Atmosphere

For more information about the conceptual underpinning of the eLTER SOs and their role in the design and development of the eLTER RI, as well as the process of developing and selecting the SOs, please go to Info Sheet or read the new paper presenting the eLTER Framework of Standard Observations (Zacharias et al. 2026). This article includes the official information on what SOs are requested in which Site category and in which habitat.

Filter and Browse Standard Observations

Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Inland surface standing waters Inland surface running waters Coastal (transitional) waters including coastal littoral zones Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Meteorological data (SOATM_027)

Comprised Variables: relative air humidity, precipitation, air temperature, wind speed/wind direction, surface atmospheric pressure
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Inland surface standing waters Inland surface running waters Coastal (transitional) waters including coastal littoral zones Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Radiation (SOATM_028)

Comprised Variables: PPFD, Global radiation (incoming and reflected), diffuse shortwave radiation, long-wave radiation (incoming and reflected), UV-B
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Soil heat flux (SOATM_098)

Comprised Variables: soil heat flux
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Inland surface standing waters Inland surface running waters Coastal (transitional) waters including coastal littoral zones Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Atmospheric deposition in precipitation (SOATM_103)

Comprised Variables: precipitation: Bulk NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, Ntot, SO4, PO4-P, K, pH, anion, cation, DOC, alkalinity, electrical conductivity
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Inland surface standing waters Inland surface running waters Coastal (transitional) waters including coastal littoral zones Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Dry deposition of N-components (SOATM_108)

Comprised Variables: dry deposition of N-components
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Eddy covariance (SOATM_176)

Comprised Variables: CO2 flux and concentration, Latent heat flux, Sensible heat flux
Atmosphere
Forests and other wooded land

Forest - Aboveground biomass (SOBIO_023)

Comprised Variables: annual aboveground vegetation biomass
Atmosphere
Forests and other wooded land

Tree growth (SOBIO_177)

Comprised Variables: tree growth
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Non-forest - Aboveground biomass (SOBIO_024)

Comprised Variables: aboveground biomass – non-forested sites 
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Gross primary production (SOBIO_090)

Comprised Variables: GPP calculated from Eddy-Covariance measurement 
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Transpiration (SOBIO_091)

Comprised Variables: transpiration (Plants)
Atmosphere
Forests and other wooded land

Forests - Litterfall (SOBIO_092)

Comprised Variables: aboveground litterfall - forests
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Belowground biomass (SOBIO_093)

Comprised Variables: belowground biomass - terrestrial
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Inland surface standing waters Inland surface running waters Coastal (transitional) waters including coastal littoral zones Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Phenological traits (Remote Sensing) (SOBIO_015)

Comprised Variables: phenological traits (including start, maximum, end of season), LAI
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Phenological traits (on-site) (SOBIO_016)

Comprised Variables: phenological traits (including start, maximum, end of season)
Atmosphere
Forests and other wooded land

Forest - LAI (SOBIO_025)

Comprised Variables: leaf area index - forests
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Non-forest - LAI (SOBIO_026)

Comprised Variables: leaf area index – non-forested sites
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Leaf - Elements (SOBIO_095)

Comprised Variables: leaf C, N, K, P, Ca, Mg, Mn content - terrestrial
Atmosphere
Wetlands Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens Heathlands, shrub and tundra Forests and other wooded land Vegetated man-made habitats Sparsely vegetated habitats and deserts

Vegetation - LiDAR (SOBIO_140)

Comprised Variables: LiDAR, every 3 (P) or 5 (B) years