The European network “Climate and Ocean Observation” was born in 2018 to create a collaborative network able to provide metrological competence to the numerous stakeholders, both public and private, that carry out measurements for climate and ocean observations or are end users of these measurements. In order to better address the specific needs of the various compartments, the network is divided into three thematic sections: Atmosphere Observation, Ocean Observation, Land and Earth Observation.
At present, understanding the significance and impact of climate change is among the most critical and important issues and it requires a cooperation at the global level. In this framework, metrology can give, and must give, its contribution to guarantee the data comparability in time and space and to provide sound bases to the accurate monitoring of the essential climate variables (ECVs), which require repeated measurements in long timescales and high accuracy to discriminate the effects attributable to climate change from normal fluctuations.
A European metrological infrastructure is fundamental to support at the global level the understanding of climate change and the sustainable use of the oceans. In order to maximise the network impact and to give a unique and effective contact point in the relevant sectors, the members of the network had carried out a mapping of the main stakeholders, both at the global level within the entire network and within each thematic section. A survey among all members of the communities that are active in the sectors dealing with climate and ocean observations allowed to identify the needs and priorities. Many stakeholders are organised in international communities and the network aims at interacting directly with such organisations.
The major goals of the network include: the application of the metrological principles to in situ and remote measurements, the definition and implementation of fit-for-purpose measurement techniques and standards to establish the metrological traceability of the results of in situ measurements and satellite observations, the organisation of measurement comparisons, the sharing of specific vocabulary and, in some cases, the support to the definition of specific measurands and conversion factors between different methods.
The activities and the results of the network are disseminated and spread towards a wider audience by means of workshops, organisations of international conferences, meetings with experts, European/World Climate and Metrology days. In order to keep updated the scopes of action, specific stakeholder workshops are also organised.
The network scope and INRiM participation in its activities are aligned with the INRiM Vision. In this context, INRiM is an active member of the network, has been contributing to the network foundation and development, takes part in the preparation of documents and guidelines such as the “Strategic Research Agenda” and gives the contribution in spreading such documents towards the national stakeholders. INRiM regularly takes part to the activities of the network both at its global level and within the thematic sections; in addition, it participates in the working group devoted to the strategy of the network, which aims at enhancing the network actions, at planning the activities, the vision and the future initiatives.
INRiM, in the framework of ongoing projects and collaborations with Academia, Research Institutes, public local and National bodies and small and medium-sized enterprises, promotes initiatives to disseminate the metrological approach to meteorological and climate measurements and to consolidate the interactions between oceanography and metrology. It cooperates with various stakeholders both at the national and the international level and provides metrological services for the quantities relevant for the network. At present, in addition to INRiM, 25 other metrology institutes ae members of the network.