The course

The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) are organising the Eighth annual Joint Training on Atmospheric Composition, hosted by the  Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece from 19 to 23 October 2026. Greece from 19 to 23 October 2026. The course builds on nearly a decade of rich heritage, and past examples of trainings, including pre-training webinars can be found in the following sections of this website.

Specific Goals

The training will introduce the participants to state-of-the-art satellite remote sensing, ground-based and in-situ measurement techniques for atmospheric composition monitoring and chemical transport modelling in a global context. This year the course is focused in the Remote Sensing of Air Quality, and the key topics will include:

• The recently launched Sentinel-4 and Sentinel-5 missions
• Tools and techniques for retrieving concentrations of pollutant gases from satellites
• Principles of atmospheric chemistry/dynamics and relevance on climate and air quality
• Combining data from different satellite instruments
• Methods underlying how high-quality satellite retrievals can improve the reliability of air quality models and forecasts
• Science communication
• Additional aims include fostering collaboration amongst participants and encouraging the development of individual and team projects using the data, resources and methodologies present

Target audience

The training is of interest for PhD students, early-career scientists, researchers from academia and research institutes, industry, and anyone interested in atmospheric composition monitoring and modelling. On site training participation is limited, and selection is competitive.

We are pleased to announce that the webinars prior to the in-person training will be accessible to all. Basic knowledge in the concept of remote sensing and working knowledge of python is expected.

Participants from ESA, EUMETSAT and ECMWF member states are given preference for the in-person training; however, participants from all other countries are also welcome to apply, subject to availability of space.

Important

The training is free to attend. However, participants selected for the in-person training will be expected to cover their own travel and subsistence costs and bring their own laptops. On-site participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the training.

Financial support (for accommodation in Thessaloniki) will be available upon request for a limited number of participants. Priority will be given to candidates from Copernicus contributing countries or to those working on an EU project using Copernicus data.

The School of Natural Sciences, is fully mobility accessible, and the training is inclusive.

More information on the joint school and registration is available here.

Schedule and Deadlines

Organizers and Support

Daniele Gasbarra (Shamrock Space Services for ESA)
MariLiza Koukouli (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Dominika Leskow-Czyzewska (EUMETSAT)
Sabrina Lodadio (Serco Spa for ESA)
Edward Malina (ESA)
Noemi Marsico (Evenflow for EUMETSAT)
Kostantinos Michailidis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Mark Parrington (ECMWF)
Chris Stewart (ECMWF)

The 6th training in atmospheric composition monitoring and modelling will take place in Oslo, Norway from 16 to 20 September 2024. 

Venue: Climate and Research Institute NILU, Instituttveien 18, 2027 Kjeller, Norway

The training is jointly organized by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). 

The course will take place in-person and will be hosted by the Climate and Research Institute NILU. There are likely to be some online lectures scheduled prior to the in-person training.

Objectives of the training

The main objective of the course is to provide a holistic introduction to the end-to-end processes involved in atmospheric composition monitoring and modelling. This includes state-of-the-art sensing instruments and techniques (satellite, airborne, surface); emissions inventories; modelling concepts and processes such as data assimilation and model evaluation; service provision, applications and policy needs. Other objectives of the training are to introduce participants to observation and model data and to develop participants’ skills in accessing, handling and processing this data in a variety of applications. Fostering collaboration and networking amongst participants from multiple countries and backgrounds is also a key aim of the course.

Target audience

The course is targeted to post-graduate level students, researchers, professionals or anyone interested in furthering their knowledge of atmospheric composition monitoring and modelling and developing their practical skills in data handling. Some basic background in physics, chemistry, mathematics and computing is assumed, and elementary familiarity with Python programming would be beneficial to make the most of the training.

Whilst the onsite training is limited to around 30 participants, some lectures may be streamed to a wider audience. When selecting candidates for the on-site training, participants from Copernicus contributing countries and member states of ESA and EUMETSAT are given preference. Students from all other countries are also welcome to apply, subject to availability of space.

Topics of the training

Whilst the topics of the training cover the main processes involved in atmospheric composition monitoring and modelling, the focus this year will be more on operational service aspects and the application of Earth observation and in situ measurements. This includes emissions inventories, modelling, data assimilation, forecasting and operational applications. However, the training also covers processes further upstream, such as monitoring instruments and remote sensing retrievals.

The main topics of the training include the following:

• Atmospheric processes: Chemical species, aerosols, GHG, air quality
• Modelling: Global/regional; analysis / re-analysis / forecast; bias correction & downscaling; inverse modelling / Data Assimilation / Digital Twins (DestinE)
• Emissions: Inventories, inverse modelling
• Observations: Spaceborne, in-situ, remote sensing retrievals, methods and analysis, exploitation
• Operational applications and services: Policies; public & private sector needs; applications & services.

More information on the joint school and registration are available at this link.

The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) are organising the fifth joint training course on Atmospheric Composition in September 2023.

Specific goals
The school will introduce the participants to state-of-the-art remote sensing and in-situ measurement techniques for atmospheric composition monitoring in a global context. Key course topics include combining different ground based approaches for the validation of satellite retrievals in different scenarios, underlying how high quality satellite retrievals can improve the reliability of global atmospheric model simulations. Additional aims include fostering collaboration amongst participants and encouraging the development of individual and team projects using the data, resources and methodologies presented.

Target audience
The school is of interest for PhD students, early-career scientists, researchers from academia and research institutes, young scientists from industry, and anyone interested in atmospheric composition monitoring and modeling.
Onsite school is limited to 30 participants. Students from ESA, EUMETSAT and ECMWF member states are given preference. Students from all other countries are also welcome to apply, subject to availability of space. Webinars prior to the practicals will be accessible to all.

Format
The school is taking place partially online with preparation lectures (the weeks before the physical meeting) and 4.5 days of physical meeting in Innsbruck, Austria.

The school will consist of the following components:

Online preparation – 14-15 and 21-22 Sept – open to all
– lectures with keynote speakers,
– question & answer session.

Onsite training – 25-29 Sept. – for selected participants only
– open discussions,
– step-by-step interactive data discovery,
– instructor- led software demonstration,
– team projects design and development.

Post-training presentation
follow-up webinar for participants to present their projects.

Main topics of the school

• Principles of atmospheric chemistry/dynamics and relevance on climate;
• Observational principles of remote sensing and in-situ;
• Principles of calibration and validation of satellite instruments;
• On-ground instrument laboratory work;
• Principles of air quality model/forecast validation using ground based observations;
• Review of key scientific results and open questions.

More information can be found on the school page.
You can download here the Program of the school.

Deadlines and contacts

In order to apply to this training course, please log in to the ESA ConfTool platform and fill in all the fields of the application form at this link.
All the applications are subject to a review process by the Organising Committee of the course. The notifications of acceptance will be sent in May 2023.
Applications are no longer possible (deadline 28 April 2023).

For information and inquiries, please contact eotraining@esa.int

The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) are organising a fourth joint training course on Atmospheric Composition

Dates and links to join

• 4 – 6 October: Hands-on sessions (restricted to selected participants) Links to join the sessions and more information on the program will be shared with the group of selected attendees.

This event continues the series of joint schools on atmospheric composition organised since 2019.

Presentations and recordings

28 September 

• F. Fierli, EUMETSAT with Organising Committee – Introduction. How the Copernicus program addresses monitoring and understanding air composition.
• T. Shepherd, University of Reading – The storyline approach to explaining extreme events and articulating plausible futures.
• C. Retscher, ESA, F. Fierli, EUMETSAT – ESA & EUMETSAT EO Activities.
• P. Levelt, NCAR- Air quality and greenhouse gas observations from space: indicators of human activity.

Recordings of the first day of lectures: 
1. Morning sessions.  2. Afternoon sessions.

29 September

• A.M. Sundstroem, FMI – Basics of aerosol and trace gas retrievals from UV-VIS-type satellite instruments.
• M. Doutriaux-Boucher, EUMETSAT – Sustainable production of climate data records.
• C. Clerbaux, LATMOS-CNRS – What can we see using the IASI infrared remote sensor?

Recording of the second day of lectures.

30 September

• J. Marshall, DLR – Global Climate Models for Chemistry and Aerosol
• M. Parrington, ECMWF – Emissions, wildfires, and monitoring atmospheric impacts
• A. Inness, ECMWF – Data Assimilation: Integrating satellite data into the CAMS global system
  
  Recording of the third day of lectures. 
  
  

2022 Fourth Joint School – Description

Specific goals
The school will present the state-of-the-art in atmospheric composition monitoring and modelling with a focus on chemistry and climate. It aims to provide an end-to-end overview of observations, remote sensing, modelling and science questions enhancing the capacity to access and analyse state-of-the-art datasets. The course also aims to foster collaboration amongst participants and encourage the development of individual and team projects using the data, resources and methodologies presented.

Target audience
The school is of interest for early-career scientists, researchers from academia and research institutes, young scientists from industry, and anyone interested in atmospheric composition monitoring and modeling.

Format The school is taking place entirely online with 3 days of lectures and 3 days practical session distributed over two weeks. The school will consist of the following components: – webinars with keynote speakers, – open discussions, – step-by-step interactive data discovery, – team projects design and development.

Main topics of the school:

• Principles of atmospheric chemistry/dynamics and relevance on climate.
• Observational principles of remote sensing and in-situ.
• Principles of global and regional models, analysis and reanalysis.
• Review on key scientific results and open questions.

Lecturers and speakers

Deadlines and contacts

** UPDATE **

Applications closed on 3rd Sept. The selection process is ongoing, candidates will be notified soon on their participation in the practical sessions (4-6 Oct.). In the meantime we are looking forward to meeting you all at the lectures (28 -30 Sept.). This first part of the school is open to all interested participants.

How to apply

Please fill in and submit the application form for the practical session (4-6 Oct) on the EUMETSAT training platform by 3 September 2022. In case you do not have an account on the platform, please follow the instructions shown in the course description to create one. You must register and log in to your personal account in order to send your application.

Contact EUMETSAT training team for any additional enquiry

The course

The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) are organising a second joint training course on Atmospheric Composition with a focus on air quality and data interoperability.
The school will be fully on-line with lectures, debates and practical sessions. We aim at fully involving participants in an interactive way.

This event follows the first joint school.

Continue reading “Second Joint ESA/EUMETSAT/ECMWF Online Training Course on Atmospheric Composition – 16-20 November 2020”

The course

The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) are organising a first joint training course on Atmospheric Composition with a focus on air quality.

Continue reading “First joint training course on Atmospheric Composition”