CEOS SIT Technical Workshop Perspective on Arctic Initiatives • SAON Roadmap for Arctic Observing • Food Security Working Group • Arctic Observing Summit 2020 Hajo Eicken – International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA, heicken@alaska.edu Sandy Starkweather – U.S. Arctic Observing Network, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USA, sandy.starkweather@noaa.gov

SAON • Sustained Arctic observations provide shared benefits to Arctic & non-Arctic countries • Collaborative approaches to sustained observations require processes and capacity to support convergence towards a common observing framework • SAON has emerged as the de facto governance body under IASC and Arctic Council to provide an inclusive environment within which to establish such a framework • SAON’s vision is for a connected, collaborative, and comprehensive long-term pan- Arctic Observing System that serves societal needs. • How do we move from a vision to specific action?

Supporting SAON’s Roadmap for Arctic Observing and Data Systems (ROADS) SAON has identified the development of this Road Map as essential to generating strong national investments in coordinated international Arctic observing, through confidently and coherently presenting the imperative observing foci, a strategy for observing them that leverages existing efforts and interests, supported by a value assessment of observing outputs towards societal benefit.

Achieving SAON/ASM/AOS goals Broad range of themes, interests, mandates, concepts, champions Assessment (“Knowledge map”) Arctic Observing Roadmap • Parsing & synthesis • Ranking • Linking • Co-design/imple-mentation/integration of observing system components • Well-defined requirements for EVs • Societal benefits (shared) Bundling of efforts insufficient  Development of coherent set of observations drawing on requirements guided by shared benefits Identify commonalities & link requirements & implementation across narrow efforts that fit into common thematic framework

ROADS Charge: Develop a high-level, structural definition for the SAON ROADS that will serve to generate strong international investments in Arctic observing Define how Arctic Societal Benefit Areas or other objectives should be used to shape ROADS

Societal Benefit Areas (SBA’S) and economic benefits tied to Arctic observing Disaster Preparedness Environmental Quality Food Security Fundamental Understanding of Arctic Systems Human Health Infrastructure and Operations Marine & Coastal Ecosystems & Processes Natural Resources Resilient Communities Sociocultural Services Terrestrial & Freshwater Ecosystems & Processes Weather and Climate SAON & IDA STPI (2017) Value Tree Analysis also: • Strahlendorff et al. (2019) – Finland • Japan – in prep. Dobricic et al. (2018) Economic benefits of Arctic observing systems; EU Horizon 2020

ROADS Approach (in Review): Essential Arctic Variables (EAV’s) Conceptually broad, phenomenological observing categories (e.g. “sea ice”) that provide a structured interface for coordination and collaboration in support of societal benefit. Identified for their criticality to achieving Arctic societal benefit Defined by their observing system requirements (e.g. spatial resolution, frequency, coverage, accuracy), which are technology-neutral and should transcend specific observing strategies, programs or regions. Implemented through specific recommendations based on best available technology and practices. A holistic and collaborative observing system of EAV’s is achieved through employing consistent strategies in identifying, linking and developing requirements for sampling. The EAV approach allows for progress on implementation, under an expectation of continuous innovation in the underlying technologies.

EAV definition, observing requirements & implementation: Indigenous Food Security as a focusing theme Inuit Circumpolar Council’s Food Security Lens: Availability Inuit culture Decision-making power and management Health and wellness Stability Accessibility Transformative Arctic change in a global (food security) context: Shifts in fish stocks & ecosystem change – Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) agreement Increasing maritime activities Arctic – Mid-latitude linkages

Linking Arctic Value to Global Variables US AON Value Tree “SEA ICE” is one variable in the Global Ocean Observing System Essential Ocean Variable Framework GOOS Essential Ocean Variables Observing System SUB Variable Essential Ocean Variable

Linking Arctic Value to Global Variables: Drilling into specifics – food security & maritime operations

Next steps and connections Arctic Observing Summit 2020 Arctic Food Security signature observing/prediction product suite (GEOGLAM as model to aspire to) New satellite observation data products, e.g.: Marine biological production Harmful algal blooms Sea ice supporting functions … Linking Arctic activities into global frameworks and networks (GEO, GOOS, etc.)

2020 Arctic Observing Summit: Observing for Action Akureyri, Iceland 30 Mar – 2 Apr 2020 Summit themes Design, Optimization and Implementation Observing in Support of Adaptation and Mitigation Observing in Support of Global Action Data Interoperability and Federated Search Indigenous Needs