The OPC, manifactured by FAI, permit a - Characterization of the temporal trends of the particulate matter granulometric distribution as a support and integration to information about air quality - Real-time estimation of the PM1, PM2.5, PM10, TPS mass concentration of the airborne particulate matter. Main features - Measurement principle: laser scattering on elliptical mirror - Optical channels: 8 optical channels with thresholds having lower limits [µm]: 0.28, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 - Sampling type: The instrument gives counts per minute, or counts per liter for each optical channel - Dimensional sensitivity: 0.28 µm (50 ± 10% count efficiency)

In the summer of 2007 was placed on Dosdè Glacier (Upper Valtellina, Group Cima Piazzi) a new automatic weather station (AWS) which will provide important data on the evolution of high mountains. This station located at 2850 m asl permits to collect data on above glacial thermal conditions and incoming and outcoming energetic fluxes.This automatic weather station represent the highest Lombardy permanent station on glacier and its data can be comparable to those collected by AWS Forni in order to verify the effects of climate change on glacial size and micro-meteorological parameters.

At Askole Station, a CM6B Pyranometer was installed. This sensor is manufactured by Kipp&Zonen (The Netherlands) company. The CM6B Pyranometer is suitable for the routine measurement of incoming global solar radiation (0.3 to 2.8 µm spectral range), diffuse sky irradiance measurements, and surface reflected solar radiation measurement research.

Sun photometer ( Cimel CE-318) measurements of the direct (collimated) solar radiation provide information to calculate the columnar aerosol optical depth (AOD). AOD can be used to compute columnar water vapor (Precipitable Water) and estimate the aerosol size using the Angstrom parameter relationship. Sunphotometer from March 2006 provides a characterization of aerosol optical and microphysical properties of the air column above the station. It is an automatic sun-tracking and sky radiometer for measuring the aerosol optical depth at 8 wavelengths between 340 and 1020 nm.

At Askole Station, a CX115P Barometer was installed. This sensor is manufactured by Lsi-Lastem (Italy) company. The sensor measures atmospheric pressure.

A three wavelength integrating nephelometer to determine aerosol total and back scattering coefficients.

An integrating nephelometer (TSI 3563) to determine aerosol back scattering coefficient. These measurements include the aerosol back scattering coefficient at three wavelengths (450, 550 and 700 nm) since 2006.

The integrating nephelometer (model TSI 3563) is a high-sensitivity device capable of measuring the scattering properties of aerosol particles. The nephelometer measures the light scattered by the aerosol and then subtracting light scattered by the walls of the measurement chamber, light scattered by the gas, and electronic noise inherent in the detectors.

Askole is the last village on the route to the Baltoro Glacier and K2. It’s average elevation is 3000 m a.s.l., the village is on the right side of the valley and just north of the main river, on a moraine highland with small inclination toward the river, where local people carry out little agriculture. The station is on the lower, southern part of the moraine platform, near the edge above the river, and has open visibility toward East (valley upward), West (valley downward), South (in front of opposite side of the valley) and North (leading to the slopes of the mountain surrounding the village). The installation is located about 200 meters south from the Lorenzo Mazzoleni Dispensary in the middle of the cultivated area, protected by a resistant fencing. Geographical coordinates: Latitude: 35° 40' 50" N Longitude: 75° 48' 55" E

Askole is the last village on the route to the Baltoro Glacier and K2. It’s average elevation is 3000 m a.s.l., the village is on the right side of the valley and just north of the main river, on a moraine highland with small inclination toward the river, where local people carry out little agriculture. The station is on the lower, southern part of the moraine platform, near the edge above the river, and has open visibility toward East (valley upward), West (valley downward), South (in front of opposite side of the valley) and North (leading to the slopes of the mountain surrounding the village). The installation is located about 200 meters south from the Lorenzo Mazzoleni Dispensary in the middle of the cultivated area, protected by a resistant fencing. Geographical coordinates: Latitude: 35° 40' 50" N Longitude: 75° 48' 55" E