CV Lauri Laakso

Lauri Laakso

Title Senior Research Scientist

E-mail lauri.laakso@fmi.fi

Postal address Finnish Meteorological Institute, Climate Change, P.O.Box 503 FIN-00101 Helsinki Finland

Street address Erik Palménin Aukio 1

Phone number +358-50-5257488

Fax +358-9-19293503

Fields of expertise

  • Atmospheric aerosols
  • Field measurements
  • Environmental pollution
  • Southern Africa

University and other degrees

  • 1999: M.Sc. (Physics), University of Helsinki, Finland
  • 2004: PhD (Physics), University of Helsinki, Finland
  • 2007: Docent (physics), University of Helsinki, Finland
  • 2010: Extraordinary associate professor (aerosol physics), North-West University, Republic of South Africa"

Previous professional appointments

  • April 2010 - July 2011: University researcher, University of Helsinki/Finnish Meteorological Institute.
  • September 2008 – February 2010: Visiting professor in Aerosol Physics, North-West University, Republic of South Africa.
  • 2008: Post-doctoral researcher, Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Dept. of Physical Sciences, Univ. of Helsinki.
  • 2004-07: Doctor Assistant at the Dept. of Physical Sciences, Univ. of Helsinki.
  • 2002-2004: Researcher at the Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Dept. of Physical Sciences, Univ. of Helsinki.
  • 2001-2002: Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute.
  • 1997 - 2001: Researcher, PR-assistant and research assistant, Dept. of Physical Sciences, Univ. of Helsinki.
  • 1996, summer: Research assistant, ALOMAR (Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmospheric Research), Försvarets Forskning Institut, Andenes, Norway.
  • 1995, summer: Research assistant, Finnish Marine Research Institute.

List of publications

Laakso, L., Merikanto, J., Vakkari,, V., Laakso, H., Kulmala, M., Molefe, M., Kgabi,, N., Mabaso, D., Carslaw, , K. S., Spracklen, D. V., and Kerminen,, V.-M., Boundary layer nucleation as a source of new CCN in savannah environment, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 12, 8503-8531, doi:10.5194/acpd-12-8503-2012, 2012

Hirsikko, A., Vakkari, V., Tiitta, P., Manninen, H. E., Gagné, S., Laakso, H., Kulmala, M., Mirme, A., Mirme, S., Mabaso, D., Beukes, J. P., and Laakso, L., Characterisation of sub-micron particle number concentrations and formation events in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 3951-3967, doi:10.5194/acp-12-3951-2012, 2012

Petäjä, T., Laakso, L., Grönholm, T., Launiainen, S., Evele-Peltoniemi, I., Virkkula., A., Leskinen, A., Backman, J., Manninen, H., Sipilä, M., Haapanala, S., Hämeri, K., Vanhala, E., Tuomi, T., Paatero, J., Aurela, M., Hakola, H., Makkonen, U., Hellen, H., Hillamo, R., Vira, J., Prank, M, Sofiev, M., Siitari-Kauppi, M, Laaksonen, A., Lehtinen, K.E.J., Kulmala, M., Viisanen, Y. ja Kerminen, V.-M., In-situ observations of Eyjafjallajökull ash particles by hot-air balloon, Atm. Env. 48: 104-112, 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.08.046, 2012

Laakso, L., Vakkari, V., Virkkula, A., Laakso, H., Backman, J., Kulmala, M., Beukes, J. P., van Zyl, P. G., Tiitta, P., Josipovic, M., Pienaar, J. J., Chiloane, K., Gilardoni, S., Vignati, E., Wiedensohler, A., Tuch, T., Birmili, W., Piketh, S., Collett, K., Fourie, G. D., Komppula, M., Lihavainen, H., de Leeuw, G., and Kerminen, V.-M.,  South African EUCAARI measurements: seasonal variation of trace gases and aerosol optical properties, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 1847-1864, doi:10.5194/acp-12-1847-2012, 2012

Gagné, S., Leppä, J., Petäjä, T., McGrath, M. J., Vana, M., Kerminen, V.-M., Laakso, L. and Kulmala, M., Measurements of aerosol charging states in Helsinki, Finland, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 11, 15875-15920, 2011

Vakkari, V., Laakso, H., Kulmala, M., Laaksonen, A., Mabaso, D., Molefe, M., Kgabi, N. and Laakso, L., New particle formation events in semi-clean South African savannah. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 3333-3346, 2011.

