Achieving Harmonized and Integrated Long-Term Environmental Observation of Essential Ecosystem Variables - The eLTER Framework of Standard Observations

Bibtex

@misc{8a73bca9-9858-4a5d-862e-d889aad2cf3e,
title = "Achieving Harmonized and Integrated Long-Term Environmental Observation of Essential Ecosystem Variables - The eLTER Framework of Standard Observations",
abstract = "The development of harmonized, standardized, and integrated environmental observation systems is a key challenge in Earth system science. Such capability is essential for advancing the interdisciplinary research needed to improve understanding of the Earth system and support global sustainability. The Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, Critical Zone and Socio-ecological Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) is a recently developed pan-European network of in situ research sites that facilitates the collection long-term, comprehensive observation, analysis, and modeling of environmental and ecosystem change. This initiative focuses on Europe's primary ecosystems, encompassing the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and their socio-ecological interactions with the anthroposphere. A fundamental prerequisite for effective environmental monitoring and observation is a standardized and harmonized design that facilitates consistent and comparable environmental data across diverse spatial and temporal scales. The objective of this paper is to introduce the eLTER Framework of Standard Observations (eLTER SO) as a harmonized conceptual and operational standard for long-term, integrated in situ environmental observations, and to demonstrate how it supports consistent cross-sphere monitoring and international collaboration in environmental research. The eLTER SO delineates essential ecosystem variables, their measurement methods, and protocols. These Standard Observations (SOs) constitute the conceptual foundation of eLTER RI and provide a basis for overcoming existing disciplinary barriers to the international harmonization of environmental research and a foundation for cross-sphere observation concepts. The eLTER SO combines the scientific-academic perspective, as known from ?classical? Essential Variable concepts, with the operational perspective required for the establishment and long-term operation of in situ observatories.",
author = "Steffen Zacharias and Theresa Lumpi and James Weldon and Thomas Dirnböck and Jérôme Gaillardet and Peter Haase and Ingolf Kühn and Harry Vereecken and Jaana Bäck and Caterina Bergami and Bastian Bertsch-Höermann and Isabelle Braud and Nathalie Cools and Jan Dick and Shayli Dor-Haim and Martin Forsius and Martyn N. Futter and Veronika Gaube and Elli Groner and Lubos Halada and Laura Kauppi and Andrea Lami and Tanja Lindholm and Carmela Marangi and Giorgio Matteucci and Pablo F. Méndez and Christin Mueller and Don Monteith and Jens C. Nejstgaard and Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis and Alessandro Oggioni and Daniel E. Orenstein and Christophe Piscart and Marie-Noelle Pons and Robert Ptacnik and Karsten Rinke and Taru Sandén and Marcus Schaub and Martin Schrön and Claudia Schütze and Christian Siebert and Adelheid Spiegel and James M. Thornton and Hans-Jörg Vogel and Michael Mirtl",
year = "2026",
month = apr,
day = "18",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EF006743",
language = "English",
publisher = "John Wiley & Sons, Ltd",
address = "Belgium,
type = "Other"
}

Authors

Steffen Zacharias
Theresa Lumpi
James Weldon
Thomas Dirnböck
Jérôme Gaillardet
Peter Haase
Ingolf Kühn
Harry Vereecken
Jaana Bäck
Caterina Bergami
Bastian Bertsch-Höermann
Isabelle Braud
Nathalie Cools
Jan Dick
Shayli Dor-Haim
Martin Forsius
Martyn N. Futter
Veronika Gaube
Elli Groner
Lubos Halada
Laura Kauppi
Andrea Lami
Tanja Lindholm
Carmela Marangi
Giorgio Matteucci
Pablo F. Méndez
Christin Mueller
Don Monteith
Jens C. Nejstgaard
Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis
Alessandro Oggioni
Daniel E. Orenstein
Christophe Piscart
Marie-Noelle Pons
Robert Ptacnik
Karsten Rinke
Taru Sandén
Marcus Schaub
Martin Schrön
Claudia Schütze
Christian Siebert
Adelheid Spiegel
James M. Thornton
Hans-Jörg Vogel
Michael Mirtl