eLTER Standard Observations: A holistic framework for integrated long-term environmental monitoring

The European Long-Term, critical zone and socio-ecologicalEcosystem Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) has been developed to provide a continental-scale site-based network for the observation, understanding, and addressing of critical ecological, geochemical, and socio-ecological challenges. A cornerstone of this initiative is the implementation of the eLTER Standard Observations, which constitutes a harmonised framework for the collection and analysis of long-term environmental data across diverse ecosystems.

These observations are characterised by a multidisciplinary approach, integrating biological, hydrological, geochemical, climatic, soil-related, and socio-economic variables and parameters. Key areas of focus include biodiversity, primary production, water quality, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and climate dynamics. The standardisation of the methodology ensures the comparability of data across sites, regions, and timescales, thereby enabling robust analyses of ecosystem dynamics and human impacts.

The eLTER Standard Observations (SOs) are closely aligned with the concepts of Essential Variables (EVs), encompassing a wide range of critical environmental parameters necessary for understanding ecosystem dynamics. SOs are designed to integrate elements of e.g. Essential Climate Variables (ECVs), Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), and Essential Socio-Economic Variables (ESVs), ensuring a comprehensive approach to environmental monitoring. The SOs provide the fundamental data necessary to track key processes, assess ecosystem health, and understand human-nature interactions across various scales. By harmonising data collection and focusing on long-term monitoring, the SOs contribute to the global framework of Essential Variables, fostering comparability and supporting evidence-based decision-making.

The presentation will outline the scope, methodology, and significance of the eLTER Standard Observations with respect to simultaneously covering existing EV concepts. It will highlight their role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable resource management, emphasizing their contribution to integrative ecosystem research.