Sea Pollution
Due to the offshore activities in Norway, models are developed for calculating transport of pollution of oil at sea surface and at depth. A model for calculating transport and fluctuation of mineral salts and algae along the Norwegian coastline has also been developed in close co-operation with the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen.Air Pollution
The research on air pollution is focused around developing atmospheric calculations of fluxes that can be used for scientifically based decisions in environmental questions.
The research is focusing on acidification, eutrophication, photo-oxidant pollutants and particulate matter in air. The institute
contributes to the European Measurement and Evaluation Program (EMEP) as Meteorological Synthesizing Center West (MSC-W). The main task of the institute is to develop numerical air pollution
models for searching the sources of observed concentrations of sulphur, nitrogen, ozone and atmospheric particles in Europe.
The development of air pollution models has been useful for the UNECE Convention of Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
(LRTAP) for constitution of international protocols on emission reductions, and for the EU-commission through cooperation
within the CAFE program (Clear Air for Europe).
The work at the institute is carried out in collaboration with a broad network of scientists and national experts who contribute
to the systematic collection, analysis and reporting of emission data, measurement data and integrated assessment results.
The co-ordination and intercalibration of chemical air quality and precipitation measurements are carried out at the Norwegian Institute of Air Research (NILU).
The storage and distribution of reliable information on emissions and emissions projections is the task of the Meteorological
Synthesizing Centre - West (MSC-W). The MSC-W is also responsible for the modelling assessment of sulphur, nitrogen, photooxidant
pollutants and atmospheric particles. The modelling development for heavy metals and POPs is the responsibility of the Meteorological
Synthesizing Centre - East (MSC-E). Analysis of scenarios for cost-effective reductions of acidification, eutrophication,
tropospheric ozone and related phenomena, especially fine particulate matter pollution through the RAINS model is the main
task of the Center for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM).
Researchers at the institute co-operate with NILU on the HELCOM project. Researchers at the institute also contribute to The
European Environment Agency (EEA) through supporting The European Topic Centre on air quality and Climate Change (ETC/ACC).
