Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure

Hendrik Fuchs; Niklas Illmann; Amalia Muñoz; Mila Ródenas; Bénédicte Picquet-Varrault; M. Rami Alfarra; Cecilia Arsene; Iustinian G. Bejan; David M. Bell; Merete Bilde; Alexander Böhmländer; Mixtli Campos-Pineda; Mathieu Cazaunau; Patrice Coll; Véronique Daële; Claudia Di Biagio; Michael Flynn; Paola Formenti; Hartmut Herrmann; Kristina Höhler; Thorsten Hohaus; Matthew S. Johnson; Eija Juurola; Niku Kivekäs; Jan Kaiser; Christos Kaltsonoudis; Paolo Laj; Dario Massabò; Federico Mazzei; Gordon McFiggans; Max R. McGillen; Abdelwahid Mellouki; Peter Mettke; Ottmar Möhler; Falk Mothes; Dennis Niedermeier; Anna Novelli; Romeo I. Olariu; Spyros N. Pandis; Iulia Patroescu-Klotz; Rosa Maria Petracca Altieri; Paolo Prati; Claudiu Roman; Albert A. Ruth; Harald Saathoff; Silvio Schmalfuß; Frank Stratmann; Virginia Vernocchi; Aristeidis Voliotis; Jens Voigtländer; Annele Virtanen; Andreas Wahner; Robert Wagner; John Wenger; Sören Zorn; Peter Wiesen; Jean Francois Doussin

doi:10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026

Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure

Hendrik Fuchs^*
, Niklas Illmann
, Amalia Muñoz
, Mila Ródenas
, Bénédicte Picquet-Varrault
, M. Rami Alfarra
, Cecilia Arsene
, Iustinian G. Bejan
, David M. Bell
, Merete Bilde
, Alexander Böhmländer
, Mixtli Campos-Pineda
, Mathieu Cazaunau
, Patrice Coll
, Véronique Daële
, Claudia Di Biagio
, Michael Flynn
, Paola Formenti
, Hartmut Herrmann
, Kristina Höhler

Thorsten Hohaus, Matthew S. Johnson, Eija Juurola, Niku Kivekäs, Jan Kaiser, Christos Kaltsonoudis, Paolo Laj, Dario Massabò, Federico Mazzei, Gordon McFiggans, Max R. McGillen, Abdelwahid Mellouki, Peter Mettke, Ottmar Möhler, Falk Mothes, Dennis Niedermeier, Anna Novelli, Romeo I. Olariu, Spyros N. Pandis, Iulia Patroescu-Klotz, Rosa Maria Petracca Altieri, Paolo Prati, Claudiu Roman, Albert A. Ruth, Harald Saathoff, Silvio Schmalfuß, Frank Stratmann, Virginia Vernocchi, Aristeidis Voliotis, Jens Voigtländer, Annele Virtanen, Andreas Wahner, Robert Wagner, John Wenger, Sören Zorn, Peter Wiesen, Jean Francois Doussin

^*Corresponding author for this work

QEERI - Environment Center

Jülich Research Centre
University of Cologne
University of Wuppertal
Fundación Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo (CEAM)
Université Paris-Est Créteil
University of Manchester
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi
Paul Scherrer Institute
Aarhus University
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
University College Cork
Université Paris Cité
CNRS
Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research
University of Copenhagen
ACTRIS ERIC
University of East Anglia
Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Chemical Processes
Université Grenoble Alpes
University of Helsinki
World Meteorological Organization
National Institute for Nuclear Physics
University of Genoa
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
University of Patras
National Research Council of Italy
University of Eastern Finland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Atmospheric simulation chambers are one of the best available tools to study atmospheric processes, as they enable experiments under conditions that are both reproducible and well-controlled. 16 unique simulation chamber facilities are part of the distributed pan-European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). Their research focuses on fundamental gas-phase reaction kinetics, complex reaction mechanisms, aerosol formation and cloud chemistry, as well as other aspects of atmospheric processes. They use both simplified and complex air mixtures in their research. Results of chamber experiments enable the discovery of unknown chemical mechanisms and the determination of physicochemical parameters of atmospheric constituents. Simulation chambers are ideal for testing instruments and quality assurance of their data. The variability of their research capability is reflected in differences in the size (ranging from approximately 1–270 m³), the wall material, and the type of instrumentation used to measure physical parameters, gas-phase species, physicochemical properties of aerosol particles as well as cloud droplets and ice crystals. Most chambers in ACTRIS are indoors and use artificial light sources to initiate photochemical reactions while some chambers are located outside so that natural sunlight can be used. During experiments, steady state conditions may be achieved, the evolution of initial conditions may be observed, or expansion and mixing techniques may induce cloud formation. In this paper, the ACTRIS simulation chambers are described along with the quality control measures for carrying out experiments and reporting data. An overview of how users from the research community and industry can gain access to the ACTRIS simulation chambers and associated data centre is presented. Recent developments in the application of ACTRIS simulation chambers for answering current and future atmospheric research questions are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4165-4199
Number of pages	35
Journal	Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Volume	19
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026
Publication status	Published - 25 Jun 2026

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10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026

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Fuchs, H., Illmann, N., Muñoz, A., Ródenas, M., Picquet-Varrault, B., Alfarra, M. R., Arsene, C., Bejan, I. G., Bell, D. M., Bilde, M., Böhmländer, A., Campos-Pineda, M., Cazaunau, M., Coll, P., Daële, V., Di Biagio, C., Flynn, M., Formenti, P., Herrmann, H., ... Doussin, J. F. (2026). Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 19(12), 4165-4199. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026

@article{0b91a9e778a84d9490029b9bbdda6686,

title = "Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure",

abstract = "Atmospheric simulation chambers are one of the best available tools to study atmospheric processes, as they enable experiments under conditions that are both reproducible and well-controlled. 16 unique simulation chamber facilities are part of the distributed pan-European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). Their research focuses on fundamental gas-phase reaction kinetics, complex reaction mechanisms, aerosol formation and cloud chemistry, as well as other aspects of atmospheric processes. They use both simplified and complex air mixtures in their research. Results of chamber experiments enable the discovery of unknown chemical mechanisms and the determination of physicochemical parameters of atmospheric constituents. Simulation chambers are ideal for testing instruments and quality assurance of their data. The variability of their research capability is reflected in differences in the size (ranging from approximately 1{\textendash}270 m3), the wall material, and the type of instrumentation used to measure physical parameters, gas-phase species, physicochemical properties of aerosol particles as well as cloud droplets and ice crystals. Most chambers in ACTRIS are indoors and use artificial light sources to initiate photochemical reactions while some chambers are located outside so that natural sunlight can be used. During experiments, steady state conditions may be achieved, the evolution of initial conditions may be observed, or expansion and mixing techniques may induce cloud formation. In this paper, the ACTRIS simulation chambers are described along with the quality control measures for carrying out experiments and reporting data. An overview of how users from the research community and industry can gain access to the ACTRIS simulation chambers and associated data centre is presented. Recent developments in the application of ACTRIS simulation chambers for answering current and future atmospheric research questions are discussed.",

author = "Hendrik Fuchs and Niklas Illmann and Amalia Mu{\~n}oz and Mila R{\'o}denas and B{\'e}n{\'e}dicte Picquet-Varrault and Alfarra, \{M. Rami\} and Cecilia Arsene and Bejan, \{Iustinian G.\} and Bell, \{David M.\} and Merete Bilde and Alexander B{\"o}hml{\"a}nder and Mixtli Campos-Pineda and Mathieu Cazaunau and Patrice Coll and V{\'e}ronique Da{\"e}le and \{Di Biagio\}, Claudia and Michael Flynn and Paola Formenti and Hartmut Herrmann and Kristina H{\"o}hler and Thorsten Hohaus and Johnson, \{Matthew S.\} and Eija Juurola and Niku Kivek{\"a}s and Jan Kaiser and Christos Kaltsonoudis and Paolo Laj and Dario Massab{\`o} and Federico Mazzei and Gordon McFiggans and McGillen, \{Max R.\} and Abdelwahid Mellouki and Peter Mettke and Ottmar M{\"o}hler and Falk Mothes and Dennis Niedermeier and Anna Novelli and Olariu, \{Romeo I.\} and Pandis, \{Spyros N.\} and Iulia Patroescu-Klotz and \{Petracca Altieri\}, \{Rosa Maria\} and Paolo Prati and Claudiu Roman and Ruth, \{Albert A.\} and Harald Saathoff and Silvio Schmalfu{\ss} and Frank Stratmann and Virginia Vernocchi and Aristeidis Voliotis and Jens Voigtl{\"a}nder and Annele Virtanen and Andreas Wahner and Robert Wagner and John Wenger and S{\"o}ren Zorn and Peter Wiesen and Doussin, \{Jean Francois\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Hendrik Fuchs et al.",

year = "2026",

month = jun,

day = "25",

doi = "10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "4165--4199",

journal = "Atmospheric Measurement Techniques",

issn = "1867-1381",

publisher = "Copernicus Publications",

number = "12",

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Fuchs, H, Illmann, N, Muñoz, A, Ródenas, M, Picquet-Varrault, B, Alfarra, MR, Arsene, C, Bejan, IG, Bell, DM, Bilde, M, Böhmländer, A, Campos-Pineda, M, Cazaunau, M, Coll, P, Daële, V, Di Biagio, C, Flynn, M, Formenti, P, Herrmann, H, Höhler, K, Hohaus, T, Johnson, MS, Juurola, E, Kivekäs, N, Kaiser, J, Kaltsonoudis, C, Laj, P, Massabò, D, Mazzei, F, McFiggans, G, McGillen, MR, Mellouki, A, Mettke, P, Möhler, O, Mothes, F, Niedermeier, D, Novelli, A, Olariu, RI, Pandis, SN, Patroescu-Klotz, I, Petracca Altieri, RM, Prati, P, Roman, C, Ruth, AA, Saathoff, H, Schmalfuß, S, Stratmann, F, Vernocchi, V, Voliotis, A, Voigtländer, J, Virtanen, A, Wahner, A, Wagner, R, Wenger, J, Zorn, S, Wiesen, P & Doussin, JF 2026, 'Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure', Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, vol. 19, no. 12, pp. 4165-4199. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026

TY - JOUR

T1 - Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure

AU - Fuchs, Hendrik

AU - Illmann, Niklas

AU - Muñoz, Amalia

AU - Ródenas, Mila

AU - Picquet-Varrault, Bénédicte

AU - Alfarra, M. Rami

AU - Arsene, Cecilia

AU - Bejan, Iustinian G.

AU - Bell, David M.

AU - Bilde, Merete

AU - Böhmländer, Alexander

AU - Campos-Pineda, Mixtli

AU - Cazaunau, Mathieu

AU - Coll, Patrice

AU - Daële, Véronique

AU - Di Biagio, Claudia

AU - Flynn, Michael

AU - Formenti, Paola

AU - Herrmann, Hartmut

AU - Höhler, Kristina

AU - Hohaus, Thorsten

AU - Johnson, Matthew S.

AU - Juurola, Eija

AU - Kivekäs, Niku

AU - Kaiser, Jan

AU - Kaltsonoudis, Christos

AU - Laj, Paolo

AU - Massabò, Dario

AU - Mazzei, Federico

AU - McFiggans, Gordon

AU - McGillen, Max R.

AU - Mellouki, Abdelwahid

AU - Mettke, Peter

AU - Möhler, Ottmar

AU - Mothes, Falk

AU - Niedermeier, Dennis

AU - Novelli, Anna

AU - Olariu, Romeo I.

AU - Pandis, Spyros N.

