We are ACTRIS ERIC!


Today we are proud to announce that the European Commission has taken the final decision to establish the Aerosols, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS) as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) as of 25/04/2023. 17 European countries combine their resources to produce data and to provide open access to a wide range of atmospheric research technologies, services and resources. ACTRIS ERIC reflects the long-term efforts of several European countries to create a sustainable infrastructure to support atmospheric and climate research.
See also the official decision of the EU here!

What is an ERIC?
The European Research Infrastructures Consortium (ERIC) is a special legal form that facilitates the establishment and operation of research infrastructures of European interest. More information can be found here.

What is ACTRIS?

ACTRIS is the world’s largest multi-site research infrastructure. ACTRIS describes itself as follows: "ACTRIS ERIC provides access to a large variety of high-quality services to a wide range of users and needs, for scientific, technological, and innovation-oriented usage through its internationally recognized National Facilities. ACTRIS National Facilities are distributed across ACTRIS ERIC’s 17 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Greece and UK expressed interest in joining at later stages. With their commitment, the members demonstrate atmospheric and air quality research as a national priority for at least the next five years, thereby supporting scientific excellence across Europe. Being a member country of ACTRIS ERIC means that a country’s representative can help shape the strategy, participate in mission-based research, and join ACTRIS's unified voice at the forefront of European science and education landscape of atmospheric research focused on aerosol, clouds, and trace gases.  ACTRIS facilities make up the largest, multi-site atmospheric research infrastructure in the world and offer its users open access to instruments, expertise, training opportunities, and data management services. All users, regardless of their affiliation, area of expertise, or field of activity, can benefit from ACTRIS pan-European open-access services. ACTRIS aims at increasing the excellence in Earth system observation and research by providing information and knowledge for developing sustainable solutions to societal needs". The official ACTRIS website can be found here: https://www.actris.eu/

 

ACTRIS activities at the Sonnblick Observatory (SBO):

The GeoSphere Austria is with the Sonnblick Observatory an Austrian partner of the ACTRIS ERIC. The SBO operates the European Center for ambient Cloud Intercomparison (ECCINT), as well as the National Facilities (NFs) for the collection of aerosols and clouds.

ECCINT is a unit of the Topical Center for Cloud in-situ (CIS). The European Centre for Cloud Ambient Intercomparison (ECCINT) is responsible for mandatory integrated cloud measurements such as the liquid water content in the cloud and the effective radius of cloud droplets. The liquid water content is important in determining what types of clouds are likely to form and is closely related to three other cloud microphysical variables: the effective radius of cloud droplets, the concentration of cloud droplet number, and the size distribution of cloud droplets.

ECCINT will support the National Facilities (measuring stations) in Europe to produce and provide high quality ACTRIS data sets in the field of cloud research. These data help to improve climate and forecast models, to make statements about the status of the atmosphere and to better understand our Earth system.