Kulmala, M., Asmi, A., Lappalainen, H. K., Baltensperger, U., Brenguier, J.-L., Facchini, M. C., Hansson, H.-C., Hov, Ø., O'Dowd, C. D., Pöschl, U., Wiedensohler, A., Boers, R., Boucher, O., de Leeuw, G., Denier van der Gon, H. A. C., Feichter, J., Krejci, R., Laj, P., Lihavainen, H., Lohmann, U., McFiggans, G., Mentel, T., Pilinis, C., Riipinen, I., Schulz, M., Stohl, A., Swietlicki, E., Vignati, E., Alves, C., Amann, M., Ammann, M., Arabas, S., Artaxo, P., Baars, H., Beddows, D. C. S., Bergström, R., Beukes, J. P., Bilde, M., Burkhart, J. F., Canonaco, F., Clegg, S. L., Coe, H., Crumeyrolle, S., D'Anna, B., Decesari, S., Gilardoni, S., Fischer, M., Fjaeraa, A. M., Fountoukis, C., George, C., Gomes, L., Halloran, P., Hamburger, T., Harrison, R. M., Herrmann, H., Hoffmann, T., Hoose, C., Hu, M., Hyvärinen, A., Hõrrak, U., Iinuma, Y., Iversen, T., Josipovic, M., Kanakidou, M., Kiendler-Scharr, A., Kirkevåg, A., Kiss, G., Klimont, Z., Kolmonen, P., Komppula, M., Kristjánsson, J.-E., Laakso, L., Laaksonen, A., Labonnote, L., Lanz, V. A., Lehtinen, K. E. J., Rizzo, L. V., Makkonen, R., Manninen, H. E., McMeeking, G., Merikanto, J., Minikin, A., Mirme, S., Morgan, W. T., Nemitz, E., O'Donnell, D., Panwar, T. S., Pawlowska, H., Petzold, A., Pienaar, J. J., Pio, C., Plass-Duelmer, C., Prévôt, A. S. H., Pryor, S., Reddington, C. L., Roberts, G., Rosenfeld, D., Schwarz, J., Seland, Ø., Sellegri, K., Shen, X. J., Shiraiwa, M., Siebert, H., Sierau, B., Simpson, D., Sun, J. Y., Topping, D., Tunved, P., Vaattovaara, P., Vakkari, V., Veefkind, J. P., Visschedijk, A., Vuollekoski, H., Vuolo, R., Wehner, B., Wildt, J., Woodward, S., Worsnop, D. R., van Zadelhoff, G.-J., Zardini, A. A., Zhang, K., van Zyl, P. G., Kerminen, V.-M., S Carslaw, K., and Pandis, S. N., General overview: European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality interactions (EUCAARI) – integrating aerosol research from nano to global scales, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 13061-13143, doi:10.5194/acp-11-13061-2011, 2011

Hirsikko, A., Nieminen, T., Gagné, S., Lehtipalo, K., Manninen, H. E., Ehn, M., Hõrrak, U., Kerminen, V.-M., Laakso, L., McMurry, P. H., Mirme, A., Mirme, S., Petäjä, T., Tammet, H., Vakkari, V., Vana, M., and Kulmala, M.: Atmospheric ions and nucleation: a review of observations, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 767-798, doi:10.5194/acp-11-767-2011, 2011.

