Metrology for the Earth’s biosphere

The European Partnership on Metrology (EPM) project known as 21GRD02 BIOSPHERE, which started on 1 October 2022 and is being coordinated by PTB, will for the first time develop metrological methods to investigate the mutual effects of cosmic radiation and biologically active UV radiation on the Earth’s biosphere. This project supports EU policy makers by providing them with scientific analyses and data that may potentially help in optimizing policies relating to climate, health and anthropogenic emissions.

The European Partnership on Metrology (EPM) project called BIOSPHERE will provide traceable metrological data for identifying and quantifying the relationship between cosmic radiation, ozone depletion and anthropogenic emissions. It will be the first‑ever project to determine fundamental data on the interaction between low‑energy electrons induced by cosmic radiation and relevant atmospheric gases of both natural and anthropogenic origin. This data includes collisional cross sections for molecular processes such as electron capture, dissociation, molecular fragmentation and ionization. The effects of combined cosmic radiation and UV radiation on human health will be determined by examining structural and functional damage caused by such mixed radiation fields in human primary cells, such as primary skin fibroblasts, blood monocytes and brain endothelial cells. Genomic, epigenetic and transcriptomic modifications, which could be responsible for the radiosensitivity of cells and for possible long‑term dysfunctions, will be investigated. 

Contact

F. Krasniqi, Department 6.3, Working Group 6.32