Antonis Gkikas

Education

Antonis Gkikas (AG) graduated in 2004 from the Technological Institute of Crete as an Environmental and Natural Resources Engineer. He is holding a MSc degree in Meteorology, Climatology and Atmospheric Physics [2007] and a PhD degree in Atmospheric Sciences and Environment [PhD thesis: Study of aerosol episodes over the broader area of the Mediterranean basin based on contemporary satellite data, 2012]. Both MSc and PhD studies have been accomplished at the Laboratory of Meteorology in the Physics Department of the University of Ioannina. 

Career

Antonis Gkikas worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Ioannina and as an external collaborator with the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), the University of Aegean and the University of Crete. In 2014, he granted with Marie-Curie FP7-PEOPLE-IEF individual scholarship working as postdoctoral fellow (May 2014-April 2016), in the framework of the MDRAF project, at the Earth Sciences Department of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. In 2017, he received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016; DUST-GLASS) hosted at the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing (IAASARS) of NOA (May 2017 – April 2019). In 2020, in the framework of the  2^nd Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Post-Doctoral Researchers, the project ATLANTAS (Assessment of naTural and ANThropogenic AerosolS impact on climate; Project Number: 544), with AG as a Principal Investigator, has received funding.        

Antonis Gkikas, during 2017-2021, was member of the management commitee (national representative) of the inDust (“International Network to Encourage the Use of Monitoring and Forecasting Dust Products”; COST Action CA 16202) contributing to Work Package 1 (Dust observations) and being the person in charge for the development of the Dust Products Catalogue database. AG coordinated the NEWTON project [2021-2022], in collaboration with Dr. Vassilis Amiridis, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). AG acts as the WP manager in the ADD-CROSS and L2A+ projects and he is contributing to the VADAM and ACROSS projects related to the evaluation and the scientific exploitation of the ESA satellite missions AEOLUS and EarthCARE.                      

Research

Antonis Gkikas has participated in 21 research projects, has been co-author in 41 papers (775 citations; h-index: 16, Web of Science; 30/1/2023) and he has contributed to 141 announcements in national and international conferences. His study  «ModIs Dust AeroSol (MIDAS): a global fine-resolution dust optical depth data set» has been selected as highlight paper (15/1/2021) in the Atmospheric Measurement Techniques scientifc journal. His scientific expertise lies in the field of: (1) aerosol optical properties based on spaceborne and ground-based observations, (2) numerical simulations of atmospheric-dust models, (3) aerosol-radiation interactions, (4) impact of dust-radiation interactions on atmospheric processes, (5) data assimilation, (6) atmospheric physics and (7) meteorology-climatology. 

Teaching

Antonis Gkikas was a teacher assistant in the course "Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics" (Department of Physics, University of Ioannina) for eight (8) academic years (2005-2014). He was teaching the courses of «Fundamentals of remote sensing» and «Advanced space applications» in the MSc Space Science Technologies and Applications, co-organized by the University of Peloponnese and NOA, for the academic years 2017-2019. He has participated in the 2^nd Summer School of the Hellenic Association for Aerosol Research (HAAR) teaching to BSc/MSc/Phd students the principles of aerosol remote sensing techniques (Navarino Environmental Observatory, NEO).

