International collaboration for sustainability
Andorra Research + Innovation (AR + I) joins prestigious academic institutions, such as the universities of Barcelona and Navarra, to develop an innovative project within the framework of the European program Pyrenees4clima. This initiative seeks to understand the interaction between the extreme climate and the quality of the air in the Pyrenees.
Impact of climate change on air quality
The main task of this project, called ‘Methodologies for the analysis and evaluation of air quality’, aims to analyze how extreme climate phenomena affect pollution levels. Both the weather conditions that promote pollution and those that reduce it will be explored, as well as identifying the most harmful pollutants.
Key areas for study
Four cross -border areas have been chosen with diversity in land use as study cases: Cerdanya, Andorra, Valcarlos and Arnéguy. These locations allow you to analyze the quality of the air in varied contexts, providing a more complete perspective on the impact of climate ends.
Installation of sensors for monitoring
From 2025, portable sensor facilities will be carried out in the selected areas to measure air quality. This technology will allow data on pollutants in rural and urban areas of the Pyrenees that have not been monitored so far. The sensors will record substances such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and suspended particles of 2.5 and 10 micrometers.
Results of the pilot in Andorra and Cerdanya
The pilot project in Andorra and Cerdanya began in January with the installation of sensors in strategic places such as the Prat Gran in Escaldes-Engordany and Bellver de Cerdanya. These locations complement the existing atmospheric surveillance stations, managed by the Government of Andorra and the Generalitat de Catalunya. The data collected during the first months will allow significant comparison.
Future of the project and continuous follow -up
The sensors have been relocated to cover areas without previous data, such as the Plaça de les Fontetes de la Massana and a semi -urban area in Das. These instruments are expected to be active for a period of two years, providing valuable information on the evolution of pollutants in response to different weather conditions.
