Atmospheric Aerosols, Clouds and Radiative Properties

Welcome to the Atmospheric Aerosols, Clouds and Radiative Properties Group website, a team of dedicated experts specializing in atmospheric remote sensing of aerosols and clouds, ultraviolet radiation, solar-induced fluorescence, and hyperspectral data processing.

The Atmospheric Aerosols, Clouds and Radiative Properties group conducts atmospheric research using long-term observations, targeted field campaigns, satellite remote sensing, and modern data-analysis and machine-learning methods. We study atmospheric aerosols, clouds, and radiation to improve understanding of their roles in the Earth system and their impacts on climate, air quality, ecosystems, and human health.

Our work makes use of in-situ measurements as well as ground-based and satellite remote sensing to characterize atmospheric composition, cloud properties, and radiative conditions across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. We develop robust retrieval algorithms, atmospheric correction methods, data-analysis approaches and contribute to the operation and advancement of ground-based remote-sensing infrastructure, including lidar systems. Through close collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland, and other national and international partners, we support climate research, environmental monitoring, and the use of Earth observation data in scientific and societal applications.

Key research themes are:

• Aerosol profiling, typing, and vertical distribution using lidar and in-situ observations

• Development of retrieval algorithms for ground-based and satellite remote sensing (e.g., pollen typing, aerosol and cloud products)

• Machine learning methods for atmospheric remote sensing, data fusion, and large-scale data analysis

• Atmospheric radiation and radiative transfer, including UV radiation and its impacts

• Long-term monitoring of atmospheric composition (ozone, aerosols, water vapor)

• Aerosol–cloud interactions and their broader climatic relevance

• Solar-induced vegetation fluorescence (SIF) and hyperspectral data processing

• Atmospheric icing and its impacts

• Health effects of aerosols and solar UV radiation

Get to know our work better:

Aerosol retrieval, air quality, and atmospheric correction

Our group is dedicated to aerosol retrieval and characterization from satellite-based measurements (e.g., SLSTR, MODIS), high-resolution air quality retrievals using advanced statistical inference methods, and the development of atmospheric correction algorithms, particularly for hyperspectral instruments. At the ground level, we utilize e.g., CIMEL instruments, which are part of the AERONET and SKYNET international networks.

Aerosol-Cloud Interactions 

We study aerosol-cloud interactions and the related radiative forcing mainly using satellite and meteorological re-analysis data. The focus has been both on the Twomey effect and rapid adjustments of warm marine boundary layer clouds.

Atmospheric measurements

The Atmospheric measurements group studies tropospheric aerosols and their interaction with cloud droplets by conducting long-term in-situ and Lidar measurements and targeted campaigns. Measurements are used for studying aerosol profiles and aerosol typing with lidar, algorithm development for lidar retrievals (e.g. pollen typing), aerosol-cloud interactions, atmospheric icing and health effects of aerosols.

Solar-induced vegetation fluorescence

During photosynthesis, a small fraction of the absorbed light energy is re-emitted as solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) in the form of longer-wavelength light (650-800) nm. This fluorescence signal provides valuable information about the photosynthetic activity, vegetation carbon uptake, and physiological status of plants. In our group, we have developed our own fluorescence retrieval method (SIFFI), we actively participate in the preparatory activities of the ESA FLEX explorer satellite mission, and we monitor the Arctic vegetation response to climate change with a FLOX ground-based system. 

UV radiation research 

Our research focuses on analyzing long-term ozone column concentration and UV radiation data records. The UV research also includes the effects of UV radiation on material aging, health, plant growth and planning of build environment.

The experts of the group

Our group members work at FMI offices in Kuopio, Helsinki, Rovaniemi, and Sodankylä.

email: firstname.lastname@fmi.fi

Veijo Aaltonen, PhLic, Scientist (aerosol measurements)

Antti Arola, PhD, Research Professor (remote sensing of aerosols, atmospheric radiative transfer)

Maria Filioglou, PhD, Senior Scientist

Maria Gatou, MSc, Scientist

Uula Isopahkala, MSc, Scientist

Ella Kivimäki, PhD, Senior Scientist (remote sensing of solar-induced fluorescence)

Pekka Kolmonen, PhD, Senior Scientist (remote sensing of aerosols and clouds, atmospheric radiative transfer, solar-induced fluorescence retrievals)

Mika Komppula, PhD, Adj. Prof., Senior Scientist

Antti Kukkurainen, PhD, Senior Scientist (remote sensing of aerosols, atmospheric radiative transfer, solar-induced fluorescence retrievals)

Kaisa Lakkala, PhD, Adj. Prof. (Title of docent in Arctic climate and UV radiation research), Senior Scientist (UV radiation),

Ari Leskinen, PhD, Adj. Prof. Senior Scientist

Antti Lipponen, PhD, Group Leader (remote sensing of aerosols, statistical analysis, inverse problems, machine learning)

Mikko Pitkänen, MSc, Scientist (remote sensing of aerosols)

Neus Sabater Medina, PhD, Senior Scientist (atmospheric correction algorithms, solar-induced fluorescence retrievals)

Xiaoxia Shang, PhD, Senior Scientist (remote sensing of aerosols and clouds, lidar algorithm development)

Larisa Sogacheva, PhD, Adj. Prof., Senior Scientist (remote sensing of aerosols and clouds, Climate Data Records)

Timo Virtanen, PhD, Senior Scientist (remote sensing of aerosols and clouds, atmospheric radiative transfer)

Arttu Väisänen, MSc, Scientist (remote sensing of aerosols, machine learning)

28.1.2026