Indicative publications

1. A. Monteiro, S. Basart, S. Kazadzis, A. Gkikas, S. Vandenbussche, A. Tobias, C. Gama, C. Pérez García-Pando, E. Tarradellas, G. Notas, N. Middleton, J. Kushta, V. Amiridis, K. Lagouvardos, P. Kosmopoulos, V. Kotroni, M. Kanakidou, N. Mihalopoulos, N. Kalivitis, P. Dagsson-Waldhauserová, H. El-Askary, K. Sievers, T. Giannaros, L. Mona, M. Hirtl, P Skomorowski, S. Nickovic, A. Votsis, T. H. Virtanen, T. Christoudias, Biagio Di Mauro, S. Trippetta, S. Kutuzov, O. Meinander: «Multi-sectoral impact assessment of an extreme African dust episode in the Eastern Mediterranean in March 2018», Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 843, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156861, 2022.
2. K. Papachristopoulou, I.-P. Raptis, A. Gkikas, I. Fountoulakis, A. Masoom, and S. Kazadzis: «Aerosol optical depth regime over megacities of the world», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15703–15727, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15703-2022, 2022.
3. H. Huang, Y. Qian, Y. Liu, C. He, J. Zheng, Z. Zhang, and A. Gkikas: «Where does the dust deposited over the Sierra Nevada snow come from?», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15469–15488, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15469-2022, 2022.  
4. E. Drakaki, V. Amiridis, A. Tsekeri, A. Gkikas, E. Proestakis, S. Mallios, S. Solomos, C. Spyrou, E. Marinou, C. Ryder, D. Bouris, P. Katsafados. «Modelling coarse and giant desert dust particles», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12727–12748, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12727-2022, 2022.
5. B. Cvetkovic, P. Dagsson-Waldhauserova, S. Petkovic, Ó. Arnalds, F. Madonna, E. Proestakis, A. Gkikas, A. Vukovic Vimic, G. Pejanovic, M. Rosoldi, D. Ceburnis, V. Amiridis, L. Lisá, S. Nickovic, and J. Nikolic: «Fully Dynamic High–Resolution Model for Dispersion of Icelandic Airborne Mineral Dust», Atmosphere, 13(9), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13091345, 2022.
6. Α. Gkikas, Ε. Proestakis, V. Amiridis, S. Kazadzis, E. Di Tomaso, E. Marinou, N. Hatzianastassiou, J.F. Kok, and C.P. García-Pando. «Quantification of the dust optical depth across spatiotemporal scales with the MIDAS global dataset (2003–2017)», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3553–3578, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3553-2022, 2022.
7. S.-A., Logothetis, V. Salamalikis, A. Gkikas, S. Kazadzis, V. Amiridis, and A. Kazantzidis. «15-year variability of desert dust optical depth on global and regional scales», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 16499–16529, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16499-2021, 2021.
8. M.-B. Korras-Carraca, A. Gkikas, C. Matsoukas, N. Hatzianastassiou. «Global Clear-Sky Aerosol Speciated Direct Radiative Effects over 40 Years (1980–2019)», Atmosphere, 12 (10), 1254, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12101254, 2021.
9. Α. Gkikas, Ε. Proestakis, V. Amiridis, S. Kazadzis, E. Di Tomaso, A. Tsekeri, E. Marinou, N. Hatzianastassiou, and C. Pérez García-Pando, C. «ModIs Dust AeroSol (MIDAS): a global fine-resolution dust optical depth data set», Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 309–334, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-309-2021, 2021. [Highlight paper]
10. I. Fountoulakis, P. Kosmopoulos, K. Papachristopoulou, I.-P. Raptis, R.-E. Mamouri, A. Nisantzi, A. Gkikas, J. Witthuhn, S. Bley, A. Moustaka, J. Buehl, P. Seifert, D. G. Hadjimitsis, C. Kontoes, S. Kazadzis. «Effects of aerosols and clouds on the levels of surface solar radiation and solar energy in Cyprus», Remote Sensing, 13 (12), 2319, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13122319, 2021.
11. S. Solomos, N. Kalivitis, N. Mihalopoulos, V. Amiridis, G. Kouvarakis, A. Gkikas, I. Binietoglou, A. Tsekeri, S. Kazadzis, M. Kottas, Y. Pradhan, E. Proestakis, P. T. Nastos and F. Marenco: «From Tropospheric Folding to Khamsin and Foehn Winds: How Atmospheric Dynamics Advanced a Record-Breaking Dust Episode in Crete», Atmosphere, 9(7), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9070240, 2018.
12. A. Gkikas, V. Obiso, C. Pérez García-Pando, O. Jorba, N. Hatzianastassiou, L. Vendrell, S. Basart, S. Solomos, S. Gassó, and J.M. Baldasano: «Direct radiative effects during intense Mediterranean desert dust outbreaks», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 8757-8787, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-8757-2018, 2018.
13. A.Gkikas, S. Basart, N. Hatzianastassiou, E. Marinou, V. Amiridis, S. Kazadzis, J. Pey, X. Querol, O. Jorba, S. Gassó, and J.M. Baldasano: «Mediterranean intense desert dust outbreaks and their vertical structure based on remote sensing data», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 8609-8642, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-8609-2016, 2016.
14. A. Gkikas, E.E. Houssos, C.J. Lolis, A. Bartzokas, N. Mihalopoulos, N. Hatzianastassiou: «Atmospheric circulation evolution related to desert dust episodes over the Mediterranean», Q.J.R. Meteorol. Soc., https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2466, 2014.
15. A. Gkikas, N. Hatzianastassiou, N. Mihalopoulos, V. Katsoulis, S. Kazadzis, J. Pey, X. Querol, and O. Torres: «The regime of intense desert dust episodes in the Mediterranean based on contemporary satellite observations and ground measurements», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 12135-12154, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-12135-2013, 2013.
16. V. Amiridis, U. Wandinger, E. Marinou, E. Giannakaki, A. Tsekeri, S. Basart, S. Kazadzis, A. Gkikas, M. Taylor, J. Baldasano, and A. Ansmann: «Optimizing CALIPSO Saharan dust retrievals», Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 12089-12106, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-12089-2013, 2013.
17. A. Gkikas, E.E. Houssos, N. Hatzianastassiou, C.D. Papadimas, A. Bartzokas: «Synoptic conditions favouring the occurrence of aerosol episodes over the broader Mediterranean basin», Q.J.R. Meteorol. Soc., 138: 932–949, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.978, 2012.
18. A. Gkikas, N. Hatzianastassiou, N. Mihalopoulos: «Aerosol events in the broader Mediterranean basin based 7-year (2000 – 2007) MODIS C005 data», Ann. Geophys., 27, 3509-3522, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-3509-2009, 2009.