ACTRIS – Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure
The Research Infrastructure ACTRIS is the pan-European initiative that consolidates strategies amongst European partners for observation of aerosols, clouds, and trace gases. ACTRIS focuses on producing high-quality observations of clouds and short-lived climate-forcing pollutants (SLCPs). Short- lived atmospheric components have a residence time in the atmosphere from hours to few weeks, which differentiates them from long-lived greenhouse gases. The short lifetimes make their concentrations highly variable in time and space and involve fast processes. The infrastructure is unique in providing the 4D-variability of reactive trace gases, clouds and of the physical, optical and chemical properties of short-lived atmospheric species. ACTRIS is a distributed infrastructure consisting of National (observing stations) and Central Facilities (Calibration Centres, Data Centre, Head Office) that serve a vast community of users working on models, satellite retrievals, and analysis and forecast systems. Atmospheric predictions of all kinds use complex models that are underpinned by observations. Without high-quality observation data to constrain predictive models any forecast of the atmosphere are highly unreliable. Without a ground-truth capability, satellite sensors cannot be accurately validated.
ACTRIS is a distributed infrastructure consisting of National (observing stations) and Central Facilities (Calibration Centres, Data Centre, Head Office) that serve a vast community of users working on models, satellite retrievals, and analysis and forecast systems. Atmospheric predictions of all kinds use complex models that are underpinned by observations. Without high-quality observation data to constrain predictive models any forecast of the atmosphere are highly unreliable. Without a ground-truth capability, satellite sensors cannot be accurately validated.
ACTRIS was established as the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) on April 25, 2023. The ERIC decision and the ERIC statutes are published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This status confers a stable legal structure on ACTRIS and gives it legal recognition as a European research infrastructure. ERIC ACTRIS, which has its registered office in Finland, is responsible for the coordination, integration, development, supervision and governance of ACTRIS, and directs the strategic and financial development and sustainability of ACTRIS.
History
ACTRIS results from a construction effort of more than 15-yr engaged by both member states and the European commission through the Research Infrastructure programme. ACTRIS was initiated as an Integrated Initiative in 2011 building on three historical European research collaborations: EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network, EU-FP5 and FP6 projects) EUSAAR (European Supersites for Atmospheric Aerosol Research, EU-FP6 project), CREATE (Construction, use and delivery of an European aerosol database, EU-FP5 project) and CLOUDnet (que comenzó como un proyecto EU-FP5 para la observación de los perfiles de las nubes), a la que después se añadió una nueva integración de observatorios de gases traza a largo plazo. Las operaciones continuaron como parte de ACTRIS-2, financiado como un nuevo programa de Acción Innovadora (IA) por la Comisión Europea en el marco de H2020.
The short-lived components of NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change) fuerontambién incorporados en las infraestructuras de investigación ACTRIS sobre la base de los avances realizados en el programa NORS. Muchos de los observatorios de ACTRIS se situaron junto a sitios EMEP, GAW y GRUAN, y en muchos casos se comenzaron las observaciones de forma previa a los proyectos UE mencionados. Además, unas pocas instalaciones, como las grandes cámaras de simulación que han funcionado durante años dentro de los proyectos EUROCHAMP, se propusieron como instalaciones nacionales.
How is ACTRIS linked to European and international networks?
Several networks operate in Europe and in the world to produce information on atmospheric composition changes.
Europe
In Europe, the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) is a science-based and policy-driven programme under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) for international co-operation to solve trans-boundary air pollution problems. EMEP coordinates monitoring activities from about 180 sites in Europe and includes a research observation component organized at so-called EMEP supersites (level-2 and level-3 sites). Level-3 activities are research-oriented to improve the scientific understanding of the relevant physico-chemical processes in relation to regional air pollution and its control. ACTRIS is the proposed funding scheme to ensure long-term sustainability of level-3 activities within EMEP, and is central in harmonizing efforts of level-2 sites ensuring the required quality and development.
World
In the world, the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is a long-term, user-driven operational system capable of providing the comprehensive observations required for monitoring the climate system, detecting and attributing climate change. For the atmospheric domain, Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), GRUAN (Global Reference Upper Air Network), NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change) and GAW (Global Atmosphere Watch) are four major components of that system. All networks operate advanced instrumentation, calibration centers and data centers essentially under national funding schemes. ACTRIS is the proposed funding scheme for long-term support of the European component contributing to AERONET, GRUAN, NDACC and GAW, for the relevant essential climate variables. ACTRIS includes support to the World Data Center (WDC) and World Calibration Centers (WCC) located in Europe, and contributes to operation at supersites relevant to those networks. ACTRIS provides the proper level of coordination and commitment to make the European contribution to GCOS better recognized.