Piraeus AQ monitoring station

Urban atmospheric observatory

Continuous atmospheric monitoring in central Athens

The Thissio Air Monitoring Station has operated since 2013 at the National Observatory of Athens, overlooking the Attica basin from the historic Hill of Nymphs.

Its elevated urban-background location is ideal for observing aerosols and pollutants originating from urban, regional and long-range transport sources.

The station supports high-resolution research into atmospheric composition, urban air quality, climate, health, ecosystems and the effects of pollution on historic monuments.

2013 Operating since
105 m Station elevation
24/7 Continuous observations
3 Research infrastructures
Research infrastructure

Connected to national and European observation networks

Thissio AMS contributes to coordinated atmospheric observations through PANACEA and the ACTRIS pan-European research infrastructure.

The station has also supported greenhouse-gas monitoring within ICOS, providing high-quality measurements and near real-time information to researchers, citizens, public authorities and private organisations.

PANACEA National atmospheric infrastructure
ACTRIS European atmospheric research network
ICOS Greenhouse-gas observations
Experimental campaigns

Specialised atmospheric measurements

The station provides transnational access and hosts targeted scientific campaigns, instrument evaluations and advanced atmospheric observations.

01

PANACEA campaigns

Seasonal atmospheric measurement campaigns conducted during 2019–2020.

02

Wintertime smog

Monitoring of winter urban-smog episodes in Athens since 2014.

03

Climate measurements

Cloud Condensation Nuclei measurements performed during 2017–2018.

04

Oxidative potential

Health-related aerosol oxidative-potential observations conducted since 2016.

05

Instrument evaluation

Evaluation of an automated Total Carbon analyser between 2019 and 2021.

06

UAV observations

Targeted airborne observations of wood-burning emissions during 2015–2016.

Sensor evaluation and calibration

Low- and medium-cost atmospheric sensors are evaluated through intercomparison with reference-grade instruments operated at the station.

Measurement capabilities

High-resolution atmospheric characterisation

Online instruments, aerosol samplers and laboratory analysis provide complementary information about atmospheric gases, particles and chemical composition.

Atmospheric gases

  • CO and NOx
  • SO2 and O3
  • CO2 and CH4
  • Volatile organic compounds

Particulate matter

  • PM1
  • PM2.5
  • PM10
  • Black carbon fractions

Aerosol properties

  • Light absorption
  • Light scattering
  • Particle number
  • Size distribution

Chemical composition

  • Inorganic ions
  • Organic aerosol
  • OC and EC
  • Trace and heavy metals
Filter and laboratory analysis

Detailed analysis of collected aerosol samples

High- and low-volume samplers collect PM2.5 and PM10 samples over 24-hour periods, or shorter intervals during intensive campaigns.

Routine analyses include anions, cations, elemental and organic carbon and aerosol oxidative potential. Depending on research needs, additional analyses include metals, brown carbon, biomass-burning tracers, PAHs and quinones.

Cl− NO3− SO42− NH4+ OC / EC Oxidative potential Trace metals Brown carbon PAHs
Overview of the Thissio Air Monitoring Station
Overview of the Thissio Air Monitoring Station at the National Observatory of Athens.
Continuous instrumentation

Instruments operated at Thissio AMS

The station combines gas analysers, aerosol monitors, optical instruments, chemical-speciation systems and automatic sampling equipment.

Pollutant or property Equipment
Carbon monoxide CO APMA-360 analyser, Horiba Ltd.
Nitrogen oxides NOx Serinus 40, ACOEM Ecotech
Nitrogen oxides NOx APNA-360 analyser, Horiba Ltd.**
Sulphur dioxide SO2* APSA-360 analyser, Horiba Ltd.
Ozone O3 49-i analyser, Thermo Scientific
Greenhouse gases: CO2, CH4 and H2O G2301 analyser, Picarro Inc.
Volatile organic compounds, BTEX and C6–C12 GC 866 airmoVOC Auto GC-FID, AIRMOTEC AG
Particulate matter PM2.5 5014i beta-gauge monitor, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Particulate matter PM10** FH 62 I-R beta-gauge monitor, Eberline
PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 Model 11-D, Grimm Aerosol Technik
Black carbon and aerosol absorption Seven-wavelength AE33 Aethalometer, Magee Scientific
Black carbon* Model 5012 Multi-Angle Absorption Photometer, Thermo Scientific
Aerosol scattering Model 3563 Integrating Nephelometer, TSI
Aerosol number-size distribution Model 3034 Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer, TSI
Particle-number concentration Model 3010 Condensation Particle Counter, TSI
Non-refractory submicron aerosol composition Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor, Aerodyne Inc.
PM1 ionic composition** PILS–Ion Chromatograph, Metrohm–Dionex
Sequential low-volume sampling: PM2.5 and PM2.5–10** Model 2025 Dichotomous Partisol-Plus, Thermo Scientific
Sequential low-volume sampling: PM2.5 or PM10 LVS 3.1–PNS 15 sampler, Derenda
High-volume PM2.5 sampling Digitel DH-77
Data acquisition Congrego version 4.0.1, Ecotech

* Equipment also used in the Mobile Air Quality Monitoring Station.

** Equipment used during past long-term measurements.

Scientific results

Measurements supporting atmospheric research

Data collected at Thissio AMS contribute to scientific studies, conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications focused on atmospheric composition and urban air quality.

View publications