INTAROS mapping of requirement for observations in the Arctic

• Main Authors: Buch, Eric, Tjernström, Michael, Quegan, Shaun, Ahlström, Andreas, Heygster, Georg, Soltwedel, Thomas, Danielsen, Finn, Ottesen, Geir, Johannessen, Truls, Sandven, Stein
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Arctic; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/45568/; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.85dd5ff5-c55b-4926-bc31-0381b68713b1

The ambition of INRAROS Initial Requirement Mapping was to define the high-level requirements of an integrated Arctic Observing System (iAOS) based on identification of the major societal drivers of a sustained observing system in the Arctic region, driven by issues affecting the entire area and expressed through international agreements (i.e. climate, environment, biodiversity, sustaining ecosystem services, improving the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities, support to maritime safety, etc.). The work was based on knowledge collected from literature studies, projects, programmes and workshops, and cover an evaluation of feasibility, readiness, and impact to provide guidance on future network design. It was decided to focus on the individual thematic areas - meteorology, terrestrial, cryosphere, sea ice and ocean – separately with the purpose of capturing the special requirements, phenomena and essential variables to observe within each of them. It very well known that these thematic areas are closely interconnected and have different levels of maturity in scientific understanding of the phenomena, definitions of essential variables and observing capacity. It is therefore a big challenge to INTAROS to use the collected information to design an integrated multipurpose and multiplatform observations system to optimises efforts and costs. Observations serve several purposes: • Process studies to gain fundamental understanding of phenomena, processes and interrelationships, which is fundamental for development of reliable forecasting models • Establish long timeseries of Essential variables at key locations to monitor variability and changes in the system • To assimilate into as well as to validate models The detailed analysis of phenomena and observation requirements for the entire region given in this report reveals the following conclusions: • The Arctic is a region very sensitive to environmental changes. There is a very close interrelation and delicate balance between the five thematic areas ...