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The INTAROS Roadmap describes the way forward to improve and sustain the observing capacity in the Arctic. The Roadmap addresses the full data delivery chain from observing sensors to data repositories with focus on in situ observations. The document describes key factors determining how well an observing system can function in the Arctic, involving technological advances, infrastructure and data networks. Furthermore, the document emphasize the importance of cross disciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement as part of the data delivery chain. The development of in situ observing systems in the Arctic, especially ocean-based observations in the ice-covered regions, depends heavily on mature technology, transport infrastructures and logistical services allowing personnel to access the areas. Deployment and operation of observing platforms require use of icebreakers, aircraft, manned ice stations and automated systems that can operate year-round Based on the experience and knowledge of the INTAROS consortium, the following recommendations are formulated: The importance of in situ observations must be promoted as the backbone for building knowledge about climate and environmental change in the Arctic, at the same level as satellite observations and modelling systems The funding mechanisms for in situ observing systems need to be strengthened and coordinated between programmes, projects and institutions involved in Arctic observation, including local communities The Joint Statement of Ministers (ASM 2021), signed by 25 countries and six Indigenous Peoples organizations, states that they agree to strengthen cooperation on implementing Arctic observing and data sharing, implying that they need to allocate resources for in situ measurements contributing to the observing systems. Technology development for more robust and reliable in situ observing systems is needed. Here, major industry actors can play a role by investing in platforms and sensors that can operate autonomously in the Arctic The data delivery chain from in situ observing systems must be operationalised for each of the discipline-oriented systems in order to facilitate data sharing. This requires collaboration between the research communities, data services and other actors involved in the delivery chain. Collaboration can be enhanced by setting up mediators who can communicate between the actors Observing systems must be adapted to evolving priorities, requirements, and technological developments. This requires regular dialogue with researchers, stakeholders in private and public sector, researchers, service providers, local communities and Indigenous rightholders in the Arctic. Competence building need to be strengthened in observing methods, technologies, and procedures across gender and generations. The INTAROS roadmap builds on the experience and knowledge from the INTAROS consortium comprising more than 300 scientists from 49 institutions in Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition the document builds on discussions with representatives of Indigenous and local communities, private and public stakeholders, scientists and service providers at more than 50 workshops organised by the INTAROS project.

The overall results of INTAROS are summarized for each WP as follows: WP1 The requirements for integrated Arctic Observing Systems” Existing requirement documents have been reviewed and consolidated. Links have been established with various stakeholders, rightholders and user groups including international bodies, public administration, private sector, Indigenous and local communities, and science communities. Collaboration has been developed with several other projects, programmes and institutions working with Arctic observing systems in Europe, North America and Asia. A data management plan and data governance framework for Arctic data has been developed and a Roadmap for future sustainable Arctic Observing System has been prepared. WP2 Exploitation of existing observing systems. The term “observing system” was defined as an observing asset consisting of a data collection component (physical infrastructure) and a data management component (e-infrastructure). An observing system can be multidisciplinary or focused on a specific discipline, and it serves a clearly identified scientific or operational purpose. A survey was conducted among the partners providing information about 50 in situ observing systems ranging from large pan-Arctic programs such as International Arctic Buoy Programme to local observations at a single station. A part of the survey was to assess characteristics of the systems (e.g. documentation, data management, uncertainty handling, sustainability) using a maturity score from 1 to 6. Systems with highest maturity were those with sustainable funding for the whole data production and data management chain. The online survey system was further developed in a spin-off project, resulting in the ARCMAP system, which will be operated as a service after INTAROS. Many of the assessed observing systems, including satellite data products, were used to build the INTAROS data catalogue (WP5) and in case studies demonstrating integrated use of observing systems and modelling systems (WP6). WP3: Enhancement of multidisciplinary in situ observing systems. The work has focused on developing and implementing new solutions and novel technologies to fill selected gaps identified in the existing Arctic observing systems. Novel instruments and sampling methods were integrated with mature components of existing observatories to increase temporal and geographic coverage of in situ observational data in the Arctic and to include missing key parameters. New clusters of sensors have been integrated into a variety of platforms, and several experimental setups have been tested and implemented. The field work was conducted in different marine and terrestrial regions to collect important data to understand ongoing climate and environmental changes and their consequences for the Arctic. The field implementation of new ocean and sea ice observations was supported by use of icebreakers, research vessels, ships of opportunity, ocean column and seafloor observatories provided by collaborating national projects. The data collection from ice sheets, glaciers and terrestrial stations was based on existing reference sites and other research sites in the Pan-Arctic region. New collected measurements have been processed and formatted to provide standardized data sets ready for integration into existing data repositories and registered in the INTAROS data catalogue. Metadata and data formats for observations made with multidisciplinary platforms have been developed in collaboration with WP1, WP2, and WP5. Selected data sets have been exploited in demonstration actions (WP6) and in consultations with stakeholders in (WP7). WP4: Community-based monitoring (CBM) programs have been strengthened. The project co-organized 40 workshops which brought practitioners of CBM together and enabled them to share and discuss their experiences. Six hundred people attended the workshops inc. representatives from 5 Arctic Indigenous Peoples. Existing Arctic CBM programs have been analysed and capabilities, “good” practice and challenges have been identified. A website has been set up with tools to cross-fertilize local knowledge with scientific knowledge. New and expanded existing CBM programs have been initiated in Svalbard, Greenland, Yakutia and Kola Peninsula, to inform decision-making and action. Datasets derived from the programs have been registered in the INTAROS data catalogue. Lessons from CBM were made broadly available through a large number of physical and online events, policy briefs, proceedings, scientific reports and articles. WP5. Data integration and management. Work has focused on deploying and demonstrating a cloud platform with geo-statistical tools for services as part of the integrated Arctic Observation System (iAOS). The objectives were to demonstrate integration of data and provide tools for data analysis, transformation, and visualization, in the cloud platform. Selected applications in WP6 have been used as showcases for the services and tools provided by this cloud platform. In addition, work has concentrated on improving data integration from existing repositories, along with metadata, so that it is findable and exploitable by iAOS applications. Extensive efforts have been devoted to streamline the data flow between data producers, data managers and data users. A major outcome of the project is the iAOS Portal and the INTAROS Data Catalogue, providing access to multidisciplinary data from a wide range of data repositories containing Arctic data. The portal and catalogue will be maintained and used for promotion of data and services in other projects after INTAROS. WP6. Applications towards stakeholders. Work has focused on studies of how data from various observing systems can be used to develop useful results to the benefit for different stakeholders on local, regional or pan-Arctic scale. The results demonstrate how the Arctic observing system can be applied to further develop the accuracy of climate models, improve the understanding of biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning, enhance fisheries and environmental management, increase the level of preparedness towards natural hazards, and develop better management and decision-making for selected local communities. The following topics are addressed: (1) Improving skill of climate models in the Arctic, with examples from sea ice prediction and hydrological forecasting; (2) Applying observations and models for environmental and fisheries management, with case studies in the Barents Sea and west Greenland; (3) Ice-ocean statistics using examples from Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSE), preparation of a 10 year reanalysis, development of a risk assessment system, studies of ocean sound, oceanographic and sea ice time series, sea level studies from altimeter and tide gauge data, sea ice data from ice mass balance buoys, sea ice remote sensing applications; (4) natural hazards, (5) greenhouse gas studies, (6) enhancing community-based observing systems in Greenland and Svalbard, and (7) summary of ocean observing benefit for blue growth in the Arctic. WP7. Communication and outreach. Work has been focused on planning and conducting various communication activities to inform projects, programmes, user, rightsholder and stakeholder groups, agencies, and policy makers about INTAROS. The consortium members have promoted the project and its objectives through several hundred meetings, workshops, conferences, publications, and other dissemination activities. Much of this communication and dissemination work has been done in collaboration with WP1 and WP4. Various online tools were employed to maximize the visibility and communicate the project activities including: a public project website, Twitter and other social media, videos on YouTube, blogs, printed materials (brochures, factsheets, posters, policy briefs, photos), project identity toolkit (graphical image, logos, lettering, templates, and branded materials). Furthermore, several training and education activities have been organized, focused at early career scientists and students, public resource managers, and Indigenous community members. Project websites: http://intaros.eu, http://intaros.nersc.no