AU - Patroescu-Klotz, Iulia

AU - Petracca Altieri, Rosa Maria

AU - Prati, Paolo

AU - Roman, Claudiu

AU - Ruth, Albert A.

AU - Saathoff, Harald

AU - Schmalfuß, Silvio

AU - Stratmann, Frank

AU - Vernocchi, Virginia

AU - Voliotis, Aristeidis

AU - Voigtländer, Jens

AU - Virtanen, Annele

AU - Wahner, Andreas

AU - Wagner, Robert

AU - Wenger, John

AU - Zorn, Sören

AU - Wiesen, Peter

AU - Doussin, Jean Francois

PY - 2026/6/25

Y1 - 2026/6/25

N2 - Atmospheric simulation chambers are one of the best available tools to study atmospheric processes, as they enable experiments under conditions that are both reproducible and well-controlled. 16 unique simulation chamber facilities are part of the distributed pan-European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). Their research focuses on fundamental gas-phase reaction kinetics, complex reaction mechanisms, aerosol formation and cloud chemistry, as well as other aspects of atmospheric processes. They use both simplified and complex air mixtures in their research. Results of chamber experiments enable the discovery of unknown chemical mechanisms and the determination of physicochemical parameters of atmospheric constituents. Simulation chambers are ideal for testing instruments and quality assurance of their data. The variability of their research capability is reflected in differences in the size (ranging from approximately 1–270 m3), the wall material, and the type of instrumentation used to measure physical parameters, gas-phase species, physicochemical properties of aerosol particles as well as cloud droplets and ice crystals. Most chambers in ACTRIS are indoors and use artificial light sources to initiate photochemical reactions while some chambers are located outside so that natural sunlight can be used. During experiments, steady state conditions may be achieved, the evolution of initial conditions may be observed, or expansion and mixing techniques may induce cloud formation. In this paper, the ACTRIS simulation chambers are described along with the quality control measures for carrying out experiments and reporting data. An overview of how users from the research community and industry can gain access to the ACTRIS simulation chambers and associated data centre is presented. Recent developments in the application of ACTRIS simulation chambers for answering current and future atmospheric research questions are discussed.

AB - Atmospheric simulation chambers are one of the best available tools to study atmospheric processes, as they enable experiments under conditions that are both reproducible and well-controlled. 16 unique simulation chamber facilities are part of the distributed pan-European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). Their research focuses on fundamental gas-phase reaction kinetics, complex reaction mechanisms, aerosol formation and cloud chemistry, as well as other aspects of atmospheric processes. They use both simplified and complex air mixtures in their research. Results of chamber experiments enable the discovery of unknown chemical mechanisms and the determination of physicochemical parameters of atmospheric constituents. Simulation chambers are ideal for testing instruments and quality assurance of their data. The variability of their research capability is reflected in differences in the size (ranging from approximately 1–270 m3), the wall material, and the type of instrumentation used to measure physical parameters, gas-phase species, physicochemical properties of aerosol particles as well as cloud droplets and ice crystals. Most chambers in ACTRIS are indoors and use artificial light sources to initiate photochemical reactions while some chambers are located outside so that natural sunlight can be used. During experiments, steady state conditions may be achieved, the evolution of initial conditions may be observed, or expansion and mixing techniques may induce cloud formation. In this paper, the ACTRIS simulation chambers are described along with the quality control measures for carrying out experiments and reporting data. An overview of how users from the research community and industry can gain access to the ACTRIS simulation chambers and associated data centre is presented. Recent developments in the application of ACTRIS simulation chambers for answering current and future atmospheric research questions are discussed.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105043849372

U2 - 10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026

DO - 10.5194/amt-19-4165-2026

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105043849372

SN - 1867-1381

VL - 19

SP - 4165

EP - 4199

JO - Atmospheric Measurement Techniques

JF - Atmospheric Measurement Techniques

IS - 12

ER -

Atmospheric Simulation Chambers in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure

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