Present observational capacities in the Arctic with the focus on European observational networks. Maturity assessment from INTAROS H2020 project.
Abstract
One of the goals of the INTAROS project is to analyse the strengths and the weakness of the existing Arctic observing systems relevant to the data users, as well as to enhance standardisation to ensure that modern best practices are followed. The full assessment and gap analysis of the present Arctic observing system were performed through 4 steps (see Pirazzini et al. presentation). Here we address the 4th step, which consists of the synthesis of the observing system maturity across the Arctic and across domains, focusing on the in situ observing systems. The principles of the present maturity assessment have been developed by EU GAIA-CLIM project and adapted from Thorne et al., (2017) for this study. The classification comprises three main maturity (capability) classes of measurement systems. In ascending order of maturity these are: Comprehensive, Baseline and Reference.
The majority of the networks assessed (74%) belong to the Comprehensive maturity class. They are generally characterised by detailed space and timescale observations and provide initial uncertainty evaluation as well as initial metadata and documentation. Twenty percent of the assessed networks operate on the maturity level close to Baseline. Their measurements are assessed periodically through intercomparison campaigns, uncertainties are published and metadata trace the changes in practices. Only a few observing systems belong to reference networks, which are designed to provide fully traceable observations with well quantified and documented uncertainties. In general, terrestrial arctic networks have higher maturity level in all the assessed categories. Detailed analysis of the state-of-the-art reveals that more than half of the Comprehensive networks providing invaluable long-term observations of Arctic environment have good chances to evolve up to the Baseline level. For these networks, the maturity assessment tool helps to identify the shortcomings and highlight potential improvements.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.A23G2923Z
- Keywords:
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- 0399 General or miscellaneous;
- ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTUREDE: 0434 Data sets;
- BIOGEOSCIENCESDE: 0799 General or miscellaneous;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 4299 General or miscellaneous;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL