Towards long-term standardised carbon and greenhouse gas observations for monitoring Europe’s terrestrial ecosystems: a review
Authors: Franz Daniela , Acosta Manuel , Altimir Núria , Arriga Nicola , Arrouays Dominique , Aubinet Marc , Aurela Mika , Ayres Edward , López-Ballesteros Ana , Barbaste Mireille , Berveiller Daniel , Biraud Sébastien , Boukir Hakima , Brown Timothy , Brümmer Christian , Buchmann Nina , Burba George , Carrara Arnaud , Cescatti Allessandro , Ceschia Eric , Clement Robert , Cremonese Edoardo , Crill Patrick , Darenova Eva , Dengel Sigrid , D’Odorico Petra , Filippa Gianluca , Fleck Stefan , Fratini Gerardo , Fuß Roland , Gielen Bert , Gogo Sébastien , Grace John , Graf Alexander , Grelle Achim , Gross Patrick , Grünwald Thomas , Haapanala Sami , Hehn Markus , Heinesch Bernard , Heiskanen Jouni , Herbst Mathias , Herschlein Christine , Hörtnagl Lukas , Hufkens Koen , Ibrom Andreas , Jolivet Claudy , Joly Lilian , Jones Michael , Kiese Ralf , Klemedtsson Leif , Kljun Natascha , Klumpp Katja , Kolari Pasi , Kolle Olaf , Kowalski Andrew , Kutsch Werner , Laurila Tuomas , de Ligne Anne , Linder Sune , Lindroth Anders , Lohila Annalea , Longdoz Bernhard , Mammarella Ivan , Manise Tanguy , Jiménez Sara Maraňón , Matteucci Giorgio , Mauder Matthias , Meier Philip , Merbold Lutz , Mereu Simone , Metzger Stefan , Migliavacca Mirco , Mölder Meelis , Montagnani Leonardo , Moureaux Christine , Nelson David , Nemitz Eiko , Nicolini Giacomo , Nilsson Mats B. , de Beeck Maarten Op , Osborne Bruce , Löfvenius Mikaell Ottosson , Pavelka Marian , Peichl Matthias , Peltola Olli , Pihlatie Mari , Pitacco Andrea , Pokorný Radek , Pumpanen Jukka , Ratié Céline , Rebmann Corinna , Roland Marilyn , Sabbatini Simone , Saby Nicolas P.A. , Saunders Matthew , Schmid Hans Peter , Schrumpf Marion , Sedlák Pavel , Ortiz Penelope Serrano , Siebicke Lukas , Šigut Ladislav , Silvennoinen Hanna , Simioni Guillaume , Skiba Ute , Sonnentag Oliver , Soudani Kamel , Soulé Patrice , Steinbrecher Rainer , Tallec Tiphaine , Thimonier Anne , Tuittila Eeva-Stiina , Tuovinen Juha-Pekka , Vestin Patrik , Vincent Gaëlle , Vincke Caroline , Vitale Domenico , Waldner Peter , Weslien Per , Wingate Lisa , Wohlfahrt Georg , Zahniser Mark , Vesala Timo 
Published: December 2018

Research infrastructures play a key role in launching a new generation of integrated long-term, geographically distributed observation programmes designed to monitor climate change, better understand its impacts on global ecosystems, and evaluate possible mitigation and adaptation strategies. The pan-European Integrated Carbon Observation System combines carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG; CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O) observations within the atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems and oceans. High-precision measurements are obtained using standardised methodologies, are centrally processed and openly available in a traceable and verifiable fashion in combination with detailed metadata. The Integrated Carbon Observation System ecosystem station network aims to sample climate and land-cover variability across Europe. In addition to GHG flux measurements, a large set of complementary data (including management practices, vegetation and soil characteristics) is collected to support the interpretation, spatial upscaling and modelling of observed ecosystem carbon and GHG dynamics. The applied sampling design was developed and formulated in protocols by the scientific community, representing a trade-off between an ideal dataset and practical feasibility. The use of open-access, high-quality and multi-level data products by different user communities is crucial for the Integrated Carbon Observation System in order to achieve its scientific potential and societal value.