Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Arctic PASSION (Pan-Arctic observing System of Systems: Implementing Observations for societal Needs)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-01-01 bis 2024-06-30
The challenges associated with the changing Arctic are immense. To help meeting those we aim at co- creating a more integrated Arctic observing system in international collaboration, including Indigenous peoples and local communities. It shall allow access to unrestricted, high quality, science- based Earth observation information as well as consented Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Local Knowledge (LK). It shall be better tuned to the needs of society, allow monitoring environmental changes, reduce uncertainly in predictions, and support decision-making. We aim to improve Arctic data management, optimize observing networks through numerical modelling, deliver Services for users, and assess benefits of the new observing system. Emphasis is put on enhancing international collaboration and clustering with other projects and initiatives working in the Arctic, supporting policy and decision making, and to link Arctic observations and society.
Main results of Arctic PASSION achieved so far include:
• Enhancement of existing observations by new data, new instrumentation, calibration and processing schemes for all spheres and steps to unify protocols
• Establishment of the Atlantic-Arctic Distributed Biological Observatory (A-DBO) network and the pan-Arctic DBO network, jointly with international partners
• Initiation of a synthesis results from Synoptic Arctic Survey (SAS) cruises 2020-22, which will be published in a series of synthesis papers
• Creation of a set of Fiducial Reference Measurement datasets and satellite observations of key cryospheric components
• Development of an automatic glacier calving front processing pipeline and production of a high-resolution calving front product for Svalbard and a beta version for large parts of the Arctic
• Supply of all ten terrestrial research stations with instruments for which sensors require minimal human capacity are relevant to the terrestrial Shared Arctic Variables (SAV) on wildfires and permafrost degradation
• Establishment of SAV Expert Panels for ‘wildfire’, ‘permafrost’, and ‘sea ice’, including Indigenous and local experts. Collaboration with the US RNA CoObs project and added resources from Finland and Canada
• Development of a web service offering data standardization following FAIR requirements, where users could upload their data, configure the standardization process and get their data back
• Establishment of a unified data catalogue supporting SAON. Long-term data storage for Arctic data and metadata. Over 5000 data sets from the Arctic realm have been published in PANGAEA during the last 18 months, including own project data sets.
• Creation of first design experiments for model support of observational networks on safe Arctic navigation in ice covered waters; set-up of an Observing System Simulation Experiment for improving short-range weather prediction; identification of the sensitivity regarding simulated maximum active layer depth of permafrost for different conditions; development of a new spatio-temporal modelling software package to reconcile the mass balance of the Svalbard marine-terminating glaciers
• Four of our services have reached operational level: the ‘Event Database’ as a co-created long-term living portal of Indigenous Knowledge, an online viewer for permafrost disturbances, a tool to retrieve daily particulate matter observations and atmospheric forecasts feeding an Artificial Neural Network to improve air pollution prediction, and a ‘Lake Ice Service for Arctic Climate and Safety’, as a customizable web application. Four more services will reach maturity soon
• Application of the benefit assessment tool developed for our Services and SAVs to evaluate societal benefits of the observing system; assessing the benefit potential and benefit-cost ratios for selected Services
• Creation of Policy Briefs with results from dialogues on data needs with local and regional policy makers, and a policy briefing at the European Parliament; creation of an information document for the Senior Arctic Officials and the Arctic Council WGs on our activities
• Creation of a strawman for a synthesis and roadmap based on work from all project actions and dialogue with international initiatives to improve the Arctic observing system
• Continuous dissemination of news on the project and availability of project resources and outcomes via our website in addition to five social media platforms
• A “Sharing Circle for Early Career Professionals and Arctic Youth”, the concept of which now serves as an inspiration for youth activities in the new EU project „Youth Together for Arctic Futures”
• Enhancement of existing observations by new data, new instrumentation, calibration and processing schemes for all spheres and steps to unify protocols
• Establishment of the Atlantic-Arctic Distributed Biological Observatory (A-DBO) network and the pan-Arctic DBO network, jointly with international partners
• Initiation of a synthesis results from Synoptic Arctic Survey (SAS) cruises 2020-22, which will be published in a series of synthesis papers
• Creation of a set of Fiducial Reference Measurement datasets and satellite observations of key cryospheric components
• Development of an automatic glacier calving front processing pipeline and production of a high-resolution calving front product for Svalbard and a beta version for large parts of the Arctic
• Supply of all ten terrestrial research stations with instruments for which sensors require minimal human capacity are relevant to the terrestrial Shared Arctic Variables (SAV) on wildfires and permafrost degradation
• Establishment of SAV Expert Panels for ‘wildfire’, ‘permafrost’, and ‘sea ice’, including Indigenous and local experts. Collaboration with the US RNA CoObs project and added resources from Finland and Canada
• Development of a web service offering data standardization following FAIR requirements, where users could upload their data, configure the standardization process and get their data back
• Establishment of a unified data catalogue supporting SAON. Long-term data storage for Arctic data and metadata. Over 5000 data sets from the Arctic realm have been published in PANGAEA during the last 18 months, including own project data sets.