Lauros, J., Sogachev, A., Smolander, S., Vuollekoski, H., Sihto, S.-L., Mammarella, I., Laakso, L., Rannik, Ü., and Boy, M.: Particle concentration and flux dynamics in the atmospheric boundary layer as the indicator of formation mechanism, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 5591-5601, doi:10.5194/acp-11-5591-2011, 2011.

Kerminen, V.-M., Petäjä, T., Manninen, H. E., Paasonen, P., Nieminen, T., Sipilä, M., Junninen, H., Ehn, M., Gagné, S., Laakso, L., Riipinen, I., Vehkamäki, H., Kurten, T., Ortega, I. K., Dal Maso, M., Brus, D., Hyvärinen, A., Lihavainen, H., Leppä, J., Lehtinen, K. E. J., Mirme, A., Mirme, S., Hõrrak, U., Berndt, T., Stratmann, F., Birmili, W., Wiedensohler, A., Metzger, A., Dommen, J., Baltensperger, U., Kiendler-Scharr, A., Mentel, T. F., Wildt, J., Winkler, P. M., Wagner, P. E., Petzold, A., Minikin, A., Plass-Dülmer, C., Pöschl, U., Laaksonen, A., and Kulmala, M.: Atmospheric nucleation: highlights of the EUCAARI project and future directions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 10829-10848, doi:10.5194/acp-10-10829-2010, 2010.
  
D. V. Spracklen, K. S. Carslaw, J. Merikanto, G. W. Mann, S. Pickering, J. A. Ogren, E. Andrews, U. Baltensperger, E. Weingartner, M. Boy, M. Kulmala, L. Laakso, H. Lihavainen, N. Kivekäs, N. Mihalopoulos, G. Kouvarakis, S. G. Jennings, W. Birmili, A. Wiedensohler, R. Weller, P. Laj, K. Sellegri, B. Bonn, and R. Krejci, Explaining global surface aerosol number concentrations in terms of primary emissions and particle formation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 4775-4793, 2010

S. Gagné, T. Nieminen, T. Kurtén, H. E. Manninen, T. Petäjä, L. Laakso, V.-M. Kerminen, M. Boy, and M. Kulmala, Factors influencing the contribution of ion-induced nucleation in a boreal forest, Finland, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 3743-3757, 2010

Duplissy, J., Enghoff, M. B., Aplin, K. L., Arnold, F., Aufmhoff, H., Avngaard, M., Baltensperger, U., Bondo, T., Bingham, R., Carslaw, K., Curtius, J., David, A., Fastrup, B., Gagné, S., Hahn, F., Harrison, R. G., Kellett, B., Kirkby, J., Kulmala, M., Laakso, L., Laaksonen, A., Lillestol, E., Lockwood, M., Mäkelä, J., Makhmutov, V., Marsh, N. D., Nieminen, T., Onnela, A., Pedersen, E., Pedersen, J. O. P., Polny, J., Reichl, U., Seinfeld, J. H., Sipilä, M., Stozhkov, Y., Stratmann, F., Svensmark, H., Svensmark, J., Veenhof, R., Viisanen, Y., Wagner, P. E., Wehrle, G., Weingartner, E., Wex, H., Wilhelmsson, M., and Winkler, P. M.: Results from the CERN pilot CLOUD experiment, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 9, 18235-18270, 2009

Johannes Leppä, Veli-Matti Kerminen, L. Laakso, Hannele Korhonen, Kari Lehtinen, Stéphanie Gagné, Hanna Manninen, Tuomo Nieminen and Markku Kulmala, Ion-UHMA: a model for simulating the dynamics of neutral and charged aerosol particles, Boreal Env. Res. 14: 559–575., 2009

Manninen, H. E., Petäjä, T., Asmi, E., Riipinen, I., Nieminen, T., Mikkilä, J., Hõrrak, U., Mirme, A., Mirme, S., Laakso, L., Kerminen, V.-M. & Kulmala, M., Long-term field measurements of charged and neutral clusters using Neutral cluster and Air Ion Spectrometer (NAIS). Boreal Env. Res. 14: 591–605, 2009

