The International Network to study Deposition and Atmospheric composition in Africa (SNO INDAAF) National Observation Service
- is coordinated by LAERO and LISA (Interuniversity Laboratory of Atmospheric Sciences).
- is a component of the Aerosol, Cloud, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS-FR), an official contributing network to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) program.
- is accredited from 2015 to 2029 by INSU-CNRS and IRD, with support from the OMP (Midi-Pyrénées Observatory) and EFLUVE (Fluid Envelope from the City to Exobiology).
INDAAF is a unique measurement network dedicated to the long-term monitoring of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and atmospheric deposition fluxes in Africa. The evolving chemical composition of the atmosphere—and the environmental impact of these changes—raises significant questions, particularly in tropical regions recognized as highly active in atmospheric chemistry at both regional and global scales.
The INDAAF network consists of 8 certified measurement stations representative of Africa’s major ecosystems in West and Central Africa. These stations are strategically located along a north-south gradient of ecosystems, ranging from dry savanna to tropical forest, and an east-west Sahelian gradient from Niger to the Atlantic coast (covering Niger, Mali, Senegal, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Congo).
Observations from the SNO help document and understand the relationships between the emissions of various compounds, their transport, their physicochemical transformations, and their deposition. These dry and wet depositionsrepresent the final stage of the biogeochemical cycle for any compound, significantly impacting aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Long-term observation is essential due to evolving climatic conditions and the high uncertainties surrounding the direction of these changes in the region. It is also necessary because of increasing anthropogenic pressure and the resulting modifications in rural areas (such as agriculture, grazing, biomass burning, and pollutant transport from African megacities).
The measurements conducted enable the quantification of:
- Monthly concentrations of atmospheric gases of interest,
- Chemical composition (mineral and organic) of aerosols,
- Chemical composition of precipitation,
- Mass deposition fluxes of insoluble particles for total deposition (dry + wet),
- Hourly mass concentration of PM10.
INDAAF is built on strong, mature, and long-standing collaborations (30 years) with partners in the Global South, their research institutions, and IRD. The SNO INDAAF thus contributes to North-South capacity building and collaborates closely with other SNOs (such as AERONET, AMMA-CATCH, M-TROPICS). The scientific output of the INDAAF network is closely linked to the scientific and technical coordination conducted within the project and network. This coordination is the backbone of the SNO and the key to the success and longevity of INDAAF measurements across the African continent. INDAAF data also support national projects (e.g., ANR, LEFE EC2CO), European projects (e.g., RISE MSCA INSA), and international initiatives (e.g., MMF GTAD).
INDAAF data are distributed via the SNO website and the ACTRIS-Fr portal, managed by the AERIS/SEDOO data center.
Contact at LAERO: Corinne Galy-Lacaux
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