Why? – The science
Global climate change represents arguably the most serious environmental issue facing mankind today, with implications for global political stability and the global economy. Reliable predictions of the future climate using climate models are central and fundamental requirements for determining future mitigation strategies. The use of commercial aircraft allows the collection of highly relevant observations on a scale and in numbers impossible to achieve using research aircraft, and where other measurement methods (e.g., satellites) have technical limitations.
For whom? – The users
IAGOS provides a data base for users in science and policy, including near realtime data provision for weather prediction and air quality forecasting. IAGOS data are being used by researchers world-wide for process studies, trend analysis, validation of climate and air quality models, and the validation of space borne data retrievals.
Who? – The consortium
IAGOS is organized as an International not for profit Association (IAGOS-AISBL) with its seat in Brussels. Members of the Association are leading research organizations, universities and weather services from Germany, France and the U.K.
IAGOS builds on the scientific and technological experience gained within the research projects MOZAIC (Measurement of Ozone and Water Vapour on Airbus in-service Aircraft), which was funded by the EC between 1993 and 2004 under FP 4 and FP 5, and CARIBIC (Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the Atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container).
The IAGOS Research Infrastructure was established in January 2014 as an International not for profit Association (IAGOS-AISBL) with its seat in Brussels.
Organisation Chart
The General Assembly (GA) is the highest decision making body. It is composed of one representative of each Member and is chaired by the President. The GA has full oversight over Strategy, Activities and Budget of the Association, elects the Members of the Executive Board (EB), including the Chief Executive, and approves the General Secretary upon proposition by the EB. Roles for meetings and decisions are regulated in the Statutes.
The Executive Board (EB) legally represents the Association in the day to day business. Members of the EB are:
Valerie Thouret (Chair); Andreas Zahn (Vice-Chair); Andreas Petzold (Treasurer); Martin Gallagher; Christoph Gerbig.
The Executive Secretary (ES) is Hannah Clark.
The following committees have been established for giving advice to the bodies of IAGOS for long-term strategy and technical planning:
The Advisory Board (AB) :
Jonathan Preist, Airbus, Toulouse (Chair); Owen Cooper, NOAA, USA; Volker Grewe, DLR Germany, and Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands; Gelsomina Pappalardo, CNR, Italy; Vincent-Henri Peuch, ECMWF, Germany; Cyril Crevoisier, LMD, France
The Technical Planning Group (TPG):
Philippe Nédélec, CNRS (chair); Andreas Petzold, FZ-Jülich; Harald Franke, enviscope GmbH; Harald Boenisch, KIT
The Technical Operations Group (TOG):
Uli Bundke, FZ-Jülich (Chair); Andreas Petzold, FZ-Jülich; Harald Franke, enviscope GmbH; Christoph Gerbig, MPI-BGC; Andreas Zahn, KIT; Romain Blot, CNRS; Gary Lloyd, University of Manchester; Ralf Stosius, enviscope GmbH, Susanne Rohs; FZ-Jülich.
The Quality Assessment Group (QAG):
Herman Smit, FZ-Jülich (Chair); Romain Blot, CNRS; Uli Bundke, FZ-Jülich; Susanne Rohs, FZ-Jülich; Christoph Gerbig, MPI-BGC; Markus Herman, TROPOS; Helmut Ziereis, DLR; Andreas Zahn, KIT; Martin Gallagher, University of Manchester; Bastien Sauvage, CNRS.
The Data Management Group (DMG):
Damien Boulanger, OMP-SEDOO (Chair); Romain Blot, CNRS; Uli Bundke, FZ-Jülich; Susanne Rohs, FZ-Jülich; Marcel Berg, FZ-Jülich; Rita Gomez, FZ-Jülich; Christoph Gerbig, MPI-BGC; Andreas Zahn, KIT; Florian Orbersteiner, KIT; Gary Lloyd, University of Manchester.