Liisa Kulmala, Tiia Grönholm, L. Laakso, Petri Keronen, Jukka Pumpanen, Timo Vesala, Pertti Hari, Pressure dependence of portable CO2 concentration sensors, Boreal Env. Res. 14: 754–760, 2009

Ella-Maria Kyrö, Tiia Grönholm, Henri Vuollekoski, Aki Virkkula, Markku Kulmala and L. Laakso, Snow scavenging of ultrafine particles: field measurement and parameterization, Boreal Env. Res. 14: 527–538, 2009

L. Laakso, H. Laakso, P.P. Aalto, P. Keronen, T. Petäjä, T. Nieminen, T. Pohja, E. Siivola, M. Kulmala, N. Kgabi, D. Phalatse, M. Molefe, D. Mabaso, K. Pienaar, V.-M. Kerminen, ” Basic characteristics of atmospheric particles, trace gases and meteorology in a relatively clean Southern African Savannah environment”, Atm. Chem. Phys., 8, 4823-4839, 2008

Gagné, S., L. Laakso, T. Petäjä, V.-M. Kerminen and M. Kulmala, “Analysis of one year of Ion-DMPS data from SMEAR II station, Finland”, Tellus B, 60, 318-329, 2008

M. Kulmala, I. Riipinen, M. Sipilä, H. E. Manninen, T. Petäjä, H. Junninen, M. Dal Maso, G. Mordas, A. Mirme, M. Vana, A. Hirsikko, L. Laakso, Roy M. Harrison, Ian Hanson, Carl Leung, Kari E. J. Lehtinen, and Veli-Matti Kerminen, “Towards Direct Measurement of Atmospheric Nucleation” , Science, 10.1126/science.1144124, 2007

T. Suni, M. Kulmala, A. Hirsikko, T. Bergman, L. Laakso, P. P. Aalto, R. Leuning, H. Cleugh, S. Zegelin, D. Hughes, E. van Gorsel, M. Kitchen, M. Vana, U. Hõrrak, S. Mirme, A. Mirme, J. Twining, and C. Tadros, “Formation and characteristics of ions and charged aerosol particles in a native Australian Eucalypt forest”, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 129-139, 2008

V.-M. Kerminen, T. Anttila, T. Petäjä, L. Laakso, S. Gagné, K. E. J. Lehtinen and M. Kulmala,  “Charging state of the atmospheric nucleation mode: implications for separating neutral and ion-induced nucleation”, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol.112, doi:10.1029/2007JD008649, 2007

B. Bonn, A. Hirsikko, H. Hakola, T. Kurtén, L. Laakso, M. Boy, M. Dal Maso, J. M. Mäkelä, and M. Kulmala, ”Ambient sesquiterpene concentration and its link to air ion measurements”, Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry,  2893-2916. SRef-ID: 1680-7324/acp/2007-7-2893, 2007

T.-E. Parts, A. Luts,  L. Laakso, A. Hirsikko, T. Grönholm, M. Kulmala, ”Simulation results of air ion chemical composition near waterfalls”, Boreal Env. Res. 12: 409–420, 2007

A. Mirme,  E. Tamm, G. Mordas, M. Vana, J. Uin, S. Mirme, T. Bernotas, L. Laakso, A. Hirsikko and M. Kulmala, “A wide range multi-channel Air Ion Spectrometer”, Boreal Env. Res. 12: 247–264, 2007

A. Hirsikko, T. Yli-Juuti, T. Nieminen, E. Vartiainen, L. Laakso, T. Hussein and M. Kulmala, “Indoor and outdoor air ions and aerosol particles in the urban atmosphere of Helsinki: characteristics, sources and formation”, Boreal Env. Res. 12: 311–321, 2007

