Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): The rationale for the GAW is the need to understand and control the increasing influence of human activity on the global atmosphere. Among the grand challenges are:
1. Changes in the weather and climate related to human influence on atmospheric composition, particularly, greenhouse gases, ozone and aerosols.
2. Risk reduction of air pollution on human health and issues involving long-range transport and deposition of air pollution.
The Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO) has joined GAW as a Regional station on 7th June 2017.
Aerosols, Clouds, Trace gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS): ACTRIS is the European Research Infrastructure for the observation of Aerosol, Clouds, and Trace gases. ACTRIS is composed of observing stations, exploratory platforms, instrument calibration centres, and a data centre. ACTRIS serves a vast community of users working on atmospheric research, climate and Earth system and air quality models, satellite retrievals, weather analysis and forecast systems by offering high quality data and research infrastructure services for atmospheric aerosols, clouds, and trace gases.
The Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO) is the national (Cyprus) facility of the ACTRIS network and offers transnational access to its infrastructure since January 2015.
Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET): The AERONET program is a federation of ground-based remote sensing aerosol networks providing a long-term, continuous and readily accessible public domain database of aerosol optical, microphysical and radiative properties for aerosol research and characterization, validation of satellite retrievals, and synergism with other databases. The network imposes standardization of instruments, calibration, processing and distribution.
The Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO) is contributing to AERONET since April 2015.
Middle East North Africa (MENA) CORDEX: The MENA-CORDEX Program is a branch of the International Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) Initiative, sponsored by the World Climate Research Program (WCRP). CORDEX is providing global coordination of Regional Climate Downscaling for improved regional climate change adaptation and impact assessment.
The Atmosphere & Climate division of the Cyprus Institute is coordinating MENA-CORDEX since its establishment in 2012.
Future Earth MENA Regional Centre (FERMC): Future Earth is a 10-year international research initiative aiming to develop the knowledge for responding effectively to the risks and opportunities of global environmental change and for supporting transformation towards global sustainability in the coming decades. It promotes the engagement of researchers across all fields of knowledge, policy-makers, businesses and civil society in the definition of research priorities and the production of knowledge that can effectively inform decisions and actions.
The Cyprus Institute is coordinating Future Earth MENA Regional Centre since 2nd July 2016.