through its joint laboratory with CIMEL: CIEL), the LMD (Dynamic Meteorology Laboratory), and the CSA (Canadian Spatial Agency) are also collaborating on this project.
This Stratéole-2 project called BECOOL (BalloonbornECirrus and convective overshOOt Lidar) mainly consists in placing CIMEL’s micro-LiDARs in stratospheric hot-air balloons and flying them around the world. The onboard aerosols micro-LiDARs emit lasers downwards, contrary to the initial use (the shots are normally done from the ground towards the atmosphere).
The project Stratéole-2 represents several challenges as CIMEL had to develop, in collaboration with the LATMOS a micro-LiDAR prototype that must correspond to the following standards:
Weighting less than 7 kg
Consuming less than 10 W
Resisting harsh temperature conditions
Indeed, CIMEL’s LiDARs are well known for their robustness and energetic Self-reliance which allows low maintenance: practical when the LiDARs are up to 20km in the stratosphere!
Figure 1: Preparation of a stratospheric balloon before the takeoff
The program uses stratospheric pressurized balloons filled with helium 11 to 13 meters in diameter. During 3 to 4 months, they are carried by the winds all around the tropical belt and are propelled up to 20 kilometers in the atmosphere. Some can travel across 80,000 kilometers around the world (Figure 2).
The project includes a total of three measurement campaigns realized between 2018 and 2025. Contrary to the previous one which served as a validation (and in which 2 micro-LiDARs were released), the second campaign was for scientific purposes. It started in mid-October 2021 and ended in April 2022, 3 micro-LiDAR balloons were released into the atmosphere from the Seychelles (Mahé). They collected valuable information which will then be analyzed for the study of atmospheric phenomena and their role in the climate. The third campaign is planned for 2025, with a further 4 micro-LiDAR balloons that will be released.
The objectives are to try to clarify some of the grey areas that hinder our detailed understanding of the atmosphere and its role in the Earth’s climate. BECOOL allows scientists to study atmospheric dynamics and composition such as convection or the dynamic coupling between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Exchanges and air movements between these two atmospheric layers are important and influence the whole planet.
However, the tropical region is difficult to access. Consequently, the classical methods of observation (by satellites, by plane, …) are not enough. This is why using balloons is strategic: they are the only ones able to observe these phenomena in real time and very closely to the atmosphere.
“It is a completely original mode of sampling, which is not obtained otherwise and allows results of unequaled finesse” (A. Hertzog).
Below is a quicklook from a Stratéole-2 micro-LiDAR taken from a balloon.
Figure 3: Quicklook LATMOS-Stratéole 2018
Bibliography:
E. J. Jensen et al, Bull. AMS, 129-143 (2017), M. McGill et al., Appl. Opt., (41) 3725-3734 (2002), J. S. Haase et al., Geophys. Res.L., 39, (2012), P. Zhu et al., Geos. Inst. Meth. and Data Systems, 89-98, (2015) J.-E. Kim et al, Geophys. Res. L. (43), 5895-5901 (2016), S. Davis et al., J.Geophys Res, 115 (2010) S. Solomon et al., Science (327), 1219-1223 (2010) V. Mariage et al., Optics Express 25 (4), A73-A84 (2017) ,G. Di Donfrancesco et al., Appl. Opt. (45) 5701-5708 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202023707003
François Ravetta, Vincent Mariage, Emmanuel Brousse, Eric d’Almeida, Frédéric Ferreira, et al. BeCOOL: A Balloon-Borne Microlidar System Designed for Cirrus and Convective Overshoot Monitoring. EPJ Web of Conferences, EDP Sciences, 2020, The 29th International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC 29), 237, 07003 (2p.). ff10.1051/epjconf/202023707003ff. ffinsu-02896973f
CIMELin the French delegation of the French President on his mission in China.
CIMEL is proud to have accompanied the French President Emmanuel Macron on his mission in China, organized in collaboration with Business France and the French Embassy from April 3rd to 7th 2023.
This was an important geopolitical event, as we were part of the first French delegation to come back in China after the reopening of the borders and the lifting of sanitary restrictions linked to COVID-19.
It was also an opportunity for companies such as ours (with special regards to Chromatotec, ENVEA Group, Greentech Innovation) to shine through lobbying and gathering decision makers on climate change and environmental issues.
Our Sales and Marketing Director, Idris SANHAJ and our International Business Developer Laura MARIT have represented CIMEL through business meetings with our Chinese partners (CMA Chinese Meteorological Agency, CAS Chinese Academy of Sciences, Environmental Monitoring Centers of Shanghai Municipality and Jiangsu Province, Guangzhou University…) and to exchange ideas with various members of the French delegation organized by Business France.
They had the opportunity to encounter the French President Emmanuel Macron and had a brief meeting with the Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Lemaire to discuss the future of air quality application with our innovative solutions, in particular for the JO2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
During this mission, CIMEL has presented its remote sensing solutions for aerosols monitoring, used to increase the understanding of atmospheric phenomenas, improve and validate air quality models.
