Session TM6

[Programme]

TM6 | Exploring remote sensing and in-situ observations in hard-to-reach areas: Challenges and opportunities for understanding climate change impacts

Exploring remote sensing and in-situ observations in hard-to-reach areas: Challenges and opportunities for understanding climate change impacts

Convener: Aikaterini-Erato Zouroufidou

Wed, 06 May, 19:00–20:00 (CEST)

Room 1.31/32

Large regions of the world remain poorly observed, as atmospheric and climatic variables are difficult to measure consistently, particularly in deserts, remote forests, wetlands, rivers, polar environments, and areas with limited infrastructure. These observational gaps constrain our ability to detect climate change signals, understand multi-hazard and extreme events, validate Earth observation products, and support effective climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. While satellite observations provide global coverage, their time-series is temporally discontinuous. Further, they rely on well-designed and sustained in-situ measurements for calibration, validation, and interpretation. However, deploying and maintaining in-situ observations in hard-to-reach areas remains a major scientific, technical, and operational challenge.

This Townhall meeting focuses on the challenges and opportunities of in-situ observations in hard-to-reach environments, drawing on recent experiences from Horizon Europe projects CiROCCO, EULIAA, UAWOS, TEMBO-Africa, MISO, and RemoTrees, operating across diverse domains, including forests, water environments, atmospheric processes, greenhouse gas monitoring arid and remote regions. These initiatives explore autonomous and low-cost sensing technologies, innovative power and communication solutions, and strategies for long-term operation with minimal human intervention. Rather than highlighting individual project outcomes, the Townhall aims to foster a broader community discussion on shared challenges, lessons learned, and realistic pathways for scaling in-situ observing approaches under demanding environmental and logistical conditions.
The target audience includes geoscientists involved in Earth observations - of which an integral component is in-situ monitoring- and data integration specialists, climate and environmental modellers, and researchers working on climate services, impacts, and risk assessments. The meeting is also relevant for research infrastructure developers, early-career researchers, and scientists interested in fusing in-situ observations with satellite data, models, and decision-support tools, particularly in under-sampled regions.

The expected outcomes are threefold. First, to identify common technical, logistical, and scientific challenges associated with deploying and sustaining in-situ observations in hard-to-reach areas, including trade-offs between cost, accuracy, autonomy, and long-term reliability. Second, to discuss emerging good practices and innovative solutions that enhance the scientific value, interoperability, and usability of such observations, especially when combined with remote sensing and modelling frameworks. Third, to stimulate cross-disciplinary dialogue within the EGU community and encourage future collaboration, contributing to more resilient, inclusive, and effective observation solutions capable of supporting climate change research and decision-making.

The oral presentations are given in a hybrid format supported by a Zoom meeting featuring on-site and virtual presentations. The button to access the Zoom meeting appears just before the time block starts.