L. Laakso, T. Grönholm, L. Kulmala, S. Haapanala, A. Hirsikko, E. R. Lovejoy, J.  Kazil, T. Kurtén, M. Boy, E.D. Nilsson,  A. Sogachev, I. Riipinen, F. Stratmann and M. Kulmala, “Hot-air balloon measurements of vertical variation of boundary layer new particle formation”, Boreal Env. Res. 12: 279–294, 2007

M. Komppula, M. Vana, V.-M. Kerminen, H. Lihavainen, Y. Viisanen, U. Hõrrak, K. Komsaare, E. Tamm, A. Hirsikko, L. Laakso and M. Kulmala, “Size distributions of atmospheric ions in Baltic Sea region”, Boreal Env. Res. 12: 323–336, 2007

Haapanala, S. , Rinne, J., Hakola, H., Hellén, H., Laakso, L., Lihavainen, H., Janson, R. and Kulmala, M., “Boundary layer concentrations and landscape scale emissions of volatile organic compounds in early spring”, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 1869-1878, 2007

L. Laakso, A. Hirsikko, T. Grönholm, A. Luts, T.-E. Parts and M. Kulmala, ”Waterfalls as sources of small charged aerosol particles”, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 7, p. 1333–1345, 2007

A. Hirsikko, T. Bergman, L. Laakso, M. Dal Maso, I. Riipinen, U. Hõrrak and M. Kulmala, ” Identification and classification of the formation of intermediate ions measured in Boreal Forest”, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 7, 201–210, 2007

Grönholm, T., Hiltunen, V., Aalto, P., Laakso, L., Rinne, J., Hyvänen, S., Rannik, Ü and Kulmala, M., ”Measurements of aerosol particle dry deposition velocities using relaxed eddy accumulation technique”. Tellus, 59, p. 381-386, 2007

L. Laakso, S. Gagné, T. Petäjä, A. Hirsikko, P. P. Aalto, M. Kulmala, V.-M Kerminen, “Detecting charging state of ultra-fine particles: instrumental development and ambient measurements”, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 1333–1345, 2007

Andronache, C., Grönholm, T., Laakso, L., Phillips, V., and Venäläinen, A., “Ultrafine particle scavenging by rainfall at a boreal site: observations and model estimations”, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6, 4739-4754, 2006

Tammet, H., Hõrrak, U., Laakso, L., Kulmala. M., ” Factors of air ion balance in a coniferous forest according to measurements in Hyytiälä, Finland”, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 201–210, 2007

L. Laakso, Ismo K. Koponen, Petteri Mönkkönen and Markku Kulmala, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Birgit Wehner, Alfred Wiedensohler, Zhijun Wu, Min Hu, “Aerosol particles in the developing world; a comparison between New Delhi in India and Beijing in China”, Water, Air and Soil Pollution, pages 5-20, DOI 10.1007/s11270-005-9018-5, 2006    

Hyvönen, S. , Junninen, H., Laakso, L., Dal Maso, M., Grönholm, T., Bonn, B., Keronen, P., Aalto, P., Hiltunen, V., Pohja, T., Launiainen, S., Hari, P., Mannila, H. and Kulmala, M., “A look at aerosol formation using data mining techniques”, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol 5, 3345-3356, 2005           
           
M. Vana, E. Tamm, U. Hõrrak, A. Mirme, H. Tammet, L. Laakso, P. P. Aalto, M. Kulmala, “Charging state of atmospheric nanoparticles during the nucleation burst events”, Atmospheric Research, 82, Pages 536-546, 2006

A. Hirsikko, L. Laakso, U. Hõrrak, P. P. Aalto, V.-M. Kerminen and M. Kulmala,  “Annual and size dependent variation of growth rates and ion concentrations in boreal forest”, Boreal Environment research, Vol 10, pp. 357–369, 2005

J. V. Niemi, H. Tervahattu, H. Vehkamäki, J. Martikainen, L. Laakso, M. Kulmala, P. Aarnio, T. Koskentalo, M. Sillanpää, U. Makkonen, "Characterization of aerosol particle episodes in Finland caused by wildfires in Eastern Europe",  Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 2299-2310, 2005

