International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

Fig. 3.8-1. SAON
website - www.
arcticobserving.org/.
Fig. 3.8-2. Cover page
of the SAON brochure
(2009) www.
arcticobserving.org/.
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IPY 20 07–20 08
coordinated, sustained observations in the Arctic. An
important element was to synthesize the advice and
information gathered at previous workshops into the
final set of recommendations.
From the very first workshop, there was a sentiment
that international top-down coordination at the level
of operational and funding agencies was needed. Also
expressed was the need for an international body to
facilitate coordination and work toward intercomparability
and easier sharing of data. At the second workshop,
during a breakout session composed mostly
of government agency officials, the desire to have a
coordinated and sustained set of observing networks
and a coordination mechanism was not disputed. This
group also expressed the feeling that all interested
countries and agencies should be welcomed in this
effort and that there must be a linkage between the
research community and the operational and services
community. During the third workshop, another
breakout session of mostly government officials made
a number of points: integration and coordination of
observing activities are ways to provide value; data
sharing is important; an intergovernmental statement
of intent and cooperation agreements among agencies
would be useful; and opportunities for early success
should be identified. There was a sentiment that
a sharp focus on defined projects would be of greater
value in achieving international agreement than more
sweeping statements of open ended nature. It must
be stressed that no attempt was made to arrive at consensus
views during these workshops. Nevertheless,
there was no disagreement with the general view that
improved coordination among national Arctic observing
activities was essential and that some type of formal
structure would be needed to make this happen
(see: Fig. 3.8-2).
One smaller additional SAON-workshop was held
in St Petersburg, Russia prior to the SCAR-IASC IPY
Science Conference in July 2008 (Chapter 5.5). A
number of Russian scientists and government officials
provided their insight on current and future observing
activities in the Russian sector of the Arctic.
In September 2008, the SAON process was
introduced to the Asian Forum on Polar Science
in Seoul, Korea (Chapter 5.3). There is a strong and
growing interest in the Arctic by Asian countries and
their participation in long-term observations in the