Lake observatories Data People 3 Networks

1.19 countries participating 2.More than 120 scientists 3.Most sites are developing

Lake Sunapee Photo: Midge Eliassen Collaboration – scientists, educators, lake association Motivated by diverse interests Supported by diverse funding Lake Sunapee, NH – a recent addition

GLEON Activities Share experience, expertise, and data Catalyze joint projects Develop tools Conduct multi-site training Create opportunities for students Meet and communicate regularly

New research enabled by the “observatory” approach Coupling of physical and biological processes Role of episodic events, thresholds, and non-linear dynamics Source, movement, and fate of carbon in lakes and watersheds Lakes as “sensors” of landscape & climate change Future of the availability and quality of the world’s fresh water

Field stationData center

Products Data 1.Maintain local autonomy and diversity 2.Improve global coverage and interoperability – scaling issues 3.Reduce time to science products 4.Train scientists to operate in large networks 5.Transform science 1.Maintain local autonomy and diversity 2.Improve global coverage and interoperability – scaling issues 3.Reduce time to science products 4.Train scientists to operate in large networks 5.Transform science

Getting there… Science issues –Multi-scale, multi-system –Interdisciplinary and adaptable Technology issues –Better, more reliable coverage –Interoperability (knowledge representation) –Data, model, knowledge integration Social issues –New venues for products –Training for a new network culture –Partnering with new organizations –Policy issues

Recommendations to NSF Reliable, world-wide network coverage –Continue promoting international collaborations –Encourage/support access to remote areas Support of diverse and evolving network needs –Technology that scales –Compatibility –Flexibility