Michel Legrand

Michel Legrand is a Research Director at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) affiliated with LISA (Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques), a French research laboratory focused on atmospheric systems. His work primarily centers on ice core analysis to study historical atmospheric composition and pollution across Europe, the Caucasus, and polar regions.

Dr. Legrand's research focuses on understanding atmospheric processes through the analysis of ice cores from various regions including the Alps, Caucasus, and Antarctica. His work spans several critical areas of atmospheric science:

• Desert aerosol cycles and their impact on climate
• Historical pollution patterns and their sources
• Organic carbon aerosols and their evolution
• Atmospheric chemistry of trace elements and pollutants
• Climate reconstruction using ice core records
• Anthropogenic impacts on atmospheric composition since pre-industrial times

Analysis of Dr. Legrand's recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong focus on using ice cores as historical archives of atmospheric composition. His work demonstrates how industrial activities, military operations, and natural processes have altered atmospheric chemistry over centuries. Key trends include documenting the anthropogenic impact on trace elements like bromine, chlorine, phosphorus, and heavy metals, with particular attention to European pollution history. His research combines precise chemical analysis of ice cores with atmospheric modeling to reconstruct past atmospheric conditions and identify pollution sources, showing significant increases in pollutants linked to specific industrial processes and historical events like World War II.

Dr. Legrand actively collaborates with international research teams across Europe and North America, working with institutions involved in polar and high-mountain research. His laboratory work at LISA involves advanced analytical techniques for ice core analysis and atmospheric chemistry, contributing significantly to our understanding of historical atmospheric composition and the human impact on air quality over time.