Obj. 1 Upgrade of laboratories for environmental research and Earth observation

Modern technology for Earth observation (ground, air-borne or from satellites) is increasingly based on optoelectronic techniques. Currently, INOE has 5 laboratories and 1 data center, where research for air, water and soil quality characterization, as well as for the estimation of their impact on the climate is undertaken. These laboratories use a wide range of equipment and optoelectronic techniques, from sampling and analysis to active and passive remote sensing. INOE also has a laboratory destined for characterization, by optical and ancillary methods, of materials, components and systems with applications in the field of optoelectronics – INDICO, which ensures testing, calibration and development of the equipment from the 4 laboratories. The infrastructure has been built in the past 15 years through national and international research projects, and had an important role in INOE accession to specific European networks and in its participation to projects from the European Space Agency (ESA). CEO-Terra aims to upgrade these laboratories through laboratory modernization and the purchase of new instruments that will allow: a) the increase of research topics in the field of Earth observation; b) the increase of precision and number of determined parameters; c) to reach the criteria for performance, traceability and relevance of European research infrastructures for environment and of ESA.

Obj. 2 Creation of new research laboratories in the field of environment and Earth observation

Recent specialization and development of Earth observation techniques from space, and also the technological advancement, determines the necessity to create new laboratories within INOE, which will allow the broadening of research areas and the introduction of modern methods, in synergy with existent laboratories. CEO-Terra aims to create the Magurele center for Atmosphere and Radiation Studies (MARS). This will be similar to great European observatories CESAR [i], JOYCE [ii] and CIAO[[iii], which are part of European research infrastructure for environment ACTRIS, InGOS and ICOS, and will include a dedicated data center. MARS will allow the achievement of studies on interaction processes: gases-aerosols-clouds-precipitations-water-soil-radiation-climate. Apart from the major contribution to ACTRIS and InGOS, this investment will open extraordinary perspectives for long-term participation to space missions for Earth observation ADM-Aeolus [iv], EarthCARE [v], Sentinels [vi], FLEX [vii] and SMOS [viii], being the only infrastructure of this type in Eastern Europe. Moreover, CEO-Terra intends to create LiDAR calibration center, which will serve the European research infrastructure ACTRIS-RI as central facility, and will offer services to developers and users of lidar systems from around the world, being unique at global level. LiDAR calibration center addresses to ground infrastructures involved in Cal/Val activities of space missions ADM-Aeolus and EarthCARE.


[i] CESAR                     Cabaw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research is located in the western part of the Netherlands (51.971° N, 4.927° E) in a polder 0.7 m below mean sealevel. At the site a large set of instruments is operated to study the atmosphere and its interaction with the land surface.

[ii] JOYCE                     Jülich ObservatorY for Cloud Evolution is a unique site for cloud observation. Various instruments are currently set up, in order to continuously monitor water vapour, clouds, and precipitation over many years.

[iii] CIAO                       the CNR-IMAA Atmospheric Observatory represents a well-established ground-based remote-sensing observatory for the study of weather and climate. The observatory consists of a combination of advanced systems able to provide high quality long-term observations of aerosol and cloud properties.

[iv] ADM-Aeolus          is an EO missions to demonstrate the capability of a space-borne high spectral resolution Doppler wind lidar to make accurate global measurements of vertical wind profiles in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere (0–30 km). Additional geophysical products that will be retrieved from the Aeolus measurements are cloud and aerosol optical properties: AOD, scattering ratio and, when possible, backscatter-to extinction ratios

[v] EarthCARE             is intended to advance our understanding of the role that clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back into space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface. The satellite carries on board: an atmospheric lidar (ATLID), a Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), a Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI), and a Broad-Band Radiometer (BBR).

[vi] Sentinel-5P              is the Sentinel 5 Precursor missions, which is intended to monitor the atmosphere from the polar orbit. It will carry the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument-Tropomi, which is an advanced absorption spectrometer to provide data on atmospheric trace gases (ozone, NO2, SO2, CO) and aerosols linked to air quality and climate.

[vii] FLEX                      is a recently selected Earth Explorer which will provide global maps of vegetation fluorescence, to be used to work out actual photosynthetic activity. This information would improve our understanding of the way carbon moves between plants and the atmosphere and how it affects the carbon and water cycles. FLEX would encompass a three-instrument array for measurement of the interrelated features of fluorescence, hyperspectral reflectance, and canopy temperature. The program would involve a space and ground-truthing program of 3-years duration and would provide data formats for research and applied science.

[viii] SMOS                    is observing soil moisture over the Earth's landmasses and salinity over the oceans. It was launched on 2 November 2009 and although designed as a five-year mission, it has been extended until at least 2017. SMOS carries a novel interferometric radiometer that operates in the L-band microwave range to capture ‘brightness temperature’ images. These images are used to derive global maps of soil moisture every three days, achieving an accuracy of 4% at a spatial resolution of about 50 km. Over oceans, SMOS maps salinity down to 0.1 practical salinity units (psu, averaged over 10–30 days in areas measuring 200 × 200 km).

 [I1]Cabaw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research is located in the western part of the Netherlands (51.971° N, 4.927° E) in a polder 0.7 m below mean sealevel. At the site a large set of instruments is operated to study the atmosphere and its interaction with the land surface.

 [I2]Jülich ObservatorY for Cloud Evolution is a unique site for cloud observation. Various instruments are currently set up, in order to continuously monitor water vapour, clouds, and precipitation over many years.

 [I3]the CNR-IMAA Atmospheric Observatory represents a well-established ground-based remote-sensing observatory for the study of weather and climate. The observatory consists of a combination of advanced systems able to provide high quality long-term observations of aerosol and cloud properties

 [I4]is an EO missions to demonstrate the capability of a space-borne high spectral resolution Doppler wind lidar to make accurate global measurements of vertical wind profiles in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere (0–30 km). Additional geophysical products that will be retrieved from the Aeolus measurements are cloud and aerosol optical properties: AOD, scattering ratio and, when possible, backscatter-to extinction ratios

 [I5]is intended to advance our understanding of the role that clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back into space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface. The satellite carries on board: an atmospheric lidar (ATLID), a Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), a Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI), and a Broad-Band Radiometer (BBR).

 [I6]is the Sentinel 5 Precursor missions, which is intended to monitor the atmosphere from the polar orbit. It will carry the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument-Tropomi, which is an advanced absorption spectrometer to provide data on atmospheric trace gases (ozone, NO2, SO2, CO) and aerosols linked to air quality and climate.

 [I7]is a recently selected Earth Explorer which will provide global maps of vegetation fluorescence, to be used to work out actual photosynthetic activity. This information would improve our understanding of the way carbon moves between plants and the atmosphere and how it affects the carbon and water cycles. FLEX would encompass a three-instrument array for measurement of the interrelated features of fluorescence, hyperspectral reflectance, and canopy temperature. The program would involve a space and ground-truthing program of 3-years duration and would provide data formats for research and applied science

 [I8]is observing soil moisture over the Earth's landmasses and salinity over the oceans. It was launched on 2 November 2009 and although designed as a five-year mission, it has been extended until at least 2017. SMOS carries a novel interferometric radiometer that operates in the L-band microwave range to capture ‘brightness temperature’ images. These images are used to derive global maps of soil moisture every three days, achieving an accuracy of 4% at a spatial resolution of about 50 km. Over oceans, SMOS maps salinity down to 0.1 practical salinity units (psu, averaged over 10–30 days in areas measuring 200 × 200 km).