WP5 (Data integration and management) is tasked with designing and implementing evolution of the cloud platform and tools for the iAOS. This document gives a synthesis of the iAOS cloud infrastructure evolution during the project. The experience and challenges from the work include: (1) deploying and operating dedicated Cloud Platform infrastructure services, (2) integrating data repositories and data processing services based on these Cloud Platform infrastructure services, and (3) defining user-oriented applications powered by all these iAOS resources. As a result, the iAOS cloud platform offers services to access observations and derived parameters, including new observations from WP2-3-4. In addition, it offers seamless integration with geo-statistical methods for interpolation of spatiotemporal datasets, and services to store the generated datasets in iAOS enabled repositories. The report presents results on using the iAOS cloud platform to integrate multidisciplinary and distributed data repositories and to provide a set of tools for data analysis, transformation, and visualization. Selected applications established in WP6 have used the services and tools provided by the platform and have showcased the usefulness and functionality of the platform, as part of the benefit of enhanced integration of data from Arctic observing systems.

This document provides a summary of sensors, platforms, and observing systems implemented during INTAROS field campaigns and presents technical recommendations based on experience gained from operating these components for collecting in situ observations during the project. This document is intended to: – Shortly summarize details of all individual sensors, platforms, and systems developed and deployed during INTAROS for collecting in situ measurements in the cryospheric, ocean, atmospheric and terrestrial domains, – Provide main recommendations for the technology used in INTAROS with the respect to become a component of a future sustained Arctic observing system, – Describe main limitations of technology used and recommendations to overcome these limitations to enable including this technology in a future observing system, – Overview other technical solutions which could better replace or complement technology used during INTAROS to provide similar set of observations for a future observing system, – Identify and describe cross-cutting technical recommendations based on recommendations for individual systems, – Summarize main challenges and achievements in implementing in situ observations in WP3, – Summarize main technical recommendations from WP3 for use in the INTAROS Roadmap for a future integrated Arctic observing system INTAROS has collaborated with many other field programs and projects which have contributed to the results in WP3. These programs and projects are listed in Annex A. A summary of platforms and sensors developed and implemented during INTAROS, including main challenges and final outcomes, is provided in Annex B.

This report gives an overview of the activities, results and impacts of INTAROS Work Package 6 (WP6). The aim of WP6 is to demonstrate how an integrated observation system can be of specific benefit for society at local, regional or pan-Arctic scale. Through WP6 we show the capability of an enhanced Arctic Observation System towards advancing the economic role of the Arctic by providing support for better-documented processes and better-informed decisions within key sectors such as shipping, petroleum, fishing, and tourism. Further, WP6 demonstrates how the Arctic Observation system may be applied to further develop the accuracy of climate models, improve the understanding of biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning, enhance fisheries and environmental management, increase the level of preparedness towards natural hazards, and develop better management and decision making concepts for selected local communities. Through WP6 INTAROS demonstrates enhanced data search and retrieval, assimilation into models, validation of estimated and projected climate parameters, scientific analysis, decision-support and policy-making. Following a general introduction to INTAROS WP6, eight chapters summarize, for each topic covered, the main activities and results, data and models used, stakeholder/user benefits, and further development and exploitation of results. The topics span broadly and target very different end-user groups but they all share the same overall challenge: how to synthesize data across time and space from different sources, formats and scientific disciplines into aggregated synoptic data products that are relevant for end-users. The following topics are addressed: Improving skill of model predictions in the Arctic, Applying observations and models for environmental and fisheries management, Ice-ocean statistics, Remote sensing applications, Natural hazards in the Arctic, Greenhouse gas exchange in the Arctic, Case studies of community-based observing systems and Benefits of ocean observing for blue growth in the Arctic. The report then describes concrete showcases, software applications. Selected main results across WP6 are then presented, before the report ends with conclusions and perspectives.

This report describes the experiences working with the Norwegian Coast Guard ship KV Svalbard and the expedition ship Le Commandant Charcot during the INTAROS and CAATEX projects. The first part of the report deals with our experiences working with the Norwegian Coast Guard. The coast guard has supported Norwegian research institutes over many decades and made tremendous contribution to Norwegian polar and ocean research. The report describes complex operations carried out in 2019 and in 2020 with KV Svalbard as part of the INTAROS and CAATEX projects. Our experiences in organising two Useful Arctic Knowledge research schools in 2020 and 2021 onboard KV Svalbard are also presented. The report comes with recommendations for collaboration with the Norwegian Coast Guard. Secondly, the report describes our experiences working with the commercial cruise operator PONANT. PONANT has 13 cruise ships operating around the world, including the Arctic and Antarctica. In 2021 they had their first expedition to the North Pole with their new icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot. During this cruise they carried out a dry test to test their operational capability, test and evaluate the guest facilities bringing several invited guests, as well as the research facilities onboard bringing a group of scientists. The science team consisted of two scientists from INTAROS/ NERSC, two scientists from IFREMER (France), one scientist from MIT (USA), one scientist from NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), and two scientists from University of Tromsø–The Arctic University of Norway (UiT). The science team carried out several observing programs. INTAROS deployed Snow and Ice Mass Balance buoys (SIMBA), drifting buoys for temperature and pressure observations, contributed to an oceanographic section from the North Pole and to the coast of Svalbard using XBT probes,and collected passive acoustic measurements. IFREMER deployed two Argo floats at the North Pole, contributed to the North Pole oceanographic section, deployed drifting buoys,and tested new weather balloons for atmospheric measurements. NTNU was testing accuracy of new positioning satellites. UiT participated in the Search and Rescue project. In this report we describe the INTAROS observing programs and the experiences collaborating with personnel onboard a commercial cruise ship., Versions 1 and 2 are identical, except Version 2 has the DOI 10.5281/zenodo.7181340 (for citation) listed on page 2.

