ACTRIS and its Aerosol Remote Sensing Component

Ulla Wandinger,Doina Nicolae,Lucia Mona,Adolfo Comerón,Gelsomina Pappalardo,D Liu,B Gross,F Moshary,Y Wu,Y Wang

doi:10.1051/epjconf/202023705003

Abstract

The Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure ACTRIS is currently being developed with support from more than 20 countries and more than 100 research-performing organizations in Europe. The pan-European distributed research infrastructure shall provide data and services related to short-lived atmospheric constituents to facilitate high-quality Earth system research in the long term (over at least 20 years). While some of the activities are already in place, ACTRIS functionality will be further ramped up until full operation in 2025. The observation of aerosol, clouds and reactive trace gases with in-situ and remote-sensing techniques in ACTRIS is supported by six Topical Centres, which are responsible for common standards and quality assurance. Free and open virtual access to ACTRIS data is provided by the Data Centre. International users will also have physical access to ACTRIS observatories, atmospheric simulation chambers and mobile platforms as well as remote or physical access to calibration services, digital services and training. Access provision is organized through a single-entry point by the Head Office. In this contribution, the general principles and structure of ACTRIS are introduced, and the observational component related to aerosol remote sensing, which builds on the heritage of the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) and the European part of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET-Europe), is explained in more detail.

Highlights

ACTRIS intends to provide data and services related to the 4D-variability and the physical and chemical properties of short-lived atmospheric constituents and the processes leading to their formation, transformation and removal
ACTRIS will be implemented as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), a legal entity based on an agreement of EU Member States and associated countries
Aerosol remote sensing in ACTRIS builds on the heritage of EARLINET and AERONET-Europe and applies standards developed for these observation networks over the past two decades

Summary

ACTRIS OBJECTIVE

ACTRIS intends to provide data and services related to the 4D-variability and the physical and chemical properties of short-lived atmospheric constituents and the processes leading to their formation, transformation and removal. ACTRIS Topical Centres are organized around the main scientific themes of ACTRIS: aerosol, clouds and reactive trace gases, each with a particular focus on either remote sensing or in-situ measurement techniques (see Figure 1). Observational Platforms are fixed ground-based stations that deliver long-term data based on a regular measurement schedule and common operation standards. They are widely distributed over Europe and located at selected sites outside of Europe. Facilities, in particular the exploratory platforms and large observatories, shall provide physical access to users, which will be centrally managed by the Service and Access Management Unit within the ACTRIS Head Office

LEGAL IMPLEMENTATION

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AEROSOL REMOTE SENSING IN ACTRIS

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK