The AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) database stores information collected by ground-based remote sensing aerosol networks originally established by NASA and LOA-PHOTONS (CNRS). AERONET includes data on aerosol optical, microphysical and radiative properties for aerosol research as well as characterization and validation of satellite retrievals with other databases. The network imposes standardization of instruments, calibration, processing and distribution. AERONET also provides globally distributed observations of spectral aerosol optical Depth (AOD), inversion products, and precipitable water in diverse aerosol regimes.