Andra’s atmospheric station in Meuse/Haute-Marne joins the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) network
The atmospheric monitoring station of Houdelaincourt, operated by the Perennial Environmental Observatory (OPE), has just joined the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW), a worldwide reference network. A label that comes as a true recognition for the OPE.
The atmospheric station of the Perennial Environmental Observatory (OPE), operated by Andra in Houdelaincourt (Meuse), has just been officially integrated into the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) network. This United Nations programme aims to measure the composition of the atmosphere, detect long-term trends and ensure the dissemination of reliable and comparable data on a global scale.
Located in a preserved rural area close to the Bure Underground Research Laboratory, the station and its 120-metre mast have been measuring the main air-quality indicators since 2011: greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄), reactive gases (CO, NOx, ozone) and atmospheric particles.
Within GAW, it is specifically the measurements of greenhouse gases, reactive gases and aerosols — conducted in accordance with the ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) and ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure) protocols — that are now recognised and integrated into the international databases of the World Meteorological Organization.
“This is a recognition of our work,” explains the station’s lead engineer. “GAW confirms the reliability of our observations and encourages us to maintain this scientific standard.”
The station was already part of the European networks ICOS (greenhouse gases) and ACTRIS (aerosols and reactive gases), whose standards are among the most rigorous in the world. Joining GAW now extends these measurements beyond the European level, giving them global visibility.
Scientific support for the Cigéo project
The OPE atmospheric station also plays a key role for Cigéo, the future deep geological repository for radioactive waste. In addition to its measurements integrated into ICOS and ACTRIS, and now recognised within GAW, it also monitors air quality and ambient radioactivity, which helps document the initial environmental state of the area.
The time series acquired over more than ten years therefore constitute a valuable baseline. They will make it possible, in the coming years, to detect and quantify any potential impact of Cigéo on the environment — even very small — by objectively comparing current and future levels.
« “The idea is to build on the experience acquired at the station to support Cigéo throughout its lifetime, from the construction phase to operation, while ensuring independent and high-quality monitoring.” »
Beyond emissions linked to human activities, the station also contributes to a better understanding of the local biosphere: forest dynamics, crop evolution, vegetation changes… all key indicators for assessing ecosystem health in a context of climate change.
This integrated approach — connecting atmosphere, soil and living systems — gives the station its full dimension, making it a genuine environmental research tool at the scale of the territory.
Thanks to its integration into GAW, the OPE atmospheric station now links the Meuse and Haute-Marne region to the international climate-observation community. A concrete way for Andra to showcase its scientific expertise while contributing to the global understanding of the atmosphere and environmental change.
A network of leading scientific partners
To conduct its observations, the station collaborates with several renowned organisations:
- The Institute of Environmental Sciences (Grenoble), specializing in greenhouse gas and atmospheric cycles
- The Laboratory for Climate Sciences and Environment (Saclay), a global reference for the analysis of climate variations
- Atmo Grand Est, the regional air-quality monitoring body
- Météo-France, whose expertise strengthens the meteorological interpretation of measurements
- The French Nuclear Safety and Radioprotection Authority (ASNR), responsible for the independent monitoring of radiation levels
These partnerships ensure the robustness of the measurements, their comparability and their dissemination at the international level.
The Houdelaincourt station in numbers:
Inaugurated on September 19, 2011, the station is:
With its fully instrumented mast, it can capture local, regional and global variations.
It is part of the 4,000 regional stations in the GAW network.
The low population density ensures an ambient atmosphere considered representative of the Grand Est region.
And elsewhere at Andra?
Since 1990, a meteorological mast equipped with numerous sensors has been installed at the Aube Disposal Facility (CSA). It continuously measures several parameters, including temperature, wind direction and wind speed.
As a Basic Nuclear Installation (INB), the CSA must operate such a monitoring system as part of its site surveillance plan. This system notably makes it possible:
- to authorise certain operations, such as moving mobile frames
- to contribute to the management of a potential risk situation by assessing the radiological impact on staff and the public
The mast’s sensors record wind direction and speed, atmospheric pressure, precipitation intensity, relative humidity, temperature and sunshine duration. All data are collected in real time, archived using dedicated software and also made available to the Troyes Meteorological Centre.
The mast rises to nearly 50 metres, with one of the temperature sensors located near the top. Other instruments (thermometers, wind vanes, anemometers) are installed at 17 metres — corresponding to the highest point of releases from the facility — and at 10 metres, the standard height used by Météo-France.
Additional sensors are installed on the ground: rain gauge, barometer and heliometer complete the monitoring system.