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Project NuClim
@nuclim.bsky.social
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Nuclear observations to improve Climate research and GHG emission estimates, https://www.nuclim.eu
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Project NuClim @nuclim.bsky.social · Sep 29
The first measurements are running and more will follow soon!
NuClim aims to determine the baseline of greenhouse gas concentrations in the North Atlantic. We look at radon, greenhouse gases and a range of other parameters at the ENA observatory (Azores) and @maceheadccaps.bsky.social (Ireland).
A map in shades of blue showing the North Eastern Atlantic with light arrows mostly from south west to north east and highlighting the Graciosa Island in the Azores and Mace Head in Ireland. A big cloud in the top left corner, containing the text "measurements of air masses without human influence". Around the text, icons for pressure, methane, gamma radiation, wind, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, eddies, ozone, rain, radon and temperature are arranged. The cloud is connected to the two measurement stations by a kind of flow-y triangle. In the top left corner the project's logo and two hands holding an earth and radiation sign in grey are placed. In the bottom right corner small text says: "Wind data from E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (DOI: 10.48670/moi-00181), map data from Natural Earth".
nuclim.bsky.social
Mid-January, we'll start our presentation series. The first presentation is on January 14th and gives an overview of the project!

Register here: shorturl.at/RWQyv
Announcement of presentation series datates and topics. The title is "Presentation Series" below that the NuClim logo and "online, 15-16 UTC" is placed. The dates are January 14, 2026 "Introduction to NuClim", January 28, 2026 "Radon-based air mass classification", February 11, 2026 "Pollution events, aerosols and clouds", February 25, 2026 "Plankton and greenhouse gases", March 11, 2026 "Combining the project results". The information for the 14th January is highlighted.
December 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
On January 14th, our project coordinator introduces you to NuClim.
Register here: shorturl.at/RWQyv

Susana Barbosa is a senior researcher at @inesctec.bsky.social (Porto, Portugal) and the coordinator of NuClim. She has a background in physics and applied mathematics (astronomy).

Photo: S.Barbosa
Foto of a woman with slighlty curly black hair and fair skin. She is smiling widely to the left of the camera and her hair seems to be moved wildly by the wind. She is wearing blackk glasses and a dark jacket with a high colar and orange hood. In the background the sea, some land and, directly behind her, some ropes are visible.
December 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
How to do traceable calibrations at low radon activity concentrations?

At the beginning of the year, our project partners from PTB and our external expert Scott from ANSTO together with others published a calibration procedure. Find the publication here: doi.org/10.1016/j.me...
Drawing with two parts. The first is titled "Using a closed and well-defined volume" and shows a rectangle. Inside it a bluw box is labelled "radon detector" and left of it a small disk is labelled "Ra-226" from it two arrows labelled "Rn-222" go upwards. On the top of the rectangle it says "Ca(222-Rn) < 100 Bq m^(-3). The second part is title "to calibrate during the build-up phase". In it a plot with time on the x-axis and radon activity concentration on the y-axis shows a line following roughly logarithmic growth.. There are points randomly slightly above or below the line equally spaced in time. In the bottom right corner it says "sensitivity, u < 5 %, k = 1". Below these to parts is written "for traceable low-activity concentration measurements of radon-222". At the bottom in a small font it says "Röttger et al. (2025), Measurement: Sensors, 38, 101708, DOI: 10.1016/j.measen.2024.101708".
December 19, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Reposted by Project NuClim
icos-ri.eu
We are pleased to announce the sessions for ICOS Science Conference 2026! ✨

A record number of sessions were proposed by the ICOS community, read more: https://ow.ly/i0Cg50XLj3P

Abstract submission opens in January.
#ICOS2026SC
December 18, 2025 at 8:43 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
2025 was a key and challenging year for us. We faced unexpected transportation delays and logistical issues related to deploying complex scientific equipment—such as compressed gas and radioactive material—on a remote island. We successfully overcame the challenges and have achieved key milestones:
December 18, 2025 at 10:54 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
First presentation in less than a month: January 14th 15-16 UTC.
Susana Barbosa will give an overview of the different aspects and what we have already achieved and explain what we are looking into over the remaining time of the project.

