Monitoring the Earth's Atmosphere at Europe's Highest Research Station 3,571 m

I am now returning — for the fourth time — to the High Altitude Research Station Jungfraujoch in Switzerland, home to the iconic Sphinx Observatory at 3,571 m (11,716 ft). It is the highest permanently manned research station in Europe, perched above the clouds, and one of the best places in the world to monitor our changing atmosphere.

Here, Belgian scientists (University of Liège) have been active since 1950, using advanced spectrometers to study the composition of the atmosphere and track more than 20 gases linked to greenhouse effects and ozone depletion. From radiation and cosmic rays to aerosols, clouds, and CO₂, Jungfraujoch remains at the frontline of atmospheric science.

My project focuses on visual storytelling of this scientific work — capturing the people, instruments, and environment of one of the most extreme research outposts in Europe. These photographs are not only for the scientists involved, but also for my lectures and exhibitions: to show the world the dedication, precision, and importance of the research happening here.

Science at high altitude is demanding — oxygen is scarce, radiation levels are extreme, and everything must be brought up (I brought my bag full of food). Yet it is here, far above pollution sources, that we learn about the invisible processes shaping our climate and future.