NRC Integrated Arctic Observing Network Report

Toward an Integrated Arctic Observing Network, Committee on Designing an Arctic Observing Network, National Research Council

ISBN: 0-309-10052-6, 128 pages, 8 1/2 x 11, paperback (2006)

This report outlines the potential scope, composition, and implementation strategy for an arctic observing network (AON). Such an integrated, complete, dynamic, and multidisciplinary environmental observing network will improve societys understanding of and ability to respond to ongoing systemic changes in the Arctic and its capability to anticipate, predict, and respond to future change both in the Arctic and around the globe.

The network would build on and enhance existing national and international efforts and deliver easily accessible, complete, reliable, timely, long-term, pan-arctic observations. The AON would be a system of observational infrastructureincluding satellites, terrestrial observatories, ocean buoys and moorings, weather stations, hydrologic monitoring stations, ecological sampling networks, arctic residents, and other data sourcesthat will collect, check, organize, and distribute arctic observations while taking the necessary measures to continuously adapt and improve the network. Because many potential components of the network already exist or are being planned, and because of the surge of activity during the International Polar Year, there is an immediate opportunity for major progress.