Abstract
ABSTRACT Big open data comprising comprehensive, long-term atmospheric and ecosystem in-situ observations will give us tools to meet global grand challenges and to contribute towards sustainable development. United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) provide framework for the process. We present synthesis on how Station for Measuring Earth Surface–Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR) observation network can contribute to UN SDGs. We describe SMEAR II flagship station in Hyytiälä, Finland. With more than 1200 variables measured in an integrated manner, we can understand interactions and feedbacks between biosphere and atmosphere. This contributes towards understanding impacts of climate change to natural ecosystems and feedbacks from ecosystems to climate. The benefits of SMEAR concept are highlighted through outreach project in Eastern Lapland utilizing SMEAR I observations from Värriö research station. In contrast to boreal environment, SMEAR concept was also deployed in Beijing. We underline the benefits of comprehensive observations to gain novel insights into complex interactions between densely populated urban environment and atmosphere. Such observations enable work towards solving air quality problems and improve the quality of life inside megacities. The network of comprehensive stations with various measurements will enable science-based decision making and support sustainable development by providing long-term view on spatio-temporal trends on atmospheric composition and ecosystem parameters.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundAt present, a better understanding of various interactions and feedbacks between Earth surface and atmosphere is required to improve climate-related predictions and mitigation plans (Arneth et al, 2010; Kulmala et al, 2015)
The aim of this paper is to summarize how the comprehensive atmospheric observations within the SMEAR observation network can contribute towards reaching United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) from local to global scale
The research enabled by the SMEAR stations contribute to the solutions that will help the business sector and society to reach the Paris climate targets, to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and support the EU Green Deal commitments and the UN SDGs
Summary
A better understanding of various interactions and feedbacks between Earth surface and atmosphere is required to improve climate-related predictions and mitigation plans (Arneth et al, 2010; Kulmala et al, 2015). In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with associated 169 targets and 232 indicators to be achieved by the year 2030 (United Nations, 2015) These goals, referred to as Agenda 2030, are a comprehensive, global effort to strengthen sustainability in its three dimensions: economic, social and environmental. In Finland, we have Stations for Measuring Earth Surface–Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR) e.g. in Hyytiälä (SMEAR II) and Värriö (SMEAR I) (see chapter 2 and 3), which support work towards SDGs and connect to political and organizational strategies on municipal and organizational, national and EU levels. An ongoing and honest dialogue between sectors is required to integrate different types of knowledge in working towards achieving the SDGs. In the context of SMEAR, the need for climate education (i.e. Climate University, https://climateuniversity.fi/) and policy advice have been recognized as a key factor in meeting the Agenda 2030 goals. The aim of this paper is to summarize how the comprehensive atmospheric observations within the SMEAR observation network can contribute towards reaching UN SDGs from local to global scale
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