Press release

Two dozen researchers from Belgium and Switzerland who monitor the climate by performing measurements at the high altitude research station of Jungfraujoch met at the Science Center ("Maison des sciences") of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) in Bern last week to discuss their most recent results.

The exceptional location of the Jungfrauloch research station enables scientists to measure atmospheric impurities and even pinpoint regional sources in Europe.  Jungfrauloch's unique location, in high altitude, makes it possible, if weather conditions are known, to determine both  if and also where in Europe the atmosphere is contaminated by prohibited substances. The average temperature has increased by approximately 0.4°C within the past ten years.  Jungfraujoch is thus expected to have three times as many thaw days in 2050 as now.  Sulfur hexafluoride used in high power switches currently increases atmospheric pollution by 4% each year.  As this gas has a life span of 3200 years in the atmosphere, it is imperative that measures be taken immediately.

There is more encouraging news, however. Measures taken following the Montreal protocol - which aims to protect the ozone layer - indeed work and have contributed to reducing GHG emissions.

The fact that a large number of measurements taken at Jungfraujoch go as far back as the early 1900's makes it possible to reconstruct the detailed evolution of atmospheric phenomena.

Researchers from the University of Liège have been working at Jungfraujoch since 1950 and collaborating with the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy since 1990. Their observations are important for the monitoring of disturbances to atmospheric composition and help support the validation of satellite measurements.

Discover GIRPAS-ULg (Groupe Infra-Rouge de Physique Atmosphérique et Solaire-University of Liège) and its research work at Jungfraujoch.

Watch the clip of ULg's team at work at the scientific station of Jungfraujoch.