EARLICOST is an open and collaborative COST Action that welcomes researchers, innovators, industry representatives, and end users who wish to contribute to advancing atmospheric lidar technologies and atmospheric profiling science. At this early stage of the Action, we encourage interested participants from COST Member Countries and beyond to join the network and actively engage in its activities.

1. Read the Action Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Before applying, interested participants are encouraged to consult the official Action description (MoU), which outlines the scientific objectives, structure, and implementation framework of EARLICOST:

Action MoU:
https://e-services.cost.eu/files/domain_files/CA/Action_CA24135/mou/CA24135-e.pdf

2. Inform the Action Chair

Prospective participants are invited to express their interest by contacting the Action Chair:
Dr. Eleni Marinou (elmarinou@noa.gr)

3. Apply to Join a Working Group

Participation in EARLICOST activities primarily occurs through its Working Groups. Interested experts may apply directly via the COST e-services platform:

Apply to join a Working Group:
https://e-services.cost.eu/action/CA24135/working-groups/apply

The Action currently includes four Working Groups focusing on sensing technologies, data synergies, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination.

Management Committee members are officially nominated by the COST National Coordinators (CNCs) of each participating country. For further information on CNCs and nomination procedures, please consult:

COST National Coordinators:
https://www.cost.eu/about/who-is-who/#tabs+Name:National%20Coordinators

Upcoming Grant Opportunities:

EARLICOST will soon open calls for:

• Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)
• Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) Conference Grants
• Young Researcher and Innovator (YRI) Conference Grants

These funding instruments support networking, collaboration, and scientific exchange within the Action framework. Detailed information and application guidelines will be published on the EARLICOST website and digital platforms.

We invite you to join EARLICOST and contribute to strengthening Europe’s atmospheric lidar community.

For further information, please visit the “Join Us” section of our website or contact the Action Chair.

We are pleased to announce the launch of EARLICOST, a new COST Action dedicated to advancing atmospheric lidar technologies and strengthening collaboration across Europe and beyond.

EARLICOST aims to deepen our understanding of atmospheric composition and enhance the capabilities of atmospheric lidars to address critical gaps in aerosol characterization, temperature, and water vapour profiling. The vertical distribution of these key atmospheric variables provides essential insights into air quality, public health, weather systems, and climate processes.

Aerosols, in particular, are among the most significant drivers of climate change and remain one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate models. Their complex interactions with radiation and clouds, combined with their strong spatial and temporal variability, make them a crucial yet challenging component of the Earth system. Improving how we observe and interpret aerosol properties is therefore fundamental for more reliable climate predictions and better-informed environmental policies.

Although important technological breakthroughs in atmospheric lidar systems have been achieved by research institutions and industry, there is still a pressing need to strengthen knowledge-sharing, harmonise methodologies, and enhance collaboration between scientific communities, technology developers, and end users.

EARLICOST responds to this need by fostering a multidisciplinary network that brings together academic researchers, industry experts, policymakers and commercial and scientific end users. The Action builds on the current state-of-the-art in lidar technology and aims to:

• Harmonise measurement methodologies across networks
• Standardise aerosol, water vapour, and temperature retrievals
• Develop innovative techniques to improve the accuracy of atmospheric profiling
• Promote technological innovation and improved data-sharing practices

By advancing lidar technologies and strengthening cooperation across sectors, EARLICOST will contribute to a better understanding of atmospheric processes and deliver tangible societal benefits — from improved air quality monitoring to more accurate climate predictions and evidence-based environmental policies.