In-situ observations are essential for understanding and monitoring the Earth system and supporting decision-making. At the same time, the in-situ data landscape is evolving, with new technologies and methods emerging, including low-cost sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), citizen science or drones. However, integrating these heterogeneous observations remains challenging due to differences in data sources, formats, quality and standards, making them difficult to discover, access and use, while relevant data gaps remain.

This session aims to focus on innovative in-situ observation approaches and their integration with existing observing networks and research infrastructures. Contributions on topics as data quality, interoperability, FAIR practices and metadata management, automated processing and aggregation, as well as approaches for defining user observational requirements and identifying the variables to be measured, are particularly encouraged. Examples of integrating in-situ observations with remote sensing satellite data, modelling and other geospatial information are also of particular interest.

By bringing together researchers and data users, observing networks, data managers, and open science enthusiasts, the session will highlight how emerging observing methods and open data sharing practices can address data gaps, strengthen existing data infrastructures and networks, and contribute to more sustainable and fit-for-purpose in-situ Earth observation system.