R-NOX monitoring stations help to assess Antarctica's air quality

R-NOX, a Hi-Tech Park resident, has started monitoring atmospheric air quality in Antarctica for the first time. Within the framework of the joint project with the Republican Centre for Polar Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the professional gas and aerosol analyser AirNod has been transported to the Vechernyaya Mountain area of the Ice Continent.

AirNod has already been successfully operated in various world-class projects. Before sending the device to Antarctica the specialists tested it for use in extreme temperatures.

Reliable data on the air quality at the South Pole has been obtained already from January 2024, and the first results will be presented at the conference in Chile - "The global Antarctic research event, SCAR 2024".

This long-term and ambitious project represents a significant step forward in air quality monitoring in Antarctica using compact stations and once again confirms the uniqueness of this equipment and its operability in harsh conditions.

As noted by experts, the Antarctic territory is very sensitive to climate change. Information on the content of various substances that affect climate is important for assessing the pollution level and its trends.

Measurements of surface concentrations of pollutants in East Antarctica, where the Belarusian station is located, have not been carried out before. Remote assessment methods have been used. The data obtained with the help of AirNod will play a big role in the headway of the Antarctic phenomena study.