Integrated Carbon Observation System, Research infrastructure and network in Helsinki, Finland
The Integrated Carbon Observation System is a European research network that measures greenhouse gas concentrations through approximately 150 observation stations across Europe and nearby regions. It operates in three domains: measuring carbon in the atmosphere, ecosystems, and oceans to capture a complete picture of the carbon cycle.
The European Commission established ICOS in November 2015 as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium to enable standardized carbon measurements across the continent. The project grew from the need to collect comparable data that helps researchers better understand greenhouse gas emissions and sinks.
Scientists from across Europe work together to track how carbon moves through the air, ecosystems, and oceans. This collaboration helps build a shared understanding of carbon dynamics that benefits climate research across the continent.
Researchers can freely access standardized measurement data through the ICOS Carbon Portal, which provides datasets from certified stations throughout Europe. The platform is designed so that both established climate scientists and students can find and use the available data.
ICOS operates specialized observatories on land, in ecosystems, and at sea, allowing researchers to track carbon at its source or as it moves between different environments. This spatial diversity of measurement stations makes it possible to detect regional differences in carbon chemistry.
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