FAIRNESS Project - FAIR NEtwork of micrometeorological measurements

Reliable and sufficient knowledge on environmental conditions delivered from micrometeorological and microclimatological data plays a central role in assessing and modelling trends and effects of climate change and adverse weather on the environment. Enormous efforts have already been made to centralise data from ground-based and satellite measurements and to make them available for public use. However, beyond specific initiatives, they are still missing one very important component – micrometeorological data, i.e. data addressing meteorological conditions of microenvironment that is open and available for various application potentials and user groups.

Micrometeorological data are usually collected as part of scientific projects and observational networks developed for different purposes, but they often “languish” in reports and institutional data storages. To address this shortfall, FAIRNESS Cost Action will establish micrometeorological knowledge share platform (Micromet_KSP) to communicate: a) compiled inventory of available and quality proven micrometeorological in situ data sets on the European level and beyond, b) measurement and data management recommendations designed to meet FAIR principles and avoid temporal and spatial gaps, c) examples of rural and urban FAIR data sets and d) Q&A exchanged between Action members, stakeholders, specialised user groups and general public.

FAIRNESS targets are, primarily, networks of Automated Weather Stations installed in urban, sub-urban and rural areas which are in charge of dedicated projects, specialised agencies, regional or national government offices for specific applications in the sectors of urban-, forest-, and environmental meteorology and agrometeorology. Addressing identified challenges requires an effective transboundary network of researchers, stakeholders, and civil society to identify and fill knowledge gaps, standardize, optimize, and promote new environmental-tailored measurement and control procedures, enhance research effectiveness and improve dissemination.

FAIRNESS consortium includes 65 partners from 28 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, and invites interested stakeholders and/or data contributors to join the project during its realization (2021-2025).