Gorka Villena Armas

My research focuses on Atmospheric Sciences, particularly on studying the elemental chemical composition of aerosols derived from Sahara Desert dust. Actually, my work centers on optimizing the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique traditionally considered semi-quantitative and transforming it into a robust quantitative tool. This approach eliminates the need for more costly and labor-intensive techniques such as ICP-MS, enabling faster and more cost-effective analyses.

This methodological advancement allows for the processing of large sample volumes, which is essential for deepening our understanding of the atmosphere, aerosols, and their impact on climate. Additionally, my research examines the influence of both human activities and natural processes on atmospheric composition, with a particular focus on aerosols that affect biogeochemical cycles and climate.

Furthermore, I am developing advanced air quality monitoring techniques to identify pollutant sources and assess their impacts. This research is complemented by efforts to transfer knowledge to air quality managers and by collaborating with emergency medical services to address the challenges associated with atmospheric pollution comprehensively.