Register here: shorturl.at/RWQyv
Announcement of presentation series datates and topics. The title is "Presentation Series" below that the NuClim logo and "online, 15-16 UTC" is placed. The dates are January 14, 2026 "Introduction to NuClim", January 28, 2026 "Radon-based air mass classification", February 11, 2026 "Pollution events, aerosols and clouds", February 25, 2026 "Plankton and greenhouse gases", March 11, 2026 "Combining the project results". The information for the 14th January is highlighted.
December 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
If you haven't already, watch the video about Mace Head in the latest ICOS Newsletter! You'll meet part of our project team: Damien and @aimontanvir.bsky.social .
icos-ri.eu ICOS RI @icos-ri.eu · 18d
The last ICOS Newsletter of 2025 is out! In this edition we looked back at #ICOS10, saw two more stations receive the ICOS label, and granted the first Ingeborg Levin Early Career Scientist Award.

Read the newsletter here: preview.mailerlite.io/preview/7815...
December 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
nuclim.bsky.social
In our greenhouse gas measurements at the ENA station (Graciosa, Azores) over the last six months, we see frequent peaks in the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and carbon monoxide (CO). For example, data from Oct 7-8: CO₂, CH₄ and CO peaks in one-minute average mixing ratios.
Three plots with the same x-axis beneath each other. The x-axis shows the date and time from Oct 7, 2025 00:00 to Oct 9, 2025 00:00. The bottom plot shows CO on the y-axis in ppm. The value range is 0.1 to 0.6. It has a pretty stable baseline slightly higher than 0.1 ppm and occasional peak to 0.15 ppm to 0.3 ppm. Between Oct, 7 18:00 and Oct 8, 00:00 more and higher peaks occur. They are always very short in duration and usually fall back to the baseline. The next plot shows CH₄ also in ppm with a range from 1.95 ppm to 2.15 ppm. The baseline is around 2.00 at the beginning and lower at around 1.97 ppm in the last third. It has fewer and then somewhat longer peaks than CO but often at similar times. The highest and most peaks occur at the same time as the most CO peaks (Oct, 7 18:00 to Oct, 8 00:00). The top plot shows CO₂ in ppm with a range from 420 ppm to 470 ppm. The baseline fluctuates somewhat between 420 ppm and 430 ppm. Even fewer short peaks than for CH₄ occur but a cluster similar to the others with an increased baseline of about 435 ppm occurs from Oct, 7 18:00 to Oct, 8 00:00. One peak during this time reaches 470 ppm, the others are between 440 ppm and 450 ppm.
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Cavity ring-down spectrometers can be used to measure the amount of different gases, including greenhouse gases CO₂ and CH₄, in the air. For this, the air sample is placed between mirrors inside a cavity and a laser pulse with a specific wavelength is send through it.
Explanatory graphic titled "Cavity ring-down spectroscopy". The first row (numbered with a "1") shows an arrow labelled "laser pulse with specific wavelength" pointing into a colored are between to solid and inwardly slightly convave lines. the are between them is labelled "cavity filled with sample air" the lines are labelled "mirrors". In the second row (numbered "2"), the same mirrors and cavity are shown, between them arrows arranged in one line but showing to opposite directions and getting smaller the more to the middle of the line are placed. Outside of the cavity in line with the arrows a box labelled "photo detector" is on one side. Next to this a plot with Time on the x-axis and Intensity on the y-axis is shown. In it, the value starts high and fluctuates in regular time steps between a high value and 0. The highest value of each fluctuation decreases approximately exponentially over time.
December 5, 2025 at 10:22 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Comparability of measurements is important.
In this interview with the BIPM and her keynote speech at #BIPM150, Oksana Tarasova explains the importance of metrology for environmental sciences and how comparability is ensured for global greenhouse gas measurements.
www.bipm.org/en/-/2025-11...
2025-11-05-BIPM150-Interview-Oksana Tarasova-Metrology-for-Greenhouse-Gases-and-Earths-Atmosphere - BIPM
Follow along as Dr Oksana Tarasova speaks to the BIPM about the role of metrology in environmental science, and specifically in atmospheric composition.
www.bipm.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Reposted by Project NuClim
icos-ri.eu
New #ExploreICOS video out from the ICOS Atmosphere station Mace Head! This station on the west coast of Ireland is one of the world’s few stations with unobstructed access to clean, well-mixed Atlantic air. 🌎

➡️ Watch the full video: youtube.com/watch?v=SoLW...