This combination of climate modeling, through in-situ sensors, satellite data, and ground remote sensing, allows for more accurate air quality forecasting and decision-making for public health and environmental management.
We look forward to continuing to serve our customers in China and across the globe with the same level of excellence and dedication that has become synonymous with our brand Made in France.
🙏 We extend our gratitude to Business France (Laurent Saint-Martin, Xavier CHATTE-RUOLS, Baptiste DELBENDE, Nicolas SESTIER), teamfranceexport (Valérie Alvarado-Zongo, Yang Yang, Michelle Portugal, Lian Qu), and CCI FRANCE CHINE (Caroline Penard, Christophe Lauras) for coordinating this successful business trip.
The Cyprus Institute is non-profit research and educational institution with a strong scientific and technological orientation.
The Institute is divided into four research centers:
Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC)
Science and Technology in Archeology and Culture Research Center (STARC)
Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (caSToRC)
Climate & Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C)
The Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) was founded at the Cyprus Institute in January 2020. It is a regional European Center of Excellence for Climate and Atmosphere Research, based in Cyprus, for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region. The aim of the center is to lead some researches about urgent climate change and air pollution challenges such as greenhouse gases, the water cycle, extreme weather, atmospheric dust and their impacts.
Therefore, the center owns a remote sensing group composed by a network of ground-based instruments located at three Cyprus Atmosphere Observatory (CAO) stations: Nicosia, Agia Marina Xyliatou and Troodos. Among these instruments, three CE318-T – Sun Sky Lunar Multispectral Photometersand a CE376 – Compact LiDAR.
CIMEL AAMS – Automatic Aerosol Monitoring Solutionallows the study of the transportation of pollution, dust, smoke and all the aerosols related to atmospheric composition. For instance, optical characterization of dust and smoke particles are made thanks to the 2 wavelengths CE376 – Compact LiDAR. In addition,the instrument has depolarization capability, which is a relevant information for aerosols typing.
By using state-of-the-art solutions and collaborating with the Laboratoire d’Optique Atmosphérique (LOA – University of Lille/CNRS), the CAO provides high quality, long-term observations of key atmospheric pollutants relevant to air quality and climate change, and thus, brings value to the Cyprus Institute in different sectors such as Research, Innovation and Education. This collaboration is developing for many years in the frame of aerosol monitoring (AERONET), radiative flux monitoring and more recently with automatic Lidar/photometer synergy, in the frame of ACTRIS. Moreover, the cooperation between LOA and CAO, in the frame of AQABA campaign, allowed the first operation of the prototype shipborne version of CE318T.
Figure 1 : CE318-T – Sun Sky Lunar Multispectral photometer at Nicosia station.
Figure 2 : CE376 – Micro LiDAR at Nicosia station.
Figure 3 : Quicklook of the volume depolarization ratio during a dust event in Cyprus.
US west coast forests are more and more in the grip of Wildfires.
Keywords : Aerosols, LiDARs, MicroLiDARs, Monitoring, Earth observation, Remote sensing, Wildfire, Smoke, Ash, Fires, Climate Change, Global Warming, Atmospheric Monitoring, Mobile Solutions, Air Quality
June 28th 2022
According to a recent UN report, forest fires will continue to increase by the end of the century. It is especially the case on the west coast of the United States, which is one of the countries most affected by this phenomenon. Whether they are natural or human-caused, these fires are devastating on a large scale.
The global warming makes the conditions more favorable to the start of fires and their proliferation. The climate change is worsening the impacts by prolonging the fire seasons.
California is the most wildfire-prone state in the United States. In 2021, over 9000 wildfires burned in the Southwestern state ravishing nearly 2.23 million acres.
Fires are a danger to life on the planet: smoke inhalation, soil degradation and water pollution, destruction of the habitats of many species… Not to mention the aggravation of global warming due to the destruction of forests, crucial to absorb the carbon that we emit.
Therefore, on summer 2019, NASA initiated FIREX-AQ mission so as to investigate on fire and smoke from wildfire using several measurement instruments across the world, and especially in the US.
NASA uses satellites combined with airborne and ground-based instruments to decipher the impact of wildfires.
The emissions of ash clouds resulting from the fire can be transported thousands of miles and can have an impact on air quality for example as they are responsible for a large fraction of the US PM2.5 emissions. Due to its microscopic size, PM2.5 is easily inhaled and has the potential to travel deep into our respiratory tracts, it can also remain airborne for long periods.
To date, wildfire outputs are still poorly represented in emission inventories.
The overarching objectives of FIREX-AQ are to:
Provide measurements of trace gas and aerosol emissions for wildfires and prescribed fires in great detail
Relate them to fuel and fire conditions at the point of emission
Characterize the conditions relating to plume rise
Follow plumes downwind to understand chemical transformation and air quality impacts
Assess the efficacy of satellite detections for estimating the emissions from sampled fires
For this purpose, CIMEL provided CE376 micro-LiDARs as well as its network of CE318-T photometers through AERONET. These solutions allowed detailed measurements of aerosols emitted from wildfires and agricultural fires to address science topics and evaluate impacts on local and regional air quality, and how satellite data can be used to estimate emissions more accurately.
