TERN Ecosystem Research Infrastructure

TERN is a field-based land observatory that uses sensors, surveys, and tools to produce ecosystem data & analytics.

TERN is a field-based land observatory that uses sensors, surveys, and tools to produce ecosystem data & analytics. We measure key terrestrial ecosystem attributes over time from continental scale to field sites at hundreds of representative locations, openly providing model-ready data to enable researchers to detect and interpret changes in the Australian ecosystems. Our mission to provide long-term preservation and access to analysis ready data for researchers and decisions makers to help Australia prepare for its future. We offer the following research resources:

TERN Landscape Monitoring – Utilising remote sensing techniques, TERN provides spatial data products at regional and continental scales of land, terrain, and soil attributes to characterise and monitor Australia’s ecosystems over time.

TERN Ecosystem Monitoring – Plot-based field monitoring capabilities that track the direction and magnitude of change in Australia’s environments through the sampling and surveying of flora, soil and some invertebrates.

TERN Ecosystem Processes – TERN’s ecosystem reference sites are located in key Australian biomes and combine time series data streams from micro-meteorological instruments with observations on flora and fauna to provide insights into an array of ecosystem processes.

If you are a researcher that is working to understand Australia’s environment for sustainable social and economic benefit, reach out to our team to learn how TERN can help you with our environmental monitoring data. Contact us on (07) 3365 9097, send an email through to tern@uq.edu.au or visit us on the web to get started today!