Research of the Meteorology and Air Quality Group
The Meteorology and Air Quality department (MAQ) aims to contribute to the further understanding of atmospheric processes and their relevance for weather, air quality and climate. The natural focus of MAQ research is on atmospheric boundary layers over land and on the atmospheric aspects of the connected energy, water, carbon and aerosol budgets. Particular emphasis is given on the interaction of the atmosphere with the (vegetated) land surface. This includes the measuring and modeling of the relevant atmospheric and related land-surface processes on the local and regional scale.
At Wageningen University & Research, the atmosphere has been studied since the establishment of the University in 1918. Emphasis has always been given to weather and land surface climate processes and how these impact on life and the environment. Since the nineteen twenties observations have been made of the basic meteorological variables such as sun shine and radiation, precipitation, air temperature, wind et cetera.
As such more, than 80 years of observations exists and recently these have been analysed and published. In addition measurements are made of the soil temperature under grass and bare soil. During the last decade the scope of the department had broadened and now includes air quality studies and the modeling and forecasting of the atmosphere from small to large scales for weather, climate and air quality while maintaining experimental and observational work as well.