Research and public service in the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets, and of outer space.
mechanism that hinges on the behaviour of hydrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) aerosols through condensation and evaporation processes
Spectacular increase in the deuterium/hydrogen ratio in the Venus atmosphere! A discovery that questions our knowledge of the water history on this planet and its past habitability.

Thanks to observations made by the Solar Occultation in the Infrared (SOIR) instrument onboard the Venus Express space probe of the European Space Agency (ESA), researchers have revealed an unanticipated increase in the abundances of two variants of water molecules – H2O and HDO – along with their ratio HDO/H2O, in the Venus mesosphere.

Measuring instruments set up
Successful participation in CINDI-3 measurement campaign

The third CINDI-3-campaign took place in May-June 2024 at the Cabauw observatory, located between Rotterdam and Utrecht. More than 100 persons from 16 countries, with 44 instruments, were involved in the international measurement campaign, the largest of its kind in the world to test and compare different MAX-DOAS instruments that measure air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3).

Perspective view of frosty Olympus Mons
First evidence of water frost on the tallest volcanoes of Mars

A new study reveals for the first time the presence of water frost on the peak of Martian volcanoes near the equator. This discovery was published in a recent Nature Geoscience paper, with contributions from researchers of the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) and the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB).

Astronaut on the moon, having his spacesuit covered by dust.
DUSTER: Dusting the moon to discover its secrets

Many people, including some scientists, think that the Moon is just a gray ball of rock in our sky and scientifically boring. However, the contrary is true. Since the Moon lacks an Earth-like atmosphere, its surface stays virtually unchanged for years. It’s like a geological time capsule…

Ann Carine Vandaele aeronomy timeline
Ann Carine Vandaele is BIRA-IASB’s new Director General

Dr. Ir. Ann Carine Vandaele, Head of the Solar radiation in atmospheres department at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, is appointed as the new Director General of the Institute, as of 1 May 2024. Ann Carine will take over from Ronald Van der Linden, who filled the position a.i. for three months in anticipation of the new Director’s appointment.

ISS Columbus module space station ASIM experiment
ASIM reclaims its original position on the International Space Station to continue its observations of the Earth

In December 2021, the mission of the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on board the International Space Station (ISS) was planned to end. The instrument had to give up its location outside the Columbus module to another payload. Thanks to the outstanding science in catching upper-atmosphere electrical discharges such as red sprites or blue jets, ESA agreed to relocate the payload instead of removing and trashing it.