Climate warming in the Arctic Region opens up for new or changes and expansion of existing maritime business activities. The future business development perspectives for three important components of the Arctic Blue Economy –maritime transport via the Arctic Ocean, cruise industry in the Svalbard area and fishery in the Barents Sea has been analyzed. The maritime transport and cruise industry will potentially increase substantially over the coming years due to retreat of Arctic sea ice.In 2020 and 2021 the Covid-19 pandemic had severe negative impact on the cruise industry, whereas in 2022 the cruise traffic in the Arctic has recovered and was at the same level as the peak year in 2019. Barents Sea fishery is among the most important in Europe and represent a significant economic value for the industry. However, climate change with associated ecosystem changes will have impact on the stock composition and distribution, and consequently on the commercial fisheries. Entering into operations in the harsh Arctic environment requires good knowledge and understanding of the physical environmental conditions to ensure a sound decision process on economy, efficiency, safety of ship, crew and cargo and protection of the vulnerable Arctic environment. Therefore, examples of basic statistical analysis of relevant parameters like sea ice, wind, waves, temperature and salinity has been performed to outline the trends in change of environmental condition of importance for maritime operations in the Arctic. Additionally, operational meteorological and oceanographic near real time products and services are important when actually operating in the area. Satellite observations and outputs from numerical models are essential data sources for generation of operational products and services; but the trustworthiness of the information’s from these two data sources depends critically on the availability of in situ observations of key variables for assimilation in the models and especially for validation of quality of the generated data products. Unfortunately, the availability of enough relevant and high-quality in situ observations of oceanographic and meteorological variables from the Arctic Region is far from satisfactory for this purpose. It is therefore crucial to design and implement a fit-for-purpose Arctic Observing System to ensure the availability of high-quality in situ data needed for assimilation into forecasting models. The in situ data are also needed for validation of modelling and remote sensing products used both for operational monitoring and in statistical trend analysis. In the perspective of increased maritime activity in the environmentally vulnerable Arctic Region it would be advisable to perform monitoring and analysis of environmental pressures similar to the one performed by European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and European Environmental Agency (EEA) for the European Seas (EMSA & EEA,2021).

The potential for growth of the Arctic Blue Economy is increasing due to climate change, fast technological development and strong demands from the global economy. Such development will however put severe stress on the vulnerable Arctic environment and there is a growing consciousness among nations surrounding the Arctic to ensure a responsible and sustainable development of Arctic Blue economy, which calls for a science-based management approach. Mandatory for such an approach is good knowledge and understanding of the Arctic Ocean environment and ecosystem,which demands a well-coordinated, integrated, sustained fit-for-purpose Arctic Ocean Observation System. The design of a proper Arctic Ocean Observation System is recommended to follow the concept outlined in the “Framework for Ocean Observations” (UNESCO, 2012). This will require a strong international coordination and governance structure responsible for dialog with users and stakeholders, sustained funding, maintenance of observation requirements (spatiotemporal resolution, quality, timeliness), technology development, free and open access to data. An important component of the design process is an assessment of the costs and value of the observing system i.e., justify that the benefit exceeds the costs. Costs are easier (although not unproblematic) to quantify than the benefits. OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) has in recent years, in cooperation with various ocean observing communities, started to establish ways to quantify the value of ocean observations and proposes some pragmatic approaches. It is therefore recommended that the management of the future Arctic Ocean Observation System works closely with experts from OECD on the establishment of a robust cost-benefit analysis methodology for the Arctic Ocean.

This report presents examples of how INTAROS has contributed to several of EU’s Arctic policy goals, in particular to promote science, research and innovation, contribute to safety and support people living and working in the Arctic. The report also links project results to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. INTAROS has demonstrated how an integrated Arctic observation system is built on many observing sensors and platforms. For land-based observations, a number of in situ systems are installed and operated at research stations and temporary camps around the Arctic. For ocean-based observations, there is a difference between ice-free and ice-covered areas. In ice-free areas of the sub-Arctic regions, ships, floats, gliders, moorings,and various surface platforms are commonly used. However, several of the platforms, such as floats, gliders, and sail-buoys, have limited capability to operate in the presence of sea ice. In ice-covered areas it is required to use icebreakers for deployment and recovery office-based platforms and underwater moorings. These operations are much more complex and time demanding than using observing systems in open ocean. The data value-chain ranges from raw data produced by sensors and instruments to higher-level information products. The in situ data is the basis for scientific analysis, as well as development and validation of models and remote sensing algorithms. Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) systems are complementary to scientific observing system, where data are collected by local communities to support their requirements for information about climate change, natural resources, and other topics. Development of an integrated Arctic observation system requires that data management and data sharing within and between disciplines can function.This is a challenge due to the heterogeneity and complexity of observational data collected in various geoscience and bioscience disciplines. With development of new instruments and platforms, the amount of environmental data collected is expected to increase year by year. INTAROS has improved the data accessibility from a large number of distributed observing systems and to contributed to improve data management and data sharing systems. The results from the project have been published in numerous deliverables, scientific publications and other dissemination channels (http://intaros.eu, http://intaros.nersc.no). Key Messages for Policy Makers: Key Message #1: Arctic observation must continue and be extended without harming the environment. Call for Action: Improve the support for integrated, multidisciplinary Arctic observation through funding for and policy allowing for long-term observing programmes and infrastructure with minimum impact on the vulnerable environment. Key Message #2: Arctic observation must strive for excellent datasets. Call for Action: Increase the efforts and support to provide scientific quality data sets that are needed for building knowledge about the Arctic environment. Key Message #3: Collaboration is essential for developing and operating Arctic observing systems.

