Observational Platforms

ACTRIS Observational Platforms perform long-term measurements of aerosols, clouds and reactive trace gases from the Earth’s surface throughout the troposphere up to the stratosphere by applying state-of-the-art remote-sensing and in situ measurement techniques under consideration of harmonized, standardized and quality-controlled instrumentation, operation procedures and data retrieval schemes.

 

ACTRIS Observational sites cover major geographical areas in Europe and, in addition, important global habitats to obtain data representing and contrasting scientifically relevant aspects, such as urban and rural, polluted and clean, mountainous and flat, marine and continental or wet and dry sites or under polar, mid-latitude, sub-tropical, tropical and other climatic conditions.   

ACTRIS Observational Platforms deliver data regularly to the ACTRIS Data Centre, where they are accessible and where higher-level products are created and provided to the users. All data have standardized formats, are accompanied by the metadata, contain uncertainty and traceability information and undergo strict quality control. Whenever applicable, data should be transferred in real real-time (RRT, within 3 hours after acquisition) or near real-time (NRT, within 3 days after acquisition).  

 

ACTRIS Observational platforms must support at least one of the observational components: 

Aerosol in situ measurements  Aerosol remote sensing 

Cloud in situ measurements  Cloud remote sensing 

Reactive trace gases in situ Reactive trace gases remote sensing 

 

Compliance with Standards

Measurement procedures follow the standards of calibration, operation and quality assurance defined by the related Central Facility. 

FAIR &  Open Data

Standardised, open, quality-controlled data are available to users through the ACTRIS Data Portal.  

Long-term Operations

National Facilities are committed to supporting long-term observations and are operated by personnel with recognized expertise. 

ACTRIS Scientific Framework

ACTRIS delivers high-precision observations and scientific expertise to advance understanding of atmospheric processes, supporting efforts to tackle climate change, air quality, and environmental sustainability. Its structure is built around six key scientific components that ensure high-quality data, cutting-edge research, and technological innovation.

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Scientific themes
Access ACTRIS Facilities

Access ACTRIS Facilities

ACTRIS provides open access to its state-of-the-art research facilities, high-quality atmospheric data, and expert services  researchers, innovators, and stakeholders. 

Whether you're conducting fundamental research, testing new instruments, or developing applications for air quality and climate studies, ACTRIS offers tailored opportunities to support your work.

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Get Involved with ACTRIS

There are several ways to join the ACTRIS Community, whether you're a researcher, early career scientist, or a national stakeholder. 

You can start by subscribing to the ACTRIS mailing list, joining the Early Career Community, attending ACTRIS events, or accessing National Facilities. Researchers can also get involved in ACTRIS projects. 

Countries interested in joining ACTRIS ERIC begin by forming a National Consortium, appointing a National Contact Person, and engaging with relevant ministries. Membership is formalized through an application reviewed by the ACTRIS General Assembly.

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