1. Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks - SAON Data and Information Services for Arctic observational activities Jan René Larsen SAON Secretary Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (Arctic Council),

3. Salekhard Declaration In November 2006, the Arctic Council (AC) urged all member nations to maintain and extend long-term monitoring of change in the Arctic, with a view to building a lasting legacy of the International Polar Year (2007-08). Further, the AC requested that the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme work with other AC working groups, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and other partners in this effort, to meet identified societal needs. The goal of developing an Arctic Observing Network as a legacy of IPY was also endorsed by the WMO (2007).

4. Vision The SAON vision is that users should have access to free, open and high quality data that will realize pan- Arctic and global value-added services and provide societal benefits. Attaining this vision, requires an enhancement of Arctic- wide observing activities through coordination and integration and to promote sharing and synthesis of data and information.

5. Arctic Global Observing Arctic and Global Value-added Services & Societal Benefits Decision- Making Policy- Making Scientific Research & Education Forecasting & Prediction Data Products Arctic Observing Operational Observing (international and national) Research Observing Community-based Observing; Local & Traditional Knowledge A Gateway to Arctic Data Building Blocks SAON 12345etc. SAON will promote coordination & improved services

6. Existing Observing Networks are the SAON Building Blocks Ocean, Sea Ice IABP IAOOS Coasts ACCO-Net Rivers Arctic- HYDRA Cryosphere IGOS TSP, GTN-P, CALM GLACIODYN Terrestrial SCANNET CEON Biodiversity / Biology CBMP Polar Bear Group CARMA Atmosphere IASOA WMO Networks GAW GUAN Human Dimensions Arctic Social Indicators Bering Sea Sub-Network ELOKA Arctic Human Health Initiative (..and many others)

7. The benefits of SAON From the present fragmentory state there is a need to fill spatial, temporal and disciplinary gaps in observing records, to strengthen the sustainability of observing programs, and make data more readily available. When common scientific interests exist, the benefit of sharing data are great compared to the cost of duplicate acquisition or analysis.

8. SAON Implementation (I) Task based activities will allow be bottom-up and top- down identification of needs. SAON will be constructed of several elements: SAON Task Teams (‘Building Blocks’) supporting specific activities that advance the goal of SAON SAON Board SAON Secretariat (AMAP and IASC) National SAON Coordination Committees

9. SAON Implementation (II) The SAON approach is to build on existing observing sites, systems and networks (SAON building blocks). SAON will be implemented through a number of Task Teams with participation being voluntary and open to most organizations. A series of Tasks have been identified and these shows a diversity of participation with task leaders coming from Arctic Council Working Groups (AMAP, CAFF, SDWG), Arctic Council Permanent Participants (AIA, ICC), Arctic Council Member States, and non-Arctic countries.

10. SAON – Committee on Information and Data Services (CDIS) Provide advice and guidance to the SAON Board with respect to implementation of activities, products and infrastructure associated with facilitating free and easy access to all types of Arctic-related information. Will be responsible for the establishment of an integrated information system; the Circum-Arctic Information System (CAIS). It is highly recommended by that the CDIS utilize existing development plans and methodologies for establishing CAIS

11. SAON Project: “Polar Metadata Profile" Develop an ISO compliant metadata profile for discovery of Arctic and Antarctic data (based on ISO 19115) Develop documentation of the metadata profile Develop a show-case system to enhance adoption of the profile in the Arctic scientific community

12. SAON Project: "Coordination of existing Arctic relevant Meta-databases and Project Directories" A list of relevant Arctic meta-databases and Project Directories Implement the standard SAON meta-data profile Develop and implement web-services to allow interoperable access to selected systems

13. ”GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) Architecture Design Document” Section 4.1: ‘GEOSS architecture defines also another type of portal service mainly focusing on specific communities and referred to as “Community Portals”. Community Portals provide a user interface for a specific community serving a specific research interest, SBA, etc.’ SAON contributes to the development of the ‘GEOSS Community Portal Paper’

14. Linkages and co-operation Make use of other AC WGs assessments and projects 2013-2015 Relevant adaptation projects International research projects 14http://www.amap.no

15. An outline of a vision 1.SAON partners make metadata about their observations, projects, platforms, programs available according to standardized formats and available for harvesting 2.Harvesting user interface can be done by a SAON “Community Portals” as part of GEOSS 3.Harvesting can be done by any other standardized harvester

16. More information: www.arcticobserving.org