Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure

Abstract. Atmospheric simulation chambers are one of the best available tools to study atmospheric processes, as they enable experiments under conditions that are both reproducible and well-controlled. 16 unique simulation chamber facilities are part of the distributed pan-European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). Their research focuses on fundamental gas-phase reaction kinetics, complex reaction mechanisms, aerosol formation and cloud chemistry, as well as other aspects of atmospheric processes. They use both simplified and complex air mixtures in their research. Results of chamber experiments enable the discovery of unknown chemical mechanisms and the determination of physicochemical parameters of atmospheric constituents. Simulation chambers are ideal for testing instruments and quality assurance of their data. The variability of their research capability is reflected in differences in the size (ranging from approximately 1–270 m3), the wall material, and the type of instrumentation used to measure physical parameters, gas-phase species, physicochemical properties of aerosol particles as well as cloud droplets and ice crystals. Most chambers in ACTRIS are indoors and use artificial light sources to initiate photochemical reactions while some chambers are located outside so that natural sunlight can be used. During experiments, steady state conditions may be achieved, the evolution of initial conditions may be observed, or expansion and mixing techniques may induce cloud formation. In this paper, the ACTRIS simulation chambers are described along with the quality control measures for carrying out experiments and reporting data. An overview of how users from the research community and industry can gain access to the ACTRIS simulation chambers and associated data centre is presented. Recent developments in the application of ACTRIS simulation chambers for answering current and future atmospheric research questions are discussed.

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Journal
Atmospheric measurement techniques
Published
2026-06-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026
Primary Topic
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Type
article
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Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure

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Atmospheric measurement techniques
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Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure

Hartmut Herrmann, Eija Juurola, Harald Saathoff, Andreas Wahner, Peter Mettke, Sören R. Zorn, Niku Kivekäs, Bénédicte Picquet‐Varrault, Federico Mazzei, Iustinian Bejan, Milagros Ródenas, Aristeidis Voliotis, Silvio Schmalfuß, Mixtli Campos‐Pineda, M. Rami Alfarra, Max R. McGillen, Frank Stratmann, Claudia Di Biagio, Paola Formenti, P. Prati, Dario Massabò, Jean‐François Doussin, Albert A. Ruth, Hendrik Fuchs, Alexander Böhmländer, Anna Novelli, Merete Bilde, Paolo Laj, Thorsten Hohaus, Amalia Muñoz, Jan Kaiser, Kristina Höhler, Niklas Illmann, Claudiu Roman, Peter Wiesen, John Wenger, Christos Kaltsonoudis, Virginia Vernocchi, D. Niedermeier, Abdelwahid Mellouki, Spyros Ν. Pandis, Jens Voigtländer, Ottmar Möhler, Gordon B. McFiggans, Rosa Maria Petracca Altieri, Robert Wagner, David M. Bell, Matthew Stanley Johnson, Iulia Patroescu-Klotz, Romeo I. Olariu, Patrice Coll, Cecilia Arsene, Michael Flynn, Annele Virtanen, Véronique Daële, Mathieu Cazaunau, Falk Mothes
article en

Abstract

Abstract. Atmospheric simulation chambers are one of the best available tools to study atmospheric processes, as they enable experiments under conditions that are both reproducible and well-controlled. 16 unique simulation chamber facilities are part of the distributed pan-European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). Their research focuses on fundamental gas-phase reaction kinetics, complex reaction mechanisms, aerosol formation and cloud chemistry, as well as other aspects of atmospheric processes. They use both simplified and complex air mixtures in their research. Results of chamber experiments enable the discovery of unknown chemical mechanisms and the determination of physicochemical parameters of atmospheric constituents. Simulation chambers are ideal for testing instruments and quality assurance of their data. The variability of their research capability is reflected in differences in the size (ranging from approximately 1–270 m3), the wall material, and the type of instrumentation used to measure physical parameters, gas-phase species, physicochemical properties of aerosol particles as well as cloud droplets and ice crystals. Most chambers in ACTRIS are indoors and use artificial light sources to initiate photochemical reactions while some chambers are located outside so that natural sunlight can be used. During experiments, steady state conditions may be achieved, the evolution of initial conditions may be observed, or expansion and mixing techniques may induce cloud formation. In this paper, the ACTRIS simulation chambers are described along with the quality control measures for carrying out experiments and reporting data. An overview of how users from the research community and industry can gain access to the ACTRIS simulation chambers and associated data centre is presented. Recent developments in the application of ACTRIS simulation chambers for answering current and future atmospheric research questions are discussed.

Atmospheric measurement techniquesVol. 19(12)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (FR), University of East Anglia (GB), University of Copenhagen (DK), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), World Meteorological Organization (CH), University of Helsinki (FI), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (RO), University of Wuppertal (DE), Forschungszentrum Jülich (DE), University of Patras (GR), University of Eastern Finland (FI), University of Cologne (DE), Université Paris-Est Créteil (FR), Aarhus University (DK), Université Paris Cité (FR), University College Cork (IE), Paris-Est Sup (FR), Paul Scherrer Institute (CH), University of Manchester (GB), Mediterranean Center for Environmental Studies (ES), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (DE), Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (FR), FORTH Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (GR), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova (IT), Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (MA), Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (FR), Hamad bin Khalifa University (QA), Institut de Combustion Aérothermique Réactivité et Environnement (FR), Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires et Sociétés (FR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), University of Genoa (IT), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
European Commission, National Research Foundation, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Danmarks Grundforskningsfond, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Carlsbergfondet, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centro de Estudos Ambientais e Marinhos, Universidade de Aveiro, Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers, Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Horizon 2020, Research Ireland
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Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
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