26 March 2025 | 13:30 - 15:00 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: UMC Third Floor - 384
Organiser: Jon Børre Ørbæk (Research Council of Norway)
Session Description:
The High North is experiencing rapid changes in ocean and coastal areas and on land, with the Arctic ocean changing from a winter white to a blue state during the next few decades. The changes are followed by migrating fish stocks, marine heatwaves, extreme events and increased human pressures related to transport, new industrial activities and geopolitical and economic interests. The management of environmental protection and economic development shall be balanced and knowledge based, in accordance with sustainability criteria and goals. However, a sustainable economic development cannot be managed without a well-developed baseline observing system that enables the monitoring of state and changes in the socio-ecological environment. An integrated observing system of systems is needed in the Arctic and the High North to support high quality research, environmental policy, resilient societies and industrial activities.
The session will discuss the state of play with regards to FAIR and CARE observations systems and data in the Arctic, essential indicators of change, how an integrated Arctic observing system of system can be made operational and be sustainably funded, as well as giving examples of use cases and future needs towards establishing an operational system supporting the 2030 agenda and preparing for the next International Polar Year (IPY2032-3033). Talks can come from representatives of research funding organisations (RFOs), industry actors, environmental agencies, earth observation programmes and research communities involved in Arctic monitoring and assessments, earth system modelling and the development of digital twins.