This report summarizes the discussions during two virtual meetings with different stakeholders with interest in the Barents Sea and off-Greenland ecosystems, respectively. The meetings were based on the work from Task 6.8 “Demonstrations for fisheries and environmental management agencies” and Task 6.2. “Improved ecosystem understanding and management”. Stakeholders represented a broad specter of marine- and maritime-related authorities in Norway, Greenland and Denmark, the fishing industry, the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) working group of the Arctic Council, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, INTAROS partners and participants from other EU projects. The presentations of the monitoring and model results were refined and angled to be of relevance and use for the participating stakeholders. The stakeholders were in general interested in the approach, results, and conclusions. The discussion made it clear that as users in charge of sectorial human activity management, they valued scientific testing and suggestions for improving ecosystem understanding. They recommended that the next step could be to look at not only national data set indicators, but also relate those to an Arctic international setting. The Norwegian Environmental Agency suggested that a climate approach would be useful also for the Barents Sea. Likewise, the more complex food web indicators presented for the Barents Sea could be useful to apply to the Greenland coastal system. Stakeholders from both geographic areas emphasized that data from long-term monitoring of key variables is important for their work and that models can be useful as supporting information on indicators and future scenarios if the model uncertainty is assessed and explained. These seminars highlight the importance of inviting stakeholders responsible for all sectors of marine-related human activities to dialogues on research and monitoring of the climate, natural resources and ecosystems. In a fast-changing scientific world, with an increasing amount of knowledge, it is important to make available, timely and in the right format, the best possible information.

The INTAROS project develops an integrated Arctic Observation System (iAOS) by extending, improving and unifying existing systems in the different regions of the Arctic. Within INTAROS, WP5 (Data integration and management) develops the iAOS Portal, which provides access to selected datasets and services offered by INTAROS partners and by other Arctic data providers and service providers. This document describes the major functionality and features of this portal and how it has been implemented. Required functionality has been identified through dialogue with users and stakeholders. The approach has been to use agile development techniques to quickly refine user needs and implement new features iteratively. Two main categories of users of the portal were identified: (1) data/service providers and (2) data/services consumers. Providers make their data or services available through the portal, and update the descriptions of these if changes are made. Consumers search for and access data or services, with sufficient descriptions (metadata) for both data and services to whether to use them in their work. The population and promotion of the iAOS Portal equally depends on data providers and consumers including service providers. The iAOS Portal has been implemented using a leading data management system framework named CKAN (Comprehensive Knowledge Archive Network). CKAN offers a broad range of the needed features out of the box and has an active community that develops additional features (plugins) that can be added to the iAOS Portal as needed. Using the CKAN core components and mature plugins, we have implemented the following main components of the iAOS Portal: INTAROS Data Catalogue, holding descriptions (metadata) of datasets collected or generated with support from INTAROS. iAOS Portal Data Catalogue, holding metadata harvested from other catalogues offering relevant dataset for the applications under development in WP 6 of INTAROS. Services and Applications, describing services and applications developed in INTAROS and by other service providers offering products or functionality that can be exploited in WP 6. Tools and Resources, providing links to software libraries and tools, computer platforms, data systems, infrastructures and projects that offer data, information and/or software tools that can be useful for scientists and stakeholders in Arctic sciences and for local communities in the region. The ARCMAP web application for mapping and assessing Arctic in situ observing systems is available through the portal. ARCMAP that was developed in a spin-off project is also part of the iAOS Portal. The iAOS Portal will be extended with more features, data and services during the course of the INTAROS project as well as in future projects following up INTAROS and the recommendations from the INTAROS Roadmap. These projects will use the iAOS Portal as a mechanism to make their data and services known to the large network of Arctic scientists and local communities established within INTAROS. In this way, the iAOS Portal will become an important element in a Sustained integrated Arctic Observing System. The IAOS Portal is available at https://portal-intaros.nersc.no/.

The INTAROS project develops an integrated Arctic Observation System (iAOS) by extending, improving and unifying existing systems in the different regions of the Arctic. Within INTAROS, WP5 (Data integration and management) is tasked with designing and implementing evolutions of the cloud platform with geo statistical tools for services as part of the iAOS. The work effort in Task 5.4 has been to design, develop and distribute a Geostatistical Library to be used as a scientific toolbox in some different data analysis workflows (e.g. for the iAOS showcase applications). The first version of the Geostatistical Library (v1) was considering CTD data provided by IMR for estimating ocean temperature maps in the Barents Sea (D5.6). This document describes the new version of the Geostatistical Library (v2) where some additional capabilities have been developed. A set of new functions deals with weather stations and AROME Arctic model in order to estimate snow depth maps in Isfjorden (Svalbard). Another set supports the combination of ICES CTD dataset, GINR trawls dataset and GEBCO bathymetry for estimating bottom ocean temperature maps along the West Greenland coast., Reviewed by: Hanne Sagen and Torill Hamre

The INTAROS project develops an integrated Arctic Observation System (iAOS) by extending, improving and unifying existing systems in the different regions of the Arctic. Within INTAROS, WP5 (Data integration and management) is tasked with designing and implementing evolution of the cloud platform with geo statistical tools for services as part of the iAOS. Partners in Task 5.3 are in charge of data integration from existing repositories, along with metadata, so that it is findable and exploitable by iAOS applications, and well referenced by the iAOS Portal and the INTAROS Data Catalogue. In particular, identification of the online data access points and the related protocols are offered to make the data accessible for use in the iAOS Showcase application services, as well as from other applications in WP6 which can utilize these data. Deliverable D5.9 describes the work done in Task 5.3 with respect to identifying and clarifying the technical requirements for data integration of existing data repositories, and gives examples of such integrations. Section 2.1 provides information on the growth of registered datasets in the INTAROS Data Catalogue as of 22nd April 2021 compared to 1st December 2019. A summary of to what extent the original plans for integration of data repositories in Task 5.3 have been achieved is given in Section 2.2. AWI / Terradue conducted an email campaign to partners in order to identify which datasets are planned to be registered in the INTAROS Data Catalogue (Section 2.3). Section 3 describes relevant data repositories which in some cases are linked to the iAOS cloud platform and in other cases listed as potential source of data (when an actual integration into data processing applications was performed as part of other INTAROS tasks, the mention “iAOS Application” is added along with the reference to it). Section 4 describes the data sources for selected iAOS Showcase applications, the data needed by application developers, and how the foreseen output data products could be used. In particular, this includes the integration of data repositories behind machine-to-machine interfaces, using an API (Application Programming Interface). Effort was made to identify iAOS Cloud Platform features related to data discovery and access useful for the showcase applications from WP6 partners. We finally describe the selected iAOS Showcase applications, how the data is delivered to these application developers, and how the foreseen output data products could be used.

This report describes the final results of the work performed in Task 6.1, which has the main goal of improving the skill of climate predictions, investigating the benefits related to the exploitation of INTAROS data. Such benefits demonstrate a clear potential for users of Arctic data and stakeholders of climate prediction. A key ingredient to skillful seasonal-to-decadal climate prediction is the use of high-quality observational data, that cover a sufficiently long period, typically at least a few decades to test robustly their impact. This emphasizes the need - from a user perspective - to sustain and continue the production of the various iAOS products. The works in the task made use of three different datasets produced in INTAROS, namely CERSAT sea-ice concentrations, SMOS sea-thickness, and Arctic-HYCOS river discharges. The results found in Task 6.1 are: 1. CERSAT sea-ice concentrations were successfully used to assess the skill of SMHI’s quasi-operational decadal climate predictions with EC-Earth3 regarding September Northern Hemisphere sea-ice area for a lead time of 11 months (based on the period 1992-2020; correlation of 0.83) and the quality of new assimilation experiments providing potentially better initial conditions for climate predictions (correlation of 0.9 including long-term trend; 0.58 for detrended data, i.e. interannual variability). 2. CERSAT sea-ice concentrations were assimilated for BSC’s seasonal climate prediction system employing EC-Earth3. It is shown that the assimilation of sea-ice concentrations does not yield significant benefit for winter seasonal predictions (started on 1 November) but do have a remarkable positive impact on summer seasonal predictions (started on 1 May) regarding the sea-ice edge but also remote North Atlantic SSTs. The latter is shown to be the result of a so-called atmospheric bridge translating the improved sea-ice representation via more realistic large-scale atmospheric variability into the SST-signal. 3. Anomalies derived from sea-ice concentrations as well as SMOS and ENVISAT CCI sea-ice thickness estimates were assimilated in NorCPM, the seasonal-to-decadal climate prediction system developed at NERSC. It is shown that the assimilation of sea-ice concentrations is particularly beneficial for predictions along the sea-ice edge while sea-ice thickness is more important for the central Arctic. Hence, the assimilation of both is complementary and yields the best overall result. Here, the assimilation of SMOS data provides significantly better results compared to ENVISAT CCI. 4. Arctic-HYCOS river discharge is part of the iAOS product, driving from WP2. It has been assimilated to produce a pan-Arctic hydrological analyses and subsequent forecasts with the Arctic-HYPE model. The functionality of this workflow is demonstrated via a use-case addressing the Republic of Sacha (Yakutia), in Far-East Russia, where a sub-set of the Arctic-HYPE model is used for spring flood and river ice breakup forecasting in the major Yakutia rivers.

This document is a result of INTAROS WP6 Task 6.5 on Arctic greenhouse gas exchange. The reported work rests upon results provided in WP3, more specifically tasks 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3. It synthesizes data stored in databases SOCAT and GLODAP and additional data from a Ferry box system crossing the Barents Sea opening and from Greenland fjords. To show the potential establishing long term monitoring of the carbon system variables as suggested in INTAROS, trends in ocean uptake and transport of carbon, ocean acidification and deoxygenation can be produced. Examples on synthesis of carbon system data are shown, with the aim of analyzing trends in ocean acidification in the Nordic Seas. The results reported by each of the marine science partners in Task 6.5 include: UiB. The main task has been to prepare for a comparison of pCO2 field extracted from 2018 data in the SOCAT database, and test a self-organising map technique, a type of artificial neural network that uses machine learning. This was implemented to estimate surface water pCO2values for the Barents Sea opening (10°E-30°E; 70°N-77.5°N). NIVA. A FerryBox system was equipped on M/S Norbjørn which made approximately 25-30 round-trip crossings per year through the Barents Sea Opening between Tromsø, Norway and Longyearbyen, Svalbard. The FerryBox system included several physical, chemical, and biological sensors. UA. In Greenland, measuring ocean CO2and carbonate chemistry is included in the Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) Programme. Although these long-term programs provide essential time-series of change, the three sites do not cover the spatial variation across the vast Greenland coastal zone

A detailed understanding of how anthropogenic activities affect ecosystems and the services they provide is essential for sustainable management. However, assessments of the impact of multiple drivers on complex ecosystems is often challenged by lack of data at the relevant spatio-temporal resolution or knowledge of interactions among drivers. The SW Greenland coast and shelf is important for the industrial and sustenance fishing that is essential for Greenland. Here, we aim to describe decadal changes of the ecosystem and identify key drivers. To describe ecosystem dynamics we analysed changes in the 33 species of demersal fish found in 5713 bottom trawls collected on the shelf from 1993 to 2016. We find substantial increase in average biomass combined with increases in average individual weight, average trophic level and composition of dominant species. Using previous studies as a baseline we interpret the observed changes as a partial recovery of an over-exploited system. Sea ice cover, run-off from the Greenland Ice Sheet, seafloor trawling and water mass distribution are all known drivers of ecosystem change in the study area. Although, the impact of each driver varies over the last 2-3 decades all appear to facilitate increase in fish biomass. Climate change-related melting of sea ice and the Greenland Ice Sheet likely sustained increased primary production by increasing light and nutrient availability. Increases in temperature and salinity indicates increased inflow of Atlantic water, which increase connectivity to lower latitude systems. Finally, decreased trawling effort combined with mitigation measures to decrease by-catch may have decreased fish mortality. This suggest that a combination climate change and long-term hydrographic variability may have facilitated the recovery of fish stocks. Finally, the massive changes observed in fish biomass, size and trophic level of the fish community is likely to be a strong driver for cascading effects to other components of the SW Greenland shelf ecosystem.

Snow depth and ice thickness in the Arctic Ocean directly result from air-sea ice-ocean interaction and their observational data are essential components of the iAOS. During INTAROS, an innovative and cost-cutting design, thermistor string-based snow and ice mass balance apparatus (SIMBA), has been largely deployed in the Arctic Ocean to measure time series of high-resolution vertical temperature profiles through air-snow-sea ice-ocean, and snow depth and ice thickness are derived from SIMBA temperatures. This document summarizes the SIMBA deployment during the INTAROS period. The SIMBA data characteristics and how to derive snow depth and ice thickness from temperature are described. The results from manual analyses and automatic algorithms are compared to each other. We have summarized a few process studies using SIMBA data. The data provided by SIMBA experiments are not only valuable for remote sensing applications but also important to better understand air-sea ice-ocean interactions as well as for process modelling studies. The accessibility to data and repositories of SIMBA data is concluded. The further exploitation of SIMBA observation as well as how it can possibly be used as a component of the sustainable iAOS are discussed. The document is intended to provide a summary of SIMBA operation in the high-Arctic regions and how the SIMBA data can be used for scientific research and for future operation service and sea ice management.

Deliverable 6.23 describes the work done mainly at the University of Bremen on satellite remote sensing of sea ice parameters and of total water vapor in the Arctic using microwave imagers (AMSR-E, AMSR2) and sounders (AMSU-B, MHS), i.e.,work done in WP6 with links to data delivered through WP2. We present and assess the data that have been prepared, improved,and exploited during the INTAROS project. This refers to data characterization, making the data accessible, creating new datasets, extended the time series from satellites. This also includes data further developed in the framework of overlapping projects but not made available before INTAROS. This document focus on how existing observations and data products can enhance the existing observation system through data exploitation.

This report describes the work done at Ifremer on satellite remote sensing over sea ice using different microwave sensors, in particular work done in WP6 and linked to data delivered through WP2. We present and assess the data that have been prepared and/or improved (exploited) during the INTAROS project. This refers to data characterization, making the data accessible, creating new datasets, extended the time series from satellites. This also includes data upgraded in the framework of overlapping projects (as for instance CMEMS) but not made available before INTAROS. This document focus on how existing observations and data products can enhance the existing observation system through data exploitation.

During the CAATEX KV Svalbardcruise14/8–9/9,2019to the North Pole, NORCE operated a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which was used to collect high-precision optical imagery, providing information about ice morphology and sea-ice properties. Furthermore, NORCE operated an ultra-wideband radar system on a multirotor UAS platform in collaboration with UiT and CIRFA. The radar, which can detect layers in the snow and ice, was operated along selected profiles where also snow and ice samples were collected (Norwegian Polar Institute). In addition, NORCE operated an imaging radar on board KV Svalbard. The radar system, which was mainly operated during the periods where the vessel was stationary in the ice, provided information about ice drift and ice conditions. The main objective of the experiment was to collect observations of sea ice drift and ice coverage and type, at different positions along the route up to 90°N. In addition to the science data collection, the potential of using a high-resolution imaging Ku-band radar for navigation in ice-infested waters was also demonstrated. During the cruise, CIRFA tasked high-resolution Radarsat-2 satellite SAR scenes which were used during the cruise for navigation. NORCE also participated in daily processing and interpretation of satellite SAR imagery from Sentinel-1, which was instrumental in the navigational decision-making process. This combination of data was collected to develop a real-time ice navigation support system.The campaign was co-financed by the Research Council of Norway (RCN )projects ARCEx, CAATEX and CIRFA in addition to the INTAROS Horizon2020 project and the RESICE project funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment. The results formed the foundation for the ProjectDigital Arctic Shipping, a bilateral Norway-China project on developing a drone and satellite-based ice navigation support system. Key stakeholders will be ship operators wanting to use the northern sea routes for transport between the far east and Europe as well as expedition cruise operators and fishing vessels operating close to the ice edge

This deliverable presents results of work related to in situ measurements, sea ice remote sensing products and reanalysis products in the Fram Strait and in the Arctic Ocean north of Svalbard. The results also include examples of how various observational data and models can be combined and used to describe the ice-ocean environment in the region. A number ofocean and sea ice statistical productsbased on long timeseries of repeated oceanographic ship-based surveys, year-round measurements on fixed moorings, and sea ice concentration products are presented. Analysed ocean physical variables include measured in situ subsurface ocean temperature and salinity, and their derived products such as water mass properties, layer thickness and relative ocean heat content. Mean spatial fields and properties averaged for specific water masses as well as mean annual cycle, long-term monthly means are calculated and presented as well as annual and monthly anomalies for selected parameters. A collection of ocean and sea ice products, with examples presented in the report, will be further exploited to provide integrated time series of ocean observations via a dedicated website. The products will be presented as plots and data files (NetCDF) that can be used for calibration and validation of numerical models and as a background for ocean climate and environmental assessments. The climate induced environmental changes in the Arctic will change both the mechanisms and processes producing natural ocean sound, change the ocean stratification, and increased accessibility and traffic to the Arctic region will change the amount of sound from human activities. To assess the effect of the changes in the Arctic it is important to benchmark the current state of the Arctic acoustic observing capacity and to make recommendations for future sustained acoustic observations.A processing chain for passive acoustic products from distributed acoustic arrays into standard formats (NetCDF), including quality flags, has been established.Furthermore, reanalysis results produced for INTAROS using the GECCO model and 4 DVAR (Gukun et al 2020) has bee used as input to the Bellhop (ray trace model) to better understand capabilities and limitations in acoustic tomography, geo-positioning and communication. Results from this work has been presented in our proceeding papers that have been produced and submitted to the Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics (POMA). Results from the remote sensing work are presented in other reports (D6.20, D6.22, D6.23 and D6.24).&nbsp

This document describes the work conducted within the atmospheric component of INTAROS Task 6.5. The main contributions for the work reported herein were produced by partner MPG, with additional contributions from UB. The East Siberian Arctic Shelf hosts vast carbon reservoirs at risk of degradation and may be a strong emitter of methane to the atmosphere. Yet, estimates of its annual methane emissions and their key controls are highly uncertain. In the presented project, we estimated these emissions with a geostatistical inverse model from atmospheric observations over seventeen months in Tiksi (Russia), Barrow (Alaska) and Ambarchik (Russia). Our simulations yielded annual methane emissions of 0.3 – 1.5 Tg CH4, which is on the low end of previously reported estimates (0 – 17 Tg CH4 yr-1). Our geostatistical approach allows us to test the compatibility of a large number of spatiotemporal emissions patterns with the atmospheric signals. In this context, we specifically tested the suitability of novel data products from the INTAROS database to improve model performance. Our model attributes highest emissions to shallow waters and to ice-free and potentially freeze-up periods, but also finds substantial emissions during the ice-covered period. We do not detect substantial emissions of stored methane during ice breakup. Our results suggest that mixing and stratification of the water column and cracks in sea ice could be among the dominant controls of methane emissions from the shelf to the atmosphere. Other explanations are possible and discussed, including limitations of our study. The information provided by the INTAROS database led to minor improvements in the explained variability of atmospheric greenhouse gas time series, indicating the high quality of the novel products. However, since parameter selection basically replaced existing oceanic variables by better performing new ones for the same parameter but did not add a previously omitted parameter to the highest-ranking models, we could not gain novel process insights. Our study suggests that the relevance of the shelf for the global atmospheric methane burden is currently small, but also reveals limitations of the Arctic atmospheric greenhouse gas observation network.

This document - Final implementation: Data delivery and report on results of the distributed observing systems for ocean and sea ice - describes autonomous components of the Arctic observing system for ocean and sea ice measurements that were developed, tested, and implemented during the INTAROS field work seasons. Instruments and platforms described in D3.13 drifted freely on the sea ice or in the water column (ice tethered platforms, ice buoys and floats), moved along preprogrammed tracks (gliders) or measured autonomously at fixed locations (deep ocean moorings). An autonomous sensor package (FerryBox) and drone-based sensors were used to collect observations from the ships of opportunity or during large observing campaigns like MOSAiC. This document is intended to: − Review status and performance of autonomous mobile and fixed observing platforms and sensors used for collecting ocean and sea ice observations in the Arctic during the INTAROS field work seasons. − Describe performance and data obtained from the ice-tethered IAOOS-Equipex platform used for combined physical, atmospheric and sea ice measurements in the central Arctic Ocean. − Describe performance and data collected with the deep ocean mooring deployed for the second INTAROS field season in the deep Nansen Basin. − Describe performance and data collected by SIMBA (Snow and Ice Mass Balance Array) platforms for sea ice measurements, deployed with INTAROS contribution in the Arctic Ocean. − Describe performance and data collected with new biogeochemical sensors for the FerryBox (pH/carbonate sensor, spectral absorption sensor and microplastic sampler) developed under INTAROS. − Describe the performance of gliders and results from new endurance glider lines established under INTAROS in the northern Fram Strait. − Describe INTAROS contribution to an array of BGC Argo floats in the Baffin Bay observatory, their performance, and collected data. − Assess performance and fitness-to-purpose of the platforms, sensors and systems implemented under Task 3.4 for a future sustained Arctic observing system.

The main aim of this deliverable is to offer advice on how the practice of applying existing observational data, ecosystem models, and indicators may be expanded from the Barents Sea and Disko Bay, West-Greenland to a wider range of Arctic sea regions and ecosystems. Further, we build advice and recommendations upon the established Norwegian Barents Sea ecosystem management plan, the more local management system for Disko Bay and focused individual and group interaction with a wide range of stakeholders in both areas. The expected impact is to provide advice on the most relevant and useful scientific basis for better-informed decisions and better-documented processes for managers and policymakers on local, regional and pan-Arctic scales. We conclude that both observational data and models are needed to get a holistic overview of the ecosystem status and to make reliable projections. The ecosystem models applied have different structural complexity and spatial resolutions making them suited for different roles in supporting the existing and future integrated Arctic Observation System (iAOS). The NoBa Atlantis model, applied to the Barents Sea, is the most complex model including many trophic levels and a range of anthropogenic pressures. It is highly suitable to make management scenarios and indices of higher trophic levels but is more coarsely resolved in time and space than the other two models we use. NORWECOM.E2E is a well-established model system with high temporal-spatial resolution for the Barents Sea. It has the carbon cycle and key fish species included.NORWECOM.E2E is well suited for making Observing System Simulation Experiments. FlexSem-ERGOM is a relatively new model for lower tropic levels with the highest spatial resolution among the three models, but with focus on smaller coastal systems and environmental changes. In INTAROS it has been set up for the Disko Bay. It has the advantage of being very flexible and can easily be adapted to a wide range of local ecosystems in the Arctic. Interaction with stakeholders from fisheries, maritime, and petroleum management and industry, and especially environmental management, has been a central part of our work. How the different stakeholders want to be informed, and what kind of information they seek, is presented, showing that managers are not negative to inclusion of well tested models in future ecosystem state and trend reports. Stakeholders generally found that models are useful, but that model uncertainty should be clearly communicated. Hence, there is a basis for future application of models for advice to especially environmental management. The interaction between scientists and a wide range of managers and industry representatives established in INTAROS and other ongoing projects will be continued despite no established dedicated long-term funding. The current report is based on the work carried out in INTAROS Task 6.2 “Improved ecosystem understanding and management” and Task 6.8 “Demonstrations for fisheries and environmental management agencies&rdquo

This document, aimed to predict the contribution of glaciers to sea level rise, has been carried out as part of Task 6.4 - Natural hazards in the Arctic. This deliverable describes a modelling-based approach developed by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) to quantify the partitioning of solid ice discharge into its two main components, namely iceberg calving and submarine melting. For Greenlandic glaciers, it can take advantage of using, as part of its input data, those produced by the freshwater runoff product developed by the Geological Survey of Greenland and Denmark (GEUS), and the modelling-based estimates of solid ice discharge (obtained as sum of iceberg calving and submarine melting) can be validated against those produced by the solid ice discharge product developed by GEUS. This deliverable is conceived as a demonstration to stakeholders, who, in our case, are primarily researchers interested in estimating the current contribution of glacier wastage to sea-level rise and the future projections of such contributions under various scenarios of greenhouse gasses emissions. The demonstration is based on a video (ca. 20 min.) available through the INTAROS YouTube channel and the education material available though the INTAROS website. There is also a shorter version (a trailer, ca. 4 min.) of the video, aimed to provide an overview of the contents of the longer version. This written report provides a more detailed account of the coupled glacier dynamics-fjord circulation model in which the procedure for partitioning the ice discharge into its main components is based. Alternatively, there is a simpler version of the model, which is a coupled glacier dynamics-buoyant plume model that greatly reduces the computation time, while still providing sufficiently accurate results. The glacier dynamics model is defined by the Stokes system of partial differential equations, an associated constitutive relationship, together with an iceberg calving model, and is solved using the finite-element ELMER/Ice code. The fjord circulation (and submarine melting) model is defined by Boussinesq form of the Navier-Stokes equation set, plus the Holland and Jenkins equations defining the thermodynamic equilibrium at the fjord-glacier front interface and dissolved using the finite-volume MITgcm code. The plume parameterization model that replaces the fjord circulation model in the simplified version of the coupled model is programmed using MATLAB.

This document describes the work conducted within INTAROS Task 3.5. This task comprises contributions from seven different partners, operating novel terrestrial or atmospheric observations across different methodological and geographical areas in the Arctic. This document is intended to: − Demonstrate that all partners delivered their results/products according to the requirements listed in the description of work, − Summarize changes in the work plan in the context of COVID-19 related problems, mostly linked to travel restrictions and inaccessibility of field sites. These issues reduced the findings that can be reported here, however, without substantially compromising the overarching objectives, − Describe, on a activity-by-activity level, the novel observations implemented by each partner, the datasets obtained, and their suitability for continuous, long-term operations in an improved future Arctic observing system, − Document the ‘lessons learned’ while designing, installing and operating the novel observation techniques, − Provide a concise interpretation of the specific datasets that were obtained within Task 3.5 observational campaigns, − Summarize data availability, including links to publicly accessible repositories where data can be retrieved by the scientific community, − Give an outlook on plans and options regarding the future operation of the specific observation systems.

This document describes the main body of work carried out in Task 6.4 - Natural hazards in the Arctic. This document is intended to: − Describe the needs of the stakeholders. − Provide a description of the individual studies in the task and how data and methods from the iAOS advances our understanding of the selected hazards. − Discuss which stakeholder needs are met and what is still required in cases where they are not. − Provide input to the INTAROS roadmap based on the work on natural hazards in the Arctic.

In the light of the COVID-19 restrictions on working and meeting conditions the INTAROS Stakeholder Task Team decided to concentrate stakeholder activities during the last two years of the project on: • Dialog meetings with relevant European Research Infrastructures • A survey among sensor and instrument manufacturers. • Meeting with representatives of national managing authorities. • Attending relevant virtual conferences, webinars and networking events wherever possible. Successful dialog meetings were performed with 12 European Research Infrastructures revealing a good insight in their Arctic engagement, strategies and priorities for in situ observation, data management, focus on best practices, technology development, cooperation and coordination among themselves, funding situation and willingness to engage in future Arctic Observing System. More than 100 sensor and instrument manufacturers were invited to respond to a web-based technology survey – disappointingly only 16 companies responded. The survey showed that there is a group of sensor and instrument manufacturers that have experience, capability and interest in participating in innovation of new technology in the harsh Arctic environment. The marine and maritime management authorities expressed great interest in gaining environmental data from the Arctic region. Especially time series and trends are of importance, but also data in support of reliable ecosystem modelling was highlighted. The INTAROS achievements have been broadly promoted by the consortium members at conferences, workshops, webinars etc. primarily via virtual technology whereby the personal contact and networking has been lost. Some relevant events have been postponed or cancelled, so the outreach activity has not been so high as in the early part of the project.

This document describes the final implementation of new observing systems developed within the INTAROS project. It reports on initial results from the observing systems and describes ways for the delivery of data retrieved by these systems. AWI developed and tested the experimental system “arcFOCE” (arctic Free Ocean Carbon Enrichment) that enables scientists to study impacts of ocean acidification on small, sediment inhabiting deep-sea organisms. The first long-term experiment of the system was conducted from October 2018 till September 2019 at the LTER observatory HAUSGARTEN in the eastern Fram Strait. Sediment samples were taken to study anticipated changes in bacterial and meiofaunal numbers, biomasse and community composition due to artificially reduced pH values in bottom waters. All data from the initial arcFOCE experiment will finally be stored in the PANGAEA data repository. The lack of ship time in 2020 allowed to reconfigure and optimize the experimental setup. Short-term in-situ tests of the improved system will be carried out during the RV Polarstern expedition PS126 in June 2021; the next long-term deployment (one year) of the arcFOCE system is planned for 2022. CRNS-UIEM installed a passive acoustics system at Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, which is identical to another system already deployed and running in Greenland, to allow direct comparison of results from these monitoring systems in western and eastern part of the Fram Strait. Acoustic data from the two systems are available via SEANOE (https://www.seanoe.org) or SEXTANT (https://sextant.ifremer.fr/). Results from the acoustics system at Kongsfjorden showed that AIS (Automatic Identification System) data of vessels operating in the area and their acoustic propagation need to be combined with passive acoustic measurements to assess the effect of vessel noise on the acoustic soundscape. CNRS-LOV continued and improved their measurements at the AWIPEV CO2 time-series monitoring site in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Time-series data generated by in-situ sensors in the fjord and in a Ferrybox flow-through system at AWIPEV is, to our knowledge, the first one at such high frequency. Raw data from the deployed sensors are available in near real-time: https://awipev-co2.obs-vlfr.fr. Quality-controlled data will be uploaded to the World Data Center Pangaea as soon as the final samples will be received and analysed, sometime in 2021. Among the key results is the fact that the fjord is a net sink for CO2 throughout the year.

One of the aims of INTAROS is to build additional capacity within Indigenous and civil society organizations, government agencies and scientists on community-based and citizen science observing in the Arctic. There is no single ‘right’ way of undertaking community-based observing. The approach will vary and what is suitable to ensure effective monitoring will change from one place to the next although there are a number of features which, in many cases, will be shared. One of the most effective ways to build capacity in community-based observing is through bringing people together and enabling the participants to share their experiences related to community-based observing, discussing and agreeing on what works, when and why. Over the course of the INTAROS project, from Dec. 2016 to May 2021, the project has organized or co-organized 40 workshops, dialogue meetings, seminars and other events on community-based monitoring (CBM) in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic. The events have been attended by at least 600 people, including representatives from five Arctic Indigenous Peoples (Inuit, Sami, Evenk, Gwi ́chin and Komi Izhma), and citizens of all eight Arctic nations. It is noteworthy that there have been some 200 youth among the participants, mostly from Arctic Russia. The events have contributed to >400pages of proceedings, technical reports and publications on community-based observing in the Arctic. Summaries of the discussions at most of these events have already been widely circulated. In this document, we highlight 12 of the events on community-based observing, including seven workshops, one international conference side-event, three online meetings,and one in-service training course. These events were held in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Germany, Russia, and online during Covid-19. In many discussion sessions at the events, participants were concerned about how to connect CBM programs with top-down observing approaches and associated management decision-making processes. In the last part of this document, we therefore discuss the challenges and opportunities for connecting CBM programs with top-down observing approaches and associated management decision-making processes, drawing on a review by Hajo Eicken and colleagues (2021). Connecting CBM programs and top-down observing approaches can lead to improved information products and enhanced efficiency and sustainability of observing programs (Eicken et al. 2021). It can also promote stronger linkages between CBM programs and natural resource management decision-making processes. Core principles central to such linkages are: 1) matching observing program aims, scales, and ability to act on information; 2) matching observing program and community priorities; 3) fostering compatibility in observing methodology and data management; 4) respect for Indigenous intellectual property rights and the implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent; 5) creating sufficient organizational support structures and ensuring that CBM programs link with decision-making processes on natural resource management; and 6) ensuring sustained community members’ commitment. In the document, we present and discuss suitable interventions to overcome challenges in adhering to these six principles.

This document contains the Data Management Plan (DMP) for the INTAROS project. The DMP describes how new datasets collected or generated by partners in the project, are managed according to guidelines for FAIR data management in Horizon 2020. This includes the procedures for planning and conducting data management within the project, i.e., the data governance framework. Data governance in INTAROS is pragmatic and geared towards supporting partners in preparing and publishing their data collections. The planning and monitoring activities are carried out by the Data Management Theme Leader (NERSC) and the leaders of the data generating work-