Global warming and climate change are a unique global experiment without replicates and we all are part of it. It is therefore of highest priority to plan our management decisions based on sound knowledge of the system under consideration to minimise the uncertainty of the outcome. In order to avoid being trapped in the invisible present due to a limited insight into processes and natural variability, there is an urgent need for long-term data series and long-term research. This commitment to long-term research and long-term funding is a major challenge for today's research funding, as short-term results are generally favoured over longterm promises. However, the key for an optimum long- and short-term research policy is a general agreement and commitment to share the data collected within the scientific community and to acknowledge the efforts needed to maintain and manage data over time.