The Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) Process. A Report to Senior Arctic Officials .Copenhagen, Denmark. November 12, 2009.

Abstract

"In November 2006, the Arctic Council urged all member nations to maintain and extend long‐term monitoring of change in the Arctic, with a view to building a lasting legacy of the International Polar Year. Further, the AC requested that the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program work with other AC working groups, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and other partners in this effort, to meet identified societal needs. The goal of developing an Arctic Observing Network as a legacy of IPY was also endorsed by the WMO XV Congress in May 2007. The SAON Initiating Group (SAON‐IG) was established in January 2007 to fulfill the Arctic Council request. The SAON‐IG, composed mostly of representatives of international science organizations, agreed that: The SAON vision is that users should have access to free, open and high quality data that will realize pan‐ Arctic and global value‐added services and provide societal benefits. To attain the vision, SAON’s goal is to enhance Arctic‐wide observing activities through coordination and integration and to promote sharing and synthesis of data and information." /.../