TERN is Australia's Ecosystem Observatory
TERN provides world-class research infrastructure to monitor and understand changes to our environment and climate and enable predictions of future risks.
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About TERN
TERN measures key terrestrial ecosystem attributes over time from continental scale to field sites at hundreds of representative locations and openly provides environmental monitoring and assessment model-ready data that enable those undertaking environment and ecology research to detect and interpret changes in ecosystems.
Data Discovery Portal
Discover, access and reuse datasets derived from TERN observatory measured by systematic site-surveys, remote-sensing, model-derived and in-situ sensors.
OPEN DATA
- Continental-scale gridded remote sensing, soil and landscape products
- Plot-based soil and vegetation surveillance monitoring data
- Aggregated state government survey data
- Calibration and validation data for remote sensing
- Time series flux tower, phenocam and acoustic monitoring sensor data
DATA
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Cloud-based virtual desktop to run and share experiments (CoESRA)
- Data submission, harmonisation and retrieval of ecological data (SHaRED)
- Discovery, mapping and analysis of landscape-scale ecosystem datasets (Data Visualiser)
- Cloud-based analysis, synthesis and training platform
STANDARD METHODS, PROTOCOLS & COLLECTIONS
- Catalogued plant and soil sample collection
- Nationally consistent field methods
- Guidelines for calibration and validation of remotely-sensed data
- Field data collection apps
SITE-BASED INSTRUMENTS & MONITORING
- Eddy covariance flux towers
- Heat flux plates
- Radiometers
- Anemometers
- Infrared Gas Analysers
- Spectrometers
- CosmOz soil moisture meters
- Groundwater bores
- Ecoacoustic sensors
- Phenocams
- Terrestrial laser scanners
- UAV/drones
- Camera traps
- Photopoints and more
WE HAVE MORE THAN:
observing sites
collections
international partners
using TERN data
for some datasets
samples
Latest News
A FAIR go: helping to build globally-harmonised drought datasets
Scientists studying ecological drought can now access the world’s first
Australia’s national environmental research infrastructure delivering billions in benefits
A new report from Lateral Economics estimates that Australia’s national
TERN Australia welcomes new skills-based Advisory Board
TERN Australia, the national capability for monitoring change in terrestrial
Upcoming Events
TERN Essentials: Navigating Ecosystem Data, Tools, and Services for Research – UQ R&I Week hybrid event
The workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) data, infrastructure, tools, and services. Participants will explore the diverse data streams curated by TERN—including systematic survey
Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network Conference 2026
The Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network (AMSN) Conference 2026 will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community partners from across Australasia and beyond to share knowledge, build collaborations, and explore
2026 Advancing Earth Observation Forum
The Advancing Earth Observation Forum brings together people from across Australia and beyond, to share, learn, connect and collaborate.
2026 eResearch Australasia Conference
Hosted by Australasian eResearch Organisations (AeRO) Inc., the conference is the leading forum for everyone involved in enabling, supporting and advancing eResearch — from researchers, data specialists and research infrastructure
If have a question for TERN, you can call us on 07 3365 9097, email the Engagement team at tern@uq.edu.au, or submit your enquiry online.
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