ICOS Handbook 2022.

Abstract

ICOS fosters Europe’s scientific competence and competitiveness by strategically pooling available resources linked to greenhouse gas measurements. By cooperating and creating a joint network, it is possible to further scientific excellence cost-efficiently. ICOS has been established to ensure the high-qual-ity measurements of greenhouse gas concentrations and fluxes that are independent, transparent and reliable. In turn, this observational network will support governments in their efforts to mitigate climate change as well as hold them accountable for reaching their mitigation targets. ICOS Member and Observer countries receive support for their national inventories and capacity building. ICOS opens new opportunities for its Members and Observers to be connected with the European and global community of researchers. The standardisation carried out in ICOS provides an example of the joint international efforts through which Europe has achieved global influence, and this plainly shows the strategic importance of ICOS. ICOS provides easy access to new methods and instrumentation. The high quality of reliable and comparable data is guaranteed by harmonised practices in the operations at its Thematic Centres and in the Carbon Portal data services used in data processing. These include, for example, Quality Assurance and Quality Control.