U. Hörrak, P.P. Aalto, J. Salm, J.M. Mäkelä, L. Laakso and M. Kulmala, "Characterization of air ions in boreal forest air during BIOFOR III campaign", Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 655–675, 2008

M. Kulmala, K.E.J. Lehtinen, L. Laakso, G. Mordas and K. Hämeri, "On the existence of neutral atmospheric clusters", Boreal Environment Research, Vol 10., Pages 79-87, 2005

M. Kulmala, L. Laakso, K. E. J. Lehtinen, I. Riipinen, M. Dal Maso, T. Anttila, V.-M. Kerminen, U. Hörrak, M. Vana, and H. Tammet, "Initial steps of aerosol growth", Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4, 2553-2560, 2004 

L. Laakso, T. Anttila, K. E. J. Lehtinen, P. P. Aalto, M. Kulmala, U. Hõrrak, J. Paatero, M. Hanke, F. Arnold "Kinetic nucleation and ions in boreal particle formation events",  Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4, 2353-2366, 2004                            
L. Laakso, T. Petäjä, K. E. J. Lehtinen, J. Paatero, M. Kulmala, U. Hörrak, H. Tammet and J. Joutsensaari "Ion production rate in a boreal forest based on ion, particle and radiation measurements", Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4, 1933-1943, 2004

T. Ruuskanen, A. Reissell, P. Keronen, P. P. Aalto, L. Laakso, T. Grönholm, P. Hari, M. Kulmala "Atmospheric trace gas and aerosol concentration measurements in Eastern Lapland, Finland 1992-2001", Boreal Environmental Research, Vol 8, pages 335–349, 2003   

L. Laakso, K.E.J Lehtinen and M. Kulmala, "The effect of condensation rate enhancement factor on 3-nm particle formation in binary ion-induced and homogeneous nucleation,  Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 108, No. D18, 4574, 10.1029/2003JD003432 , 2003

L. Laakso , T. Grönholm, Ü. Rannik, H. Vehkamäki, M. Kosmale, V. Fiedler and M. Kulmala, "Ultrafine particle scavenging coefficients calculated from six years field measurements", Atmospheric Environment, Vol 37, pages 3605-3613, 2003   

L. Laakso , T. Hussein, P. Aarnio, M. Komppula, V. Hiltunen, Y. Viisanen and M. Kulmala, "Diurnal and annual characteristics of particle mass and number concentrations in urban, rural and Arctic environments in Finland", Atmospheric Environment, (2003), Vol. 37, No 9, pages 2629-2641, 2003               

L. Laakso, J. M. Mäkelä, L. Pirjola and M. Kulmala, "Model studies on ion-induced nucleation in the atmosphere", J. Geophys. Research, 10.1029/2002JD002140, 2002   

M. Kulmala, P. Korhonen, L. Laakso and L. Pirjola, "Nucleation in boreal forest boundary layer", Environmental physics and chemistry, Vol 22, p. 46-53, 2000

M. Kulmala, K. Hämeri, J. M. Mäkelä, P. P. Aalto, L. Pirjola, I. K. Koponen, P. Keronen, U. Rannik, L. Laakso, T. Vesala, "Biogenic aerosol formation in the boreal forest", Boreal Environment Research Vol 5, No 4, pages 281-297, 2000

V.-M. Kerminen, L. Pirjola, M. Boy, A.Eskola, K. Teinilä, L. Laakso, A. Asmi, J. Hienola, A. Lauri, V. Vainio, K. Lehtinen and M. Kulmala, "Interaction between SO2 and submicron particles", Atmospheric Research 54 p. 41-57, 2000

J. M. Mäkelä, M. Dal Maso, L. Pirjola, P. Keronen, L. Laakso, M. Kulmala, A. Laaksonen, "Characterization of the atmospheric particle formation events observed at a boreal forest site in southern Finland", Boreal Environment Research Vol 5, No 4, pages 299-313, 2000