Developing FAIR functionality and properties for micrometeorological data

Abstract

The growing demand for reusable micrometeorological data in climate, environmental, and agricultural research, driven by challenges including weather-induced agricultural losses, water use for irrigation, emerging invasive species and disease vectors, deforestation, and increasing urbanization, highlights the need for datasets that comply with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. FAIR data and metadata should be easily discoverable by humans or machines, accessible under specific conditions or restrictions, conform to recognized formats and standards to be combined and exchanged, and licensed according to community norms, allowing users to know what kinds of reuse are permitted. To support researchers in creating FAIR-compliant datasets, the FAIR Micromet Portal was developed within the CA20108 COST Action. The portal provides a guided, step-by-step workflow for generating standardized metadata, linking datasets with persistent identifiers, and facilitating compliance with the FAIR principles. This paper presents the design and implementation of the FAIR Micromet Portal and describes how its metadata model and workflow satisfy the complete set of FAIR metrics. Using a micrometeorological case study, we demonstrate how the portal enables researchers to create FAIR-compliant metadata with minimal effort while supporting data discovery, interoperability, and long-term reusability.