Indeed, the synergy of the photometer with the mobile CE376 LiDAR allows profiling the extinction at 2 wavelengths (532, 808 nm) and of the Angstrom Exponent (AE). AE vertical profile and the depolarization capabilities of the CE376 allow identifying the aerosol type (fine/coarse). Below are some results from the FIREX-AQ 2019 mission:
Figure 2: Mapping of smoke vertical and spatial dispersion thanks to mobile LIDAR and photometer measurements by Dr. Ioana POPOVICI.
Figure 3: Mapping and modelization from FIREX-AQ campaign in Western US (2019) by LiDAR CE376.
FIREX-AQ experience proved that we are able to embark compact remote sensing instruments and install them quickly on site to access harsh environments and get close to fire sources, which has not been done before. Actually, it is the first time a LIDAR reaches that close to fire sources in a mountainous region.
Giles, D. M. and Holben, B. and Eck, T. F. and Slutsker, I. and LaRosa, A. D. and Sorokin, M. G. and Smirnov, A. and Sinyuk, A. and Schafer, J. and Kraft, J. and Scully, A. and Goloub, P. and Podvin, T. and Blarel, L. and Proniewski, L. and Popovici, I. and Dubois, G. and Lapionak, A., (2020), Ground-based Remote Sensing of the Williams Flats Fire Using Mobile AERONET DRAGON Measurements and Retrievals during FIREX-AQ, 2020, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts.
La Palma eruption (Canary Islands) – volcanic plumes tracking by our LiDARs
Keywords : LiDARs, Aerosols, Atmosphere, La Palma, Cumbre Vieja volcano, CE376.
6th October 2021
The Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma in the Canary Islands erupted on 19th September for the first time since 1971 resulting in large lava flows and evacuations.
Due to the volcanic eruption, nearly 10 000 tons of sulfur dioxide are released in the atmosphere every day. The risks generated are acid rain and deterioration of air quality which can lead to respiratory problems.
In a few words, this phenomenon is due to the fact that the lava of the volcano which reaches 1000°C meets the sea water which is at around 20°C. Therefore, the sodium chloride contained in the sea breaks down the water into oxygen and hydrogen. However, when hydrogen meets chlorine, they turn into hydrochloric acid which is an extremely dangerous gas.
There are many consequences such as the impact on the air quality which directly concerns the surrounding populations who breathe a toxic smoke harmful for their health.
Air traffic is also strongly impacted as all the flights departing from the island have been cancelled. These disturbances are also due to the lack of instruments measuring aerosols (such as LiDARs) to accurately identify the location of the volcanic ash as well as its characteristics and concentration.
Our CE376 LiDARs in AEMET (Izaña) is tracking plumes of the volcanic ash from the volcanic eruption on La Palma and here are some results to illustrate it.
Figure 1: Quicklook revealing the volcano plumes as captured on 24 September by AEMET in Izaña.
The volcano is propelling air into the atmosphere which meets a thermal inversion – a reversal of the normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere where a layer of hot air sits above a layer of cooler air.
Figure 2: Picture by Virgilio Carreño (Izaña Atmospheric research center, AEMET) showing the interaction of the gas and ash plume of the eruptive column leaving the volcano with the altitude thermal inversion layer of the atmosphere through which the Sahara desert dust transcends.
ESA –New remote sensing tech on satellite for atmospheric measurements
3 SEPTEMBER 2020
On September 3rd 2020, ESA has launched 42 small satellites aboard a Vega rocket from Kourou in French Guiana for the Copernicus Project.
This new type of satellites capable of measuring CO2 emissions to the nearest kilometer and pinpointing their origin.
One of these nanosatellites, PICASSO, carries
remote sensing technology developed which will be used to undertake
measurements in the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere.
PICASSO stands for Pico-Satellite for Atmospheric and Space Science Observations and it’s the first CubeSat nanosatellite mission of the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy.
Weighing only 3.5kg, it carries two measuring instruments for
atmospheric research: A Visible Spectral Imager
for Occultation and Nightglow (VISION) and a system to conduct plasma
measurements in the ionosphere, the Sweeping Langmuir Probe (SLP).
This project of analysis and collection of satellite data will be
carried out over 5 years. The aim is to obtain as much precise information as
possible on the quantification of gases in the air.
We will be able to know exactly the real CO2 emission by country, cities and the origin of gases (if it’s anthropogenic or natural).
Thanks to this initiative, more and more surveillance systems will be
sent into space over the next few years, which will help develop the market for
remote sensing solutions.
Cimel will be part of this development by bringing additional data thanks to its photometers and LiDARs to help calibrate and validate data from satellites.
