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Atmospheric Research concern domains such as dynamics, atmospheric physics and chemistry and also include more climate change-oriented studies. To carry out these research activities, the scientific community use models as well as observations that are obtained by means of satellite, airborne vehicle and ground-based facilities.

One of the challenges of this century is to make available all these observations to a broad community, for research and commercial applications. To be useful, these data must be of high quality and well documented (be calibrated, validated, and homogenized). Data are often processed in laboratories and observatories, then submitted and integrated into international data bases, in addition to their national diffusion. This organization requires the gathering of a lot of researchers and technical staff with trades and varied complementary skills. Since 2007, several “Pôles Thématiques“ have been created in France, one being dedicated to atmospheric chemistry data (ETHER) and the other one on Aerosols-Clouds-Interactions with Radiation data (ICARE) in Lille. In addition, the SEDOO service manages data from field campaigns and some ground-based data in the Midi-Pyrénées Observatory, in Toulouse. The last one is the CLIMSERV service within ESPRI, in Paris.

The creation of the « Atmosphere and Service Data Pole » AERIS has for objective to facilitate and enhance the use of atmospheric data whether from satellites, ground, airplanes or balloons. For this, AERIS generates products from observations, but also provide many support services for the use of data, help to conduct synergies, campaigns or interface with models. AERIS aims to strengthen the existing systems consisting in four Data and Services centers that are defined as having the capabilities to manage data collectively. In addition, laboratories, laboratory networks or centers of expertise are essential actors for algorithmic development and prototyping. A significant advancement over existing data centers or bases is to develop an effective governance and value-added products for the community.