The Arctic Observing Summit:Continued Progress towards an Integrated, Multipurpose, International Arctic Observing System

The International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC) is a multidisciplinary Arctic environmental change research program. ISAC engages researchers, community members and others in research planning, implementation, data-sharing and synthesis, and knowledge translation to advance observing and understanding of Arctic change for improved decision making. The biennial Arctic Observing Summit (AOS) is a SAON (Sustaining Arctic Observing Network) led by ISAC and is critical for implementation of the observing component of the ISAC Science Plan. The AOS facilitates community-driven, science-based guidance for the design, implementation, coordination and sustained operation of an international pan-Arctic observing system. It serves as a forum for planning and priority-setting that links diverse needs for information with observing system design, data accessibility, and timely and relevant products useful for decision making.

During the most recent Summit (2018) progress was made on developing the business case for a pan-Arctic observing system. There was consensus from delegates that in order to build an Arctic Observing System that is comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable, all existing assets and activities, including Indigenous knowledge must be leveraged to the greatest extent. Such a system needs to span the full range of spatial and temporal observation scales. This is achievable by combining multiple observational methods and technologies, including Indigenous knowledge, in situ observations, satellite remote sensing, community-based monitoring and citizen science, and by linking all relevant data systems.

AOS 2020 will be held in Akureyri, Iceland (March 31- April 2) in conjunction with Arctic Science Summit Week, and other activities. Work is underway to ensure that many of the needs and issues identified during prior summits are addressed in 2020. AOS 2020 themes under development include: Design, Optimization and Implementation of the Observing System; Observing in Support of Adaptation and Mitigation; Observing in Support of Indigenous Food Security and Related Needs; Data Interoperability and Federated Search; Arctic Observations in the context of Global Observing initiatives; Arctic Observing in Support of Global Actions.