The Observations and Measurements for Environment and Climate Laboratory carries out studies and research activities for the characterisation and remediation of the territory and understanding of the climate system and its variability, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the environment and climate, employing a multidisciplinary approach centred on the measurement, analysis and interpretation of environmental and climate parameters collected both during specific measurement campaigns and as part of longterm observations. The Laboratory offers consultancy and specialised services in the field of planning and implementation of initiatives to develop, protect and restore the environment and cultural heritage in support of the public administrations.

In these areas, the Laboratory carries out research, investigations and assessments related to:

• the characteristics, behaviour and fate of natural elements (and their compounds) and organic contaminants in natural and anthropized environments, studying solid, liquid and gaseous matrices;
• the development and validation of innovative analytical methods, procedures and analytical/diagnostic systems for land characterisation and remediation;
• microbial diversity, identifying the potential and applicability of microorganism-mediated processes as a resource for environmental technologies and for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage;
• the technological development of sensors for environmental measurements, the improvement of industrial processes and the conservation of cultural heritage;
• the environmental and health impact of plant protection products, providing technical and scientific consulting to national and international institutions in charge of their regulation, including the development of information systems to support the choice of plant protection products in agriculture;
• the understanding of the climate system, particularly in the Mediterranean and polar regions, based on long-term observations of key atmospheric parameters and components;
• the development of methods and instruments for earth and climate observation by in situ measurements and remote sensing techniques from the ground and space;
• process studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms that modulate climate variability, induced by natural changes and/or human activity;
• the study of the interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean and their role in the processes that regulate the climate on a regional scale;
• the design and implementation of measurement campaigns and the definition of observational strategies for the development and verification of geophysical and environmental models, in particular for atmospheric dynamics and air quality models;
• the participation in national and international measurement networks and infrastructures for the study of the climate by managing integrated observatories and measurement stations in the Mediterranean (Lampedusa, Madonie, Sicily), Antarctica (Mario Zucchelli Station and Dome C) and the Arctic (Thule, Greenland).