The Microclimate Database (MDB) always welcomes new data contributions.

On this page, you will find:

• Data eligibility criteria

• Formatting instructions

• Submission templates

• Data checking tools

• Submission guidelines

All accepted datasets receive a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), allowing your data to be cited and tracked.

1. Is your data eligible?

Your dataset is eligible if it meets the following criteria:

Required:

• Georeferenced microclimate time series

• Duration of more than 1 month

• Maximum sampling interval of 4 hours

• Observational or experimental data

• Above- or belowground measurements

• Variables such as temperature, moisture, solar radiation, wind or other microclimate parameters

Optional (but highly valuable)

• Species composition data (plants or other taxa)

• Trait data collected at the same location

Note: Associated biodiversity data are not yet published as open access but are highly valuable for ongoing projects.

2. Prepare your data

We provide submission templates to make formatting straightforward. Templates differ depending on:

Number of sensors

1. • One sensor (e.g., iButton)

   • Multiple sensors (e.g., TMS4)

2. Data structure

3. • All time series in one sheet (long format)

   • Separate sheets per sensor

Download a template

Choose the template that fits your dataset:

A visual decision scheme is provided below to help you select the correct format.

One sensor – one sheet (.xlsx, .ods, .csv, .txt)
One sensor – separate sheets (.xlsx, .ods, .csv, .txt)
Multiple sensors – one sheet (.xlsx, .ods, .csv, .txt)
Multiple sensors – separate sheets (.xlsx, .ods, .csv, .txt)

3. Validate your data

Before submission, check your formatted dataset using our RShiny validation tool.

The app will verify whether your dataset follows the required structure.
If the format is correct, you can download a validated .zip file ready for submission.

• Data check app – online (recommended for small files)

• Data check app – offline (Windows version; recommended for larger files)

4. Submit your data

Final submission takes place via the BEXIS database, our online platform for uploading and managing datasets.

See below for video instructions on data formatting and a FAQ. Note that we are still in the process of updating these, so they don’t yet reflect on the last steps of data validation and submission.

Frequently asked questions

Where to send my data?

Since March 2026, data should be submitted directly via the BEXIS database. You can only do this after checking your submission using our data check app.

Should I resubmit data that I already submitted, in the new format?

No, we have a workflow in place to convert old data into the new format. If you are adding new data to time series you submitted earlier, you can include the old data again, if that’s convenient for you.

I have vegetation data, but it would need more time to format it. Should I wait with submitting?

No! You can submit your microclimate data now and revisit the vegetation data later.

My data is part of another global network, should I submit it separately?

We suggest you get in touch with your network leadership and see if they can submit all data at once. If this is not feasible, you can submit separately.

Do you also want air temperature data?

Yes! We now include all types of microclimate data. Air temperature data, near the surface or for example from vertical gradients in forest canopies, all is welcome!

I have calibrated my data, what should I submit?

We need at least the raw data. You are encouraged to submit the calibrated data as a separate time series (i.e., a new row in the metadata file).

What to do with outliers?

If the data is clearly wrong, replace it by NAs. If it needs to be used with caution, use the ‘comment’-boxes in the metadata file. We will run a standardized protocol to flag suspicious data on our side.

What is the minimum amount of data to be included in the database?

One sensor, which recorded for at least one consecutive month, with a time interval of 4 hours or less between measurements.

Is there an efficient way to clean raw microclimate data?

There is now an R-package called myClim that helps you processing microclimate time series. It’s especially useful for TOMST TMS4-loggers, but handles data from many common logger types. You can find it here:

What is MDB’s data sharing and usage policy?

For data that is used prior to the publication of the database, all data owners will get an invitation to co-author the paper. The main paper that ALL data owners will be on, will be the MDB publication itself. After that, users of the database will simply cite it, yet we will encourage users to still get in touch with owners and – if a significant part of their project – invite them to co-author. We will also implement a DOI-system similar to that of GBIF: your dataset will get its own DOI, and each data download will get a DOI they need to cite, which refers directly back to the DOIs of individual datasets in there.

If you do not want your data to be published open access, it can remain available upon request within the MDB database. This will reduce its usage potential, of course. You can specify your preferences in the ‘creative commons’-column in the metadata file

Will vegetation data be published together with the microclimate data?

No, we will for now only publish the microclimate data and associated metadata – for those who agreed with publication. Vegetation data will for the forseeable future be kept in the database for internal usage only.

When will the database be published?

We are currently finalizing submission, and hope to have a preprint detailing the database available soon!