Basic information about the department "Atmospheric Optical Investigations"

Investigations of dynamical and chemical processes in the high and middle atmosphere by spectrometric methods, study of minor gases including ozone. Determination of the solar activity impact and the effect of other factors on the atmosphere and their relation to climate change. Development of methods for data processing of satellite and ground based observations.

The Department comprises: two Professors, two Associate Professors, three Assist. Prof., two Researchers and one technician. The scientific team has more than thirty years expertise in the research field of satellite experiments, statistical analysis, spectro-photometric measurements of the direct and diffuse solar irradiance, and of the airglow. The scientists of the department have published many studies, cited in world data bases

At present the team performs permanent measurements of the solar ultraviolet irradiance, maintains a weather-station, processes the obtained data, determines the total ozone column and the ultraviolet index, carries out scientific analyses of satellite data and/or of ground based measurements connected with optical polar phenomena, with the Solar, the Interplanetary and the Earth magnetic fields and with climate change

The members of the department take part in the project IKAMOS - Operational Programme: Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy, and in a project under Plan for Cooperation European States (PECS) of ESA, organize and perform expeditions for solar corona investigations during solar eclipses.