ORganic Aerosols CLutched in the stratosphEre – ORACLE

Organic matter in the atmosphere is found in the form of gases and of primary and secondary aerosols. Carbonaceous aerosols, especially those generated by increasingly frequent and intense wildfire events, are expected to alter heterogeneous reaction rates, typically based on sulfur chemistry in global climate-chemistry models, and enhance ozone destruction. Their quantity, chemical nature, physical properties and evolution are critical factors in shaping our understanding of the human impact on ozone layer recovery and also climate change. The ORACLE project aims to develop a new methodology based on combining advanced chemical analysis systems, engineering of balloon sampling systems, and advanced nanoporous adsorbent materials to characterize the fine variations in the chemical organic composition (aerosols and gases) in the stratosphere. The approach in the ORACLE project adopts innovative use of weather balloons which are ideally suited for this scientific objective. The project offers a sustainable, precise method to gather new in situ data, providing the flexibility, responsiveness and altitude range required for a detailed analysis. Based on the unique combination of the partner’s expertise, this project is multidisciplinary in nature and thus builds a future path for sampling and analysing the upper atmosphere.