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Science under the blue sky

On this International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, we invite you to take a look under the bonnet of meteorology, a science that is as varied and essential as it is unknown.

Lâcher d’un ballon sonde dans l’atmosphère pour un radiosondage sur les bords de Seine, à Paris, durant la campagne de mesures Paname 2022.
Lâcher d’un ballon sonde dans l’atmosphère pour un radiosondage sur les bords de Seine, à Paris, durant la campagne de mesures Paname 2022.

© Cyril Frésillon / CNRM / CNRS Photothèque

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Summer is coming to an end, and with it, the long, cloudless weeks when only the sun disturbs the unbroken blue sky, are about to disappear. Aesthetically, it’s a shame, but for farmers and city dwellers stifled by the many summer heatwaves, it’s a relief. Because this year, the International Day of “Clean Air for Blue Skies” (how poetic!) clearly has a specific theme: the effects of climate change have been felt with unprecedented intensity. The backdrop is often the depressing fact that some climate change deniers still confuse meteorology and climate.

You can find an overview of the meteorological research conducted by the CNRS laboratories. Understanding what is actually happening at a number of levels, that it is not just about measuring temperatures; you also need to constantly probe the atmosphere with balloons which are small masterpieces of technology, continually survey glaciers and coastlines, develop instruments capable of measuring the infamous “heat islands” which make towns and cities stifling in the summer, and even analyse the sources of disturbances, such as greenhouse gases. In short, it is a challenging but fascinating task. Come and meet our meteorologists, far away from the bright red maps of France which have filled our minds this summer…

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Cet été, les rues de Paris se transforment en laboratoire pour comprendre et limiter un phénomène redouté par les citadins : l'îlot de chaleur, causé par des matériaux qui emmagasinent l'énergie du soleil la journée et la restituent pendant la nuit. Découvrez les recherches menées dans le cadre du projet "Paname 2022" sur la qualité de l'air et le climat urbain.

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Ilots de chaleur : quel climat pour demain ?
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How can the clouds that may be behind violent storms and floods be identified? This report sets out for the Ardèche region in southeastern France, where scientists track dangerous clouds using a lidar, a cutting-edge instrument that helps elucidate how they form, and more generally how to anticipate extreme weather events.

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Understanding Clouds
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The Youtube channel Zeste de science explores all aspects of scientific research, proving that even the most complicated scientific facts can be explained in less than 5 minutes, and that even the most seemingly trivial events of everyday life, if thoroughly studied, can contribute to the biggest technological advances. Episode 1: When a latex balloon bursts, two scenarios may happen: either it divides into two fragments (meaning the balloon is moderately inflated), or in multiple…

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Science of Balloons (The) ZdS#1
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Discover the studies behind the statistics of 6th IPCC report and the research work of scientists who aim to gain a better understanding of climate change and its impact. This first episode presents the work carried out by members of the LSCE (Laboratoire des sciences du climat et de l'environnement) at the Traînou site in France. These scientists collect air samples using stratospheric balloons that reach altitudes of over 30 km. The analysis results of these samples are then used…

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Greenhouse gases: balloons in the sky
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This documentary, based on the account of various scientists, dives us into the heart of the intensive ChArMEx (Chemistry Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment) research campaign mounted during summer 2013. Researchers are analysing the atmospheric pollution, tracking a huge dust plume sent up from the Sahara Desert and rised above the Mediterranean area towards Europe. The purpose of the project is to study air pollution in Western Mediterranean basin, in order to understand its origins…

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Science on air

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