The EOSC Node for the Earth system and environmental sciences (in operation)
The EOSC Node, powered by Data Terra and NFDI4Earth, is one of the thematic nodes representing the Earth system and environmental sciences within the EOSC Federation. It provides a single, integrated entry point to trusted thematic data and services across Europe, bringing together environmental and Earth system science resources, including Earth Observation data and services. Its key added value lies in federating complementary national ecosystems of expert thematic data hubs across Europe, enabling coherent, interoperable, and science-driven access to the full complexity of the Earth system, from in-situ observations and Earth Observation data to modelling, analysis, and advanced digital services.
The EOSC Node Data Terra stands out through several key strengths
- Delivering a federated architecture layer that facilitates data discovery and integration across disciplines, supporting solutions to complex scientific research challenges
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Providing seamless access to advanced computing and data-processing resources through shared tools and virtual research environments designed to enable reproducible and collaborative research
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Offering AI-ready and interoperable datasets across the entire research data lifecycle from discovery and management to analysis and reuse, supporting evidence-based decision-making
These contributions lay at the crossroads of major European programmes and infrastructures and are firmly anchored in the principles of Open Science and the free circulation of knowledge. Together, they enable next-generation environmental research and help address major societal challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and global sustainability.
EOSC Node Data Terra partnership landscape
In the framework the EOSC Node, the French Research Infrastructure Data Terra has established a shared vision and collaborative strategy with NFDI4Earth, a key initiative of Germany’s National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). This collaboration aims to strengthen the European federation’s capabilities for managing and integrating Earth system, environmental, and biodiversity data, while fostering the adoption of advanced, knowledge-driven technologies.
Since the 2025 EOSC Federation build-up phase, the EOSC Node Data Terra launched an initiative to broaden its partnership base by engaging organisations and contributors from other EU Member States. The objective is to develop a European transnational thematic node that brings together complementary national expertise, infrastructures, data, and services.
DATA TERRA THEMATIC HUBS AND CROSS-CUTTING SERVICES
Data Terra is organized around several thematic hubs and cross-cutting services that cover key components of the Earth system for integrated observation, understanding, and prediction in response to global changes.
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5 thematic hubs
Data Terra consists of five main data and service hubs (or poles), each dedicated to a specific compartment of the Earth system:
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AERIS (Atmosphere): This hub focuses on atmospheric data, collecting, validating, and harmonizing data from field surveys, long-term observation sites, and satellites. It coordinates multiple data centers and laboratories that provide atmospheric data for research and commercial use.
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FormaTerre (Solid Earth): Dedicated to solid Earth observation including geophysics and seismicity, this hub fosters the development of products and services that add value to satellite and in-situ data for solid Earth sciences.
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ODATIS (Ocean): This ocean-specific hub provides data, software, and services for marine science research, covering all oceanic components such as circulation, physical and chemical properties, biogeochemical cycles, ecosystems, and coastal dynamics. It supports researchers through data warehouses, visualization tools, and virtual research environments.
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THEIA (Land Surfaces): This hub handles land surfaces observation and monitoring, including ecosystem and environmental data at the national level.
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PNDB (Biodiversity): Focuses on biodiversity data, both marine and terrestrial. It collects and manages observation, collection, and experimental data for biodiversity research and conservation.
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3 Cross-Cutting Services
- DINAMIS : providing access to very high-resolution commercial satellite imagery, including mutualized programming for satellite image acquisition, mainly for public institutions and research projects.
- French Regional Thematic animation (ART) : bring together public and private structures on a territorial basis, with an interest in the collection, processing and interpretation of data for public action.
- INTER-POLES : Facilitating exchanges between managers and experts on topics that cut across data hubs.
About DATA TERRA
Data Terra is a French research e-infrastructure dedicated to the integrated observation, understanding, and prediction of the Earth system, including its environmental dynamics and global changes. It was established in 2016 and brings together multiple scientific and technical communities, providing a structure for accessing and processing multi-source data, products, and services relevant to land, atmosphere, ocean, solid Earth, and biodiversity domains. Data Terra coordinates distributed digital hubs and cross-cutting services in collaboration with national, European, and international partners, and operates according to open science and FAIR principles to support both researchers and societal stakeholders.
Data Terra works with 34 partner organizations, including academic, scientific, and technical institutions, as part of its mission to coordinate Earth system data infrastructure and services. These partners encompass leading French research centers, universities, national agencies, and several international collaborators engaged in scientific observation, data management, and innovation
