Atmospheric and Solar Research and Innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean

The “Atmospheric and radiation research and innovation in eastern Mediterranean project” ATARRI aims to enhance Earth Observation R&I and modelling capacities of the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence (ECoE) with the goal to create a future center for frontier climate and weather research and services in the Eastern Mediterranean.ATARI aims to strengthen the expertise and improve the research profile of ECoE, through the collaboration with two research institutes and its affiliated universities, one associated research institution and one SME in the field of atmospheric and solar radiation modelling and remote sensing. The collaborating institutions consist of highly experienced developers of global use models, linked with bodies such as the world meteorological organization (WMO), a WMO defined world solar and aerosol calibration center and solar radiation/energy research and application leaders in EU level.The need of the ATARRI project is based on the improvement of atmospheric remote sensing measurements (based on state of the art infrastructure, acquired from ECoE through EU funding projects) and the potential synergy with the currently non-existing atmospheric modelling component (to be brought by the partners) towards: a better understanding of the atmospheric processes in the E. Mediterranean and the development of applications for climate, energy and environmental services.ATARRI goals will be achieved through a series of transfer of knowledge actions (workshops, seminars, technical information and software/model exchange, expert visits) by experienced partners towards ECoE, including mostly science related but also scientific management aspects. In addition, a research experimental project is foreseen in the last year of the ATARRI, dealing with dust intrusions, aerosol characterization, interactions with solar radiation and various related scientific and socioeconomic effects for the Cyprus area. It will be a demonstration of the transferred knowledge and also a feedback mechanism to identify and resolve related gaps.