Colloquium on Reactive Trace Gases in the Earth’s System

On Thursday, 5th of May 2022, The Cyprus Institute hosted at its premises – face to face and via online streaming through its YouTube channel – the Colloquium: Reactive Trace Gases in the Earth’s System, which focused on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and their importance in atmospheric chemistry, their utility in emission source and chemical sink identification. Dr. Efstratios Bourtsoukidis, Assistant Professor at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C) of The Cyprus Institute, and main speaker of the Colloquium, explained how the combination of naturally occurring VOCs and the anthropogenic activities can have a negative impact on air quality, human health and climate. He further explained, how this combination reflects overall on Earth’s System and specifically over the East Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region, which is the most affected. Evaluating the models of the VOC emission and atmospheric chemistry, will help to predict atmospheric and environmental implications related on climate change. The Colloquium ended with an open discussion by the audience.