…the terrestrial Circumarctic Environmental Observatories Network… – 2009 plans… Craig E. Tweedie, University Texas at El Paso –CEON North American Science Cordination Office (NASCO) Terry Callaghan, Abisko Scientific Research Station –CEON European Science Coordination Office (EUSCO)

What is CEON?... A joint working group of FARO and IASC. A developing international network of terrestrial observation platforms, networks, science experts and partners. A bottom-up initiative driven by community consensus that has been under development since 2003.

Rationale of CEON… Dramatic changes are occurring in terrestrial and freshwater systems of the Arctic. Drivers of change include abiotic and biotic (including humans) processes originating both within & outside of the Arctic system. Change assessment & improved predictive power is challenged by sparse observations lacking integration and in some cases a loss of sustained observational time series. To improve these – need observation platforms that provide adequate, diverse & sustained time series observations that cross international boundaries and integrate disciplines. There is an established infrastructure and tremendous amount of newly funded and ongoing activities in the Arctic. The broader impacts of this research are not fully tapped…..

CEON’s Mission and Status CEON’s mission is to strengthen the capacity for emerging monitoring, research and policy needs at high northern latitudes by making data available that is adequate and suitable for addressing a series of well-defined large scale, key scientific questions and uncertainties (ACIA, ICARP II, AON). CEON received a three-year NSF award in May 2006 to facilitate international science coordination and the development of cyberinfrastructure to improve transfer of knowledge, information and data between CEON partners. Some delays over past 12 months ~ IPY, arctic field season, new teaching assignments, transition to new lab facilities, new server configured, staff hiring delays….. Now on track!

Challenges… Transition from developmental phase to an implementation phase focused on improving information and data flow. Participate and support ongoing observation and networking efforts ~ establish synergies with marine, atmospheric and social science networks; work across national, international and disciplinary boundaries. Develop thematic projects (e.g. Back to the Future) Facilitate science activity during the IPY and work towards improving the legacy of IPY ~ time scales are short, scientific effort is focused and significant, level at which observations will be sustained is uncertain.

The Next Three Years… 1.Establish European and N th American Science Coordination Offices (EUSCO & NASCO – Abisko ~ Callaghan and UTEP ~ Tweedie). 2.Annual meetings ~ Fill key roles within CEON. 3.Develop tools for dispersion of knowledge and information: Archived and searchable list server (CEON-LIST ~ ARCUS). Development of an overarching information portal (CEON-IMS). Facilitate development of Regional information portals (e.g. BAID-IMS; currently developing portals for SCANNET sites). Searchable and peer-reviewed standards and protocols database. Novel visualization tools to enhance education and outreach.

Proposed Organizational Structure… Sponsors Panel e.g. CAFF, AMAP, IGBP, FARO, IASC, end users. Elected Steering Committee Science Coordination Office (SCO) Working Groups Network Panel Observatory Remote Sensing Museums, Herbariums etc. Community Based Monitoring Historical Data Advisory Board Data Center/s Station Managers Forum Integration Team/s (QA) QC Group/s Intensive Site Extensive Site 1 Extensive Site 2 Examples Of CEON ‘Observation Platforms’. Joint Advisory Group (JAG)

CEON Websites… – CEON’s main web site – A circum-arctic interactive GIS and information portal. – An example of a regionalized interactive GIS and information portal.

Overview map Interactive toolbar Online Tutorial Open a folder to view an expanded list of layers and themes that you can view and/or query Help You can buffer distance around a group of selected research sites. Links to Metadata Link to BAID-IMS Overview map Interactive toolbar Online Tutorial Open a folder to view an expanded list of layers and themes that you can view and/or query Help You can buffer distance around a group of selected research sites. Links to Metadata Link to BAID-IMS

Other Efforts… Improve abilities to identify weaknesses in arctic observatories and reduce uncertainty ~ lessons to be learned from GEON. Work with data centers, GIS consortia, data holders etc to create web services, web accessible folders etc ~ transfer of data and harvesting of metadata for catalogue population. Design of standardized instrumentation platform –Cheap, multi-parameter –Telemeter data real time to data center, searchable through CEON information portals –Use tested designs –Identify needs for new sensor development Acquisition of multi-lateral funding