A Framework for the Development, Design and Implementation of a Sustained Arctic Ocean Observing System

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Craig M. Lee, Sandy Starkweather, Hajo Eicken, Mary-Louise Timmermans, Jeremy Wilkinson, Stein Sandven, Dmitry Dukhovskoy, Sebastian Gerland, Jacqueline Grebmeier, Janet M. Intrieri, Sung-Ho Kang, Molly McCammon, An T. Nguyen, Igor Polyakov, Benjamin Rabe, Hanne Sagen, Sophie Seeyave, Denis Volkov, Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller, Léon Chafik, Matthew Dzieciuch, Gustavo Goni, Torill Hamre, Andrew Luke King, Are Olsen, Roshin P. Raj, Thomas Rossby, Øystein Skagseth, Henrik Søiland, Kai Sørensen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019
• Subjects: Arctic; observing system; Essential Ocean Variable; autonomous platforms; observing system design; societal benefit areas; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation; geographical distribution; QH1-199.5; Arctic Ocean
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00451; https://doaj.org/article/b29565454dec48dcbae44f77464c48cb

Rapid Arctic warming drives profound change in the marine environment that have significant socio-economic impacts within the Arctic and beyond, including climate and weather hazards, food security, transportation, infrastructure planning and resource extraction. These concerns drive efforts to understand and predict Arctic environmental change and motivate development of an Arctic Region Component of the Global Ocean Observing System (ARCGOOS) capable of collecting the broad, sustained observations needed to support these endeavors. This paper provides a roadmap for establishing the ARCGOOS. ARCGOOS development must be underpinned by a broadly endorsed framework grounded in high-level policy drivers and the scientific and operational objectives that stem from them. This should be guided by a transparent, internationally accepted governance structure with recognized authority and organizational relationships with the national agencies that ultimately execute network plans. A governance model for ARCGOOS must guide selection of objectives, assess performance and fitness-to-purpose, and advocate for resources. A requirements-based framework for an ARCGOOS begins with the Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs) that underpin the system. SBAs motivate investments and define the system’s science and operational objectives. Objectives can then be used to identify key observables and their scope. The domains of planning/policy, strategy, and tactics define scope ranging from decades and basins to focused observing with near real time data delivery. Patterns emerge when this analysis is integrated across an appropriate set of SBAs and science/operational objectives, identifying impactful variables and the scope of the measurements. When weighted for technological readiness and logistical feasibility, this can be used to select Essential ARCGOOS Variables, analogous to Essential Ocean Variables of the Global Ocean Observing System. The Arctic presents distinct needs and challenges, demanding novel observing strategies. Cost, ...