The highest meteorological observation station of Austria, operated by the “Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG)” in Vienna, has been in operation for over 130 years, nearly without interruption. Since 1986, air chemistry background measurements are also performed at the observatory in addition to meteorological observations.
Apart from many other research projects, studies on air quality management and the transport of air pollution were expanded during the past years and climate research was accelerated.
Since November 2016, the condensation particle counter UF-CPC 100 was first in operation during a trial measuring campaign and was then delivered to the researchers of the observatory in August 2017.
The UF-CPC 100 measures the total particle concentration of ultrafine and nanoparticles in the air or other carrier gases. A special advantage of the measuring device, which also convinced the operators of the Observatory Sonnblick, is the innovative and patented supply of the working fluid. This permits using water as working fluid, in addition to the standard operation with butanol.
A Palas® Promo 3000 H with two heatable welas® aerosol sensors supplies reliable data on particle concentrations (quantity and PM-values) and particle size distributions of fine dust particles already since 2015 at the observatory. What’s more, the heatable welas® aerosol sensors allow performing studies on cloud and droplet formation through temperature effects.
Further information on the condensation particle counters from Palas ®