Welcome to the
Center for Aerosol In-Situ - European Center for Aerosol Calibration and Characterization (CAIS-ECAC)
In the frame of the European Research Infrastructure ACTRIS-ERIC, the Center for Aerosol In-Situ - European Center for Aerosol Calibration and Characterization (CAIS-ECAC) is one of the Central Facilities for the ACTRIS National Facilities and external users worldwide. CAIS-ECAC’s mission is to offer operational support for quality assured and controlled physical and chemical aerosol in situ measurements & sampling, to conduct traceable instrument calibration, and to perform laboratory analysis of aerosol samples. Furthermore, CAIS-ECAC develops and offers Near-Real-Time tools for fast data submission and central quality control.
CAIS-ECAC is a consortium, consisting of seven facilities. The WCCAP (World Calibration Center for Aerosol Physics), PACC (Prague Aerosol Calibration Center), and CCC (Cluster Calibration Center) are responsible for aerosol microphysical and optical aerosol variables. The OCTAC-CC (Organic Tracer and Aerosol Constituents - Calibration Center), ERLAP (European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution), the ACMCC (Aerosol Chemical Monitor Calibration Center) and EMC2 (Element Mass Calibration Center) are in charge of the chemical & elemental aerosol variables.
To visit the CF and the workshops, please click on the icon.
which consists of
Seven Central Facilities
and is responsible for 65 National Facilities in 18 countries in Europe.
Events & Announcement
Event:
ACTRIS CAIS-ECAC Aerosol In-Situ Course 2026
Cource date:
spring workshop: 14 March – 20 March, 2026autumn workshop: 29 September – 03 October, 2026
Application deadline:
23 January, 2026
Lectures:
Fundamentals & Methods for Aerosol Sampling and Physical & Chemical In-Situ Measurements
Location:
National Atmospheric Observatory Kosetice, Czech Republic
Additional information for departure:
The bus (the same which will bring you to NAOK) will drive you back to Prague – again both locations (main railway station and the airport – the order depends on your common decision – based on who is leaving the earliest usually). The bus is scheduled between 8:00 and 9:00 A.M. so that you can have a breakfast at NAOK – if none of you need to leave early we can schedule the bus even later. If some people booked earlier flights/trains (it takes slightly less than 2 hours to Prague), then you will have to arrange a separate transport (we can help to arrange it). To avoid separate transportation and use all the same bus back to Prague we recommended to book fights accordingly to the time schedule announced. Thanks you.
Course announcement and application:
Workshops at Central Facilities
Event:
WCCAP workshops
Location:
TROPOS Leipzig at WCCAP
The Central Facility WCCAP in Leipzig, Germany is hosting the next intercomparison workshop for National Facilities in:
- March 02 - March 06, 2026
- March 09 - March 13, 2026
- March 16 - March 20, 2026
Activity &
Newsletter
Meetings
Minutes
last update January 2024
last update September 2022Measurement
Guidelines
Labeling
Process
Labeling Process Step 1A - initial acceptance
The labeling process for a ACTRIS National Facility consists of several steps:
The sketch explains the procedure of the step 1a, the initial acceptance, at CAIS-ECAC.
- step 1a (initial acceptance)
- step 1b (performance evaluation after 2 consecutive years of operation)
- step 1c (review approval and obtaining the ACTRIS label)
- step 2 (regular re-evaluation)
Procedure Of The Labeling
Operational SupportOperational support which is organized by CAIS-ECAC on regular basis:
Operational Support | Instrument | Frequency | Modality of provision |
| Calibration Workshops at CAIS-ECAC | Microphysical & optical instruments | biannually | Call launched by CAIS-ECAC |
| Round-Robin-Tests at CAIS-ECAC | OC/EC Organic tracers Element analysis | annually | Call launched by CAIS-ECAC |
| NF audits | Not regular | Call launched by CAIS-ECAC |
Head of the European Center for Aerosol Calibration and Characterization (CAIS-ECAC) and Researcher in Atmospheric Microphysics
The Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) is a research institute of the Leibniz Association and an internationally renowned institute in the field of aerosol and cloud research. ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure, www.actris.eu) is a European research infrastructure for quality-assured observation of aerosols, clouds, and short-lived trace gases. ACTRIS serves to investigate the complex interactions between gases, aerosols and clouds, especially in the areas of climate and air quality.
We are looking for an outstanding personality in the field of aerosol research with in-depth experience in measurement technology and quality assurance for the Department of Atmospheric Microphysics (AMP).
In addition to research activities, the position encompasses the lead of CAIS-ECAC. It is important to maintain close contact with all institutions within CAIS-ECAC and to work together to shape the future of ACTRIS and CAIS-ECAC. An enthusiasm for international cooperation and a vision for further development are just as important as technical expertise and experience in applying for international third-party funding in order to continue and strengthen the consortium through new European applications.
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