Maïdo observatory: a new altitude station facility at Reunion Island (21° S, 55° E) for long-term atmospheric remote sensing and in-situ measurements.

Since the nineties, atmospheric measurement systems have been deployed at Reunion Island, mainly for monitoring the atmospheric composition in the framework of NDSC/NDACC (Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change/Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change). The location of Reunion Island presents a great interest because there are very few multi-instrumented stations in the tropics and particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. In 2012, a new observatory was commissioned in Maïdo at 2200ma.s.l.: it hosts various instruments for atmospheric measurements, including LiDAR systems, spectro-radiometers and in situ gases and aerosols measurements. This new high-altitude Maïdo station allows: 1. To improve the performance of the optical instruments above the marine boundary layer, and to open new perspectives on upper troposphere and lower stratosphere studies. 2. To develop in-situ measurements of the atmospheric composition for climate change survey, in a reference site in the tropical/subtropical region of the Southern Hemisphere. 3. To offer trans-national access to host experiments or measurement campaigns for focused process studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]