CHASE investigates the composition, origin and transport of atmospheric particles reaching Antarctica. Led by researchers from the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI), Ghent University (UGent), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the project aims to better understand atmospheric circulation in the Southern Hemisphere and determine the extent to which natural and human-made particles are transported to Antarctica.

The project has established a network of atmospheric particle samplers along a transect extending from the Antarctic Plateau towards the coast. These instruments continuously collect organic and inorganic particles from the atmosphere and the snow surface, creating a unique database of aerosols in the region surrounding Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.

Samples collected during field campaigns are transported to Belgium for detailed laboratory analysis. The resulting data improve our understanding of long-range atmospheric transport, aerosol composition and the influence of lower-latitude emissions on the Antarctic atmosphere.