1. The Arctic Observing Summit
Peter Schlosser
Columbia University, New York
SAON Retreat; Frascati, Italy; June

2. Arctic Observing Summit (AOS)
SAON Task
Biennial gathering, workspace and forum:
GOAL: Design, implementation, coordination & sustained operation of international, pan-Arctic observing system
Network: Arctic observing system of systems
Comprehensive: cross-disciplinary
Community-driven
Science-based guidance
The AOS initiative originated from widespread agreement on the need to improve the coverage and coordination of pan-Arctic observing activities, and the communication and utilization of observational information to and by the widest possible audience for the purposes of basic research, problem solving, and decision-making. There is an ongoing demand to facilitate dialogue among researchers, designers and data users to enable responding and adapting to Arctic environmental change and this includes the iterative development of recommendations to foster the coordination of observing activities and improving collaboration among existing Arctic observing systems.
Planning and development led by ISAC and partners (SAON, IASC, others)

3. The Arctic Observing Summit (AOS)
PLATFORM: address urgent & broadly recognized needs of Arctic observing across all components of the Arctic System
FORUM: optimizing resource allocation, minimizing gaps; avoiding duplication.
WORKSPACE: develop solutions, recommendations, and make tangible contributions for operation
Arctic Observing System of systems
Stakeholders (All sectors)
Managers
Scientists
The AOS initiative originated from widespread agreement on the need to improve the coverage and coordination of pan-Arctic observing activities, and the communication and utilization of observational information to and by the widest possible audience for the purposes of basic research, problem solving, and decision-making. There is an ongoing demand to facilitate dialogue among researchers, designers and data users to enable responding and adapting to Arctic environmental change and this includes the iterative development of recommendations to foster the coordination of observing activities and improving collaboration among existing Arctic observing systems.

4. AOS Goals
To provide community-driven, science-based guidance for the design, implementation, coordination and sustained long-term (decades) operation of an International Network of Arctic Observing systems that serves a wide spectrum of needs
To create a forum for coordination and exchange between researchers, stakeholders, and funding agencies involved in long-term observing activities.

5. AOS Objectives, Products, Audience
Engage academia, government agencies and other Arctic stakeholders (e.g. local communities, industry, non-governmental organizations).
Assess the scientific basis for the Arctic observing activities.
Synthesize network design options and observing priorities into recommendations for decision makers.
Identify network issues that require SAON attention.

6. Arctic Observing Summits
Biennial, with Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW)
A SAON task (Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks Arctic Council & IASC)
1st: AOS 2013: Vancouver, B. C. Canada
2nd: AOS 2014: Helsinki, Finland (with ASSW 2014)
3rd: AOS 2016: Fairbanks, USA (with ASSW 2016) UPCOMING 4th: AOS & Polar 2018: Davos, Switzerland
Next AOS will take place in March 2016 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at the University of Alaska
March 12 to 18 – all ASSW and AOS events; AOS from 15 to 18 March

7. AOS Themes
Next AOS will take place in March 2016 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at the University of Alaska
March 12 to 18 – all ASSW and AOS events; AOS from 15 to 18 March

8. AOS Outcomes White Papers Recommendations Conference Statements
Next AOS will take place in March 2016 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at the University of Alaska
March 12 to 18 – all ASSW and AOS events; AOS from 15 to 18 March

9. AOS 16 Outcomes (examples)
SAON identified as appropriate entity for coordination & implementation of integrated Arctic observing system (of systems); AOS as a support & evaluation process
Public/private partnerships & links: “business case” of observing system needs to be made; permitting/regulatory process as focal point for coordination
Indigenous Knowledge/Food security lens with implications outlined in report
Data management – work with/through global entities (e.g., GEO) to advance open access & best practices
Next AOS will take place in March 2016 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at the University of Alaska
March 12 to 18 – all ASSW and AOS events; AOS from 15 to 18 March

10. AOS 2018
June 2018; Davos
Current OC: Peter Schlosser (Co-Chair), Hajo Eicken (Past-Co Chair), Eva Krummel (Past Co-Chair, SAON rep), Koni Steffen (Davos, Local OC), Larry Hinzman (Past Local OC),, Maribeth Murray, (Ex Officio, ISAC), Jan Rene Larsen (Ex Officio, SAON), Allen Pope (Ex Officio, IASC), Volker Rachold (Ex Officio, Past IASC rep), Barbara Ryan (GEO), Mike Sparrow, WCRP, Rodica Nitu, WMO (still TBD), Josh Tewksbury, Future Earth, (still TBD), EC-PHORS – individual to be determined
Themes: Under development: The focus of the 2018 AOS is building the business case for an observing system, looking at individual aspects of the system with expert groups (direct recommendation from 2016)
Next AOS will take place in March 2016 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at the University of Alaska
March 12 to 18 – all ASSW and AOS events; AOS from 15 to 18 March

11. Perspectives
Need for Arctic Observing System has been firmly established
Components of the system are being implemented in a network fashion
Multi-Stakeholder nature of system well established
International contributions are growing
International collaboration is increasing
Optimization of observing system intrinsically challenging
Prioritization: ongoing challenge
Long-term support still a problem
Danger of gaps in emerging time series
Transition to mission-oriented agencies is critical for success

13. Outline Rationale for Arctic Observing System
Features of an Arctic Observing System
Status of Implementation
Role of Arctic Observing Summit
Perspectives