Research areas

We study the life cycle of natural aerosols in the Amazon. We seek to understand how the forest emits volatile organic compounds, how they are transformed into aerosol particles, which finally serve as cloud condensation nuclei, allowing water to condense into droplets and driving the rain. Our main experimental site is the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO), a unique laboratory in tropical regions, with a 325 m tower in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, where we also measure cloud properties. We also promote aerial and river expeditions to increase the range of our research.

Are you interested? Talk to Paulo Artaxo, Luciana Rizzo, Luiz Machado.

Emissions from biomass burning in the Amazon have important implications for regional and global climate and the health of the region's population. We use experimental sites in the Amazon to characterize burn aerosols and understand their effects on climate and health. In partnership with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, we study the large-scale transportation of aerosols and gases emitted from burning. We use the WRF-Chem model to study transport processes from the Amazon to other regions of South America.

Are you interested? Talk to Paulo Artaxo, Luciana Rizzo, Luiz Machado, Alexandre Correia.

We study relevant processes that influence the Earth's radiative balance by changing the radiation flux, such as changes in land use in the Amazon, transport of burned aerosols, and greenhouse gas emissions. We also investigate the impact of climate change in the regional and global impact.

Are you interested? Talk to Paulo Artaxo, Luciana Rizzo.

We study the transport of water vapor from the Amazon rainforest from evapotranspiration to other regions of the continent where it can contribute to precipitation. We use tools such as complex networks and artificial intelligence to analyze how deforestation and climate change can affect this important ecosystem service. We also use remote sensing to investigate the relationship between water vapor and cloud formation in the Amazon.

Are you interested? Talk to Paulo Artaxo, Luiz Machado, Henrique Barbosa.

We investigate how natural and anthropogenic aerosols influence cloud formation mechanisms and precipitation in the Amazon. We use remote sensing techniques from ground and satellites, as well as in-situ aircraft measurements to study how aerosols alter the microphysical properties of clouds. We also use numerical models such as BRAMS and WRF-Chem to simulate the impact of aerosols on clouds and to study physical processes that cannot be measured directly.

Are you interested? Talk to Alexandre Correia, Henrique Barbosa.

We study urban air pollution in several Brazilian cities. We develop models that quantify aerosol sources and their atmospheric processes. We also investigate the relationship between pollution levels and their effects on population health. Another approach is the study that investigates meteorology and air mass circulation over metropolitan areas and the dispersion of pollutants.

Are you interested? Talk to Luciana Rizzo.