Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy

The Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) is a Belgian federal scientific research institute. Its main tasks are research and public service in space aeronomy. Nowadays, aeronomy must be understood as the multidisciplinary fundamental and applied science that studies the chemistry and physics of celestial bodies' atmospheres, magnetospheres and interplanetary space. It is based on observations, field and laboratory experiments, theoretical work, and numerical modelling, including data assimilation techniques. The study of aeronomy is also a source of knowledge of high societal interest, with applications and services for society as a whole.

Four scientific divisions and one scientific program are the backbones of BIRA-IASB, in which research and development activities are conducted and scientific services are supported. The four divisions are articulated around four main research themes:

·       Space Physics focuses on the ionised upper atmosphere and its transition into the magnetosphere and interplanetary space Space Weather, evolution of planetary atmospheres, auroras, etc.

·       Atmospheric Composition: Sources and Sinks aims at a detailed characterisation and understanding of the composition of the lower atmosphere: monitoring key chemical species (greenhouse gases, ozone, ozone precursors, ammonia, organic compounds, etc.) through IR instrumentation and modelling

·       Atmospheric Composition: Reactive Gases focuses on a subgroup of atmospheric gases being characterised by their high chemical reactivity. These gases are generally short-lived, and have adverse effects on the environment and human health. They can also exert an impact on climate gases through their chemical reactions.

·       Solar Radiation in Atmospheres encompasses three research groups, i.e. Limb sounding, Solar irradiance and radiometry, and Planetary Atmospheres. Their research interests cover a broad range of topics, including instrumentation, atmospheric characterisation using different viewing techniques and atmospheric modelling.

·       Belgian User Support and Operation Center (B.USOC) provides technical and operational support for the preparation, implementation and exploitation of scientific experiments in space. Its engineers, IT personnel and operators discharge scientists and mission/payload development engineers from the more operational aspects of a scientific mission: B.USOC supports mission planning, operations and data handling.