• Creation of first design experiments for model support of observational networks on safe Arctic navigation in ice covered waters; set-up of an Observing System Simulation Experiment for improving short-range weather prediction; identification of the sensitivity regarding simulated maximum active layer depth of permafrost for different conditions; development of a new spatio-temporal modelling software package to reconcile the mass balance of the Svalbard marine-terminating glaciers
• Four of our services have reached operational level: the ‘Event Database’ as a co-created long-term living portal of Indigenous Knowledge, an online viewer for permafrost disturbances, a tool to retrieve daily particulate matter observations and atmospheric forecasts feeding an Artificial Neural Network to improve air pollution prediction, and a ‘Lake Ice Service for Arctic Climate and Safety’, as a customizable web application. Four more services will reach maturity soon
• Application of the benefit assessment tool developed for our Services and SAVs to evaluate societal benefits of the observing system; assessing the benefit potential and benefit-cost ratios for selected Services
• Creation of Policy Briefs with results from dialogues on data needs with local and regional policy makers, and a policy briefing at the European Parliament; creation of an information document for the Senior Arctic Officials and the Arctic Council WGs on our activities
• Creation of a strawman for a synthesis and roadmap based on work from all project actions and dialogue with international initiatives to improve the Arctic observing system
• Continuous dissemination of news on the project and availability of project resources and outcomes via our website in addition to five social media platforms
• A “Sharing Circle for Early Career Professionals and Arctic Youth”, the concept of which now serves as an inspiration for youth activities in the new EU project „Youth Together for Arctic Futures”
Progress so far includes:
• Launch of a marine observatory (A-DBO) as a framework to coordinate and benefit from joint sampling of hotspots in the Atlantic Arctic, and its inclusion into a pan-Arctic observatories network
• Piloting the development of the SAV concept on permafrost, wildfire, and sea ice as a new, inclusive and equitable approach for Arctic observing
• Release of the “Event Database of CBM Using Oral Histories, IK and LK”, a long-term living portal of IK leading to transformation of the “Unknown histories of the Arctic” into new ways to engage and understand.
• Release of Arctic services that provide relevant information on permafrost-related landscape changes, air pollution forecasts and high resolution lake ice information.
By the end of the project, we expect to have achieved the following results:
• Enhanced cooperation and coordination, to deliver a more integrated Pan-Arctic Observing System;
• Timely and easier access to interoperable data;
• Development of 3 sets of observables as output from the Expert Panels for SAVs on permafrost, wildfire and sea ice;
• Significant improvements of the Arctic data system accessibility;
• Arctic PASSION Services that deliver relevant data and benefit to end users;
• Support tools based on numerical models to optimize observation networks;
• Identification of improvements for the Copernicus Arctic hub;
• Societal Benefit Assessment tools for Arctic observing;
• Knowledge-based support for different policy and governance levels;
• Establishment of consented communication channels between local and regional Arctic inhabitants and governance structures for Arctic observing;
• Creation of a roadmap for an integrated observing system internationally embedded and inclusive for a more holistic approach;
• ‘GEO initiative’ status for Arctic GEOSS.
Potential Impacts we foresee include:
• Implementation a ‘GEO Initiative’;
• Enhanced use of EO and science-based knowledge, IK and LK, for sound and effective decision-making;
• Support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Agreements, the Sendai Framework the ‘European Green Deal’;
• Strengthening of EO capacity;
• Improved handling, archiving and interoperability of environmental data;
• More coherent data management, using GEO(SS) Data Management Principles and best practices;
• Strengthening of the IP’s voices in the overall Arctic observing system context;
• Strengthening of the role and visibility of Europe in Arctic observing;
• Furthering of a more sustainable finance and investment of Arctic observations;
• Enhanced coordination of Arctic projects and programmes on a pan-Arctic scale.
• Launch of a marine observatory (A-DBO) as a framework to coordinate and benefit from joint sampling of hotspots in the Atlantic Arctic, and its inclusion into a pan-Arctic observatories network
• Piloting the development of the SAV concept on permafrost, wildfire, and sea ice as a new, inclusive and equitable approach for Arctic observing
• Release of the “Event Database of CBM Using Oral Histories, IK and LK”, a long-term living portal of IK leading to transformation of the “Unknown histories of the Arctic” into new ways to engage and understand.
• Release of Arctic services that provide relevant information on permafrost-related landscape changes, air pollution forecasts and high resolution lake ice information.
By the end of the project, we expect to have achieved the following results:
• Enhanced cooperation and coordination, to deliver a more integrated Pan-Arctic Observing System;
• Timely and easier access to interoperable data;
• Development of 3 sets of observables as output from the Expert Panels for SAVs on permafrost, wildfire and sea ice;
• Significant improvements of the Arctic data system accessibility;
• Arctic PASSION Services that deliver relevant data and benefit to end users;
• Support tools based on numerical models to optimize observation networks;
• Identification of improvements for the Copernicus Arctic hub;
• Societal Benefit Assessment tools for Arctic observing;
• Knowledge-based support for different policy and governance levels;
• Establishment of consented communication channels between local and regional Arctic inhabitants and governance structures for Arctic observing;
• Creation of a roadmap for an integrated observing system internationally embedded and inclusive for a more holistic approach;
• ‘GEO initiative’ status for Arctic GEOSS.
Potential Impacts we foresee include:
• Implementation a ‘GEO Initiative’;
• Enhanced use of EO and science-based knowledge, IK and LK, for sound and effective decision-making;
• Support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Agreements, the Sendai Framework the ‘European Green Deal’;
• Strengthening of EO capacity;
• Improved handling, archiving and interoperability of environmental data;
• More coherent data management, using GEO(SS) Data Management Principles and best practices;
• Strengthening of the IP’s voices in the overall Arctic observing system context;
• Strengthening of the role and visibility of Europe in Arctic observing;
• Furthering of a more sustainable finance and investment of Arctic observations;
• Enhanced coordination of Arctic projects and programmes on a pan-Arctic scale.