#UniversityofGalway #ICOSIreland
#ExploreICOS: Mace Head – Atmospheric supersite at the edge of Europe
YouTube video by ICOS RI
youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
nuclim.bsky.social
Peak behind the scenes: Evolution of a sketch
Photo of open checkered sketch book with a pen lying across the right page. Across both pages, three sketches are visible. They contain circles, the abbreviations for uranium, radium, radon connected by arrows. The left sketch is already in essentials similar to the one in the final figure. Infographic with the title "Uranium decays to radon, Radon decays to lead". The overall colour theme is blue. Below the two sections of the title a atmosphere-earth cross sections is shown for each. In the left one, arrows in the color of the text "radon" in the title point from the earth to the atmosphere. In a magnified area, individual grains are shown. Within one, is the sequence "U → ... → Ra → Rn" and the same arrows point from the grain to the space between grains. Left from this arrangement, the long sequence "Uranium-238 → Thorium-234 → Protactinium-234 → Uranium-234 → Thorium-230 → Radium-226 → Radon-222" is shown from top to bottom with a radioactive sign next to each arrow. On the right side, "Rn → Po → ... → Pb" is shown in the atmosphere with arrows pointing towards the soil. The same sequence is shown in the grain and it says "Rn → Po" in the space between grains with again arrows pointing towards grain. Right from all that the sequence "Radon-222 → Polonium-218 → Lead-214 → Bismuth-214 → Polonium-214 → Lead-210 → Bismuth-210 → Polonium-210 → Lead-206" is listed, just as on the left side.
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Project NuClim
nuclim.bsky.social
We'll start a five-part online presentation series about different aspects of our project in January.
The first talk will be on January 14th and then every second week following that.
See the details below, more information will follow soon. Stay tuned!
Announcement of presentation series datates and topics. The title is "Presentation Series" below that the NuClim logo and "online, 15-16 UTC" is placed. The dates are January 14, 2026 "Introduction to NuClim", January 28, 2026 "Radon-based air mass classification", February 11, 2026 "Pollution events, aerosols and clouds", February 25, 2026 "Plankton and greenhouse gases", March 11, 2026 "Combining the project results". In the bottom right corner it says: "More info following soon!"
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
We'll start a five-part online presentation series about different aspects of our project in January.
The first talk will be on January 14th and then every second week following that.
See the details below, more information will follow soon. Stay tuned!
Announcement of presentation series datates and topics. The title is "Presentation Series" below that the NuClim logo and "online, 15-16 UTC" is placed. The dates are January 14, 2026 "Introduction to NuClim", January 28, 2026 "Radon-based air mass classification", February 11, 2026 "Pollution events, aerosols and clouds", February 25, 2026 "Plankton and greenhouse gases", March 11, 2026 "Combining the project results". In the bottom right corner it says: "More info following soon!"
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
As mentioned, we are measuring radon in the air at Graciosa and @maceheadccaps.bsky.social. For this, we are using ANSTO two-filter dual flow-loop radon detectors. That might sound complicated - and the details, of course, are - but today, we want to explain the concept.
Photo: Scott Chambers
Photo of the interior of some apparently big metall "box". In the box at the top there is an area with many colorful and labelled cables. It looks a bit like a fuse box and has a sign saying "Warning Isolate before opening". On the bottom there is a big white cylinder with thick tubes going around it and some cables going here and there. In front of it tools lay around: screw driver, voltmeter, cables, tape measure and some unidentifiable metal parts.
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Project NuClim
xkcd.com
Radon xkcd.com/3037
January 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
nuclim.bsky.social
On the balcony of that apartment, some hours were spent in deep contemplation of important research questions ...

Text/Photo: Scott Chambers
View from a balkony on a harbour with blue waves and some slight waves. The houses on shore are white.
November 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Radon (Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is created by the radioactive decay of radium (Ra) in rocks and soil which itself ultimately originates from uranium (U). Radon decays to polonium (Po) and, in the end, to lead (Pb).
Infographic with the title "Uranium decays to radon, Radon decays to lead". The overall colour theme is blue. Below the two sections of the title a atmosphere-earth cross sections is shown for each. In the left one, arrows in the color of the text "radon" in the title point from the earth to the atmosphere. In a magnified area, individual grains are shown. Within one, is the sequence "U → ... → Ra → Rn" and the same arrows point from the grain to the space between grains. Left from this arrangement, the long sequence "Uranium-238 → Thorium-234 → Protactinium-234 → Uranium-234 → Thorium-230 → Radium-226 → Radon-222" is shown from top to bottom with a radioactive sign next to each arrow. On the right side, "Rn → Po → ... → Pb" is shown in the atmosphere with arrows pointing towards the soil. The same sequence is shown in the grain and it says "Rn → Po" in the space between grains with again arrows pointing towards grain. Right from all that the sequence "Radon-222 → Polonium-218 → Lead-214 → Bismuth-214 → Polonium-214 → Lead-210 → Bismuth-210 → Polonium-210 → Lead-206" is listed, just as on the left side.
November 13, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Reposted by Project NuClim
nuclim.bsky.social
The first measurements are running and more will follow soon!
NuClim aims to determine the baseline of greenhouse gas concentrations in the North Atlantic. We look at radon, greenhouse gases and a range of other parameters at the ENA observatory (Azores) and @maceheadccaps.bsky.social (Ireland).
A map in shades of blue showing the North Eastern Atlantic with light arrows mostly from south west to north east and highlighting the Graciosa Island in the Azores and Mace Head in Ireland. A big cloud in the top left corner, containing the text "measurements of air masses without human influence". Around the text, icons for pressure, methane, gamma radiation, wind, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, eddies, ozone, rain, radon and temperature are arranged. The cloud is connected to the two measurement stations by a kind of flow-y triangle. In the top left corner the project's logo and two hands holding an earth and radiation sign in grey are placed. In the bottom right corner small text says: "Wind data from E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (DOI: 10.48670/moi-00181), map data from Natural Earth".
September 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
If you are interested to learn more details about NuClim, the scientific background and set-up, have a look at our publication from earlier this year in EPJ Nuclear Sciences & Technologies: doi.org/10.1051/epjn...
November 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Reposted by Project NuClim
icos-ri.eu
A first for Europe – the new ICOS Curve interactive tool shows #carbondioxide levels and trends across Europe.

Updated daily, the ICOS Curve is being used at today’s #COP30 Earth Information Day 2025.

Interact with the ICOS Curve here: icos-cp.eu/news-and-eve...
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
nuclim.bsky.social
Sometimes fieldwork and travel is disturbed by unexpected happenings. When Scott was at Graciosa to set up the radon detector, the airport was shut down for half a day because the President of Portugal visited the island. This caused Scott to stay an additional night.

Photo: Scott Chambers
Grey airplane on an airfield with slightly hilly landscape and lightly cloudy hill. On the airplane it says "70501 Bisontes".
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Project NuClim
maceheadccaps.bsky.social
Announcement📢: ACTRIS Science Conference 2026 will take place from 20th to 23rd of April 2026 in Oslo, Norway. Deadline for abstract submission is November 21st 2025 actris.eu/ASC2026
ACTRIS Science Conference 2026 | April 20-23, 2026 - Oslo, Norway | ACTRIS
HomeStructure & ThemesProgramKeynote SpeakersInstructions for PresentersRegistration & Payment
actris.eu
November 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The UAc team carried out the seasonal water sampling in the bay of Calheta, Santa Cruz do Graciosa, taking samples at different distances from the shore to see how conditions change.

Text/Photo: Paula Eisnecker/Inês de Castro
Photo of a windy coastline with houses along the coast and waves breaking on some rocky shore. In the foreground a white wall with one step goes diagonally across the photo. On this, a range of bags, tubes and penshaped sensors and other unidentifiable things are placed. One woman is sitting in front of it at seems to take some notes.
November 5, 2025 at 8:35 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The UAc team arrived on Graciosa in the morning with all sampling and laboratory equipment and proceeded directly to the ENA station. There, a potential new collaborative experiment with Dr. Xuemeng Chen (@helsinki.fi) was discussed.

Text/Photo: Paula Eisnecker/Inês de Castro
Photo of a woman with a suitcase trolley smilling into the camera. The trolley is laden with a wooden box, a thermo box and several bags. In the background some modern architectural roof and blue sky are visible. Photo of a compley arrangement of tubes and cables connecting several boxes. On the top of one box a monitor, keyboard and mouse are placed. In the right side of the photo, half a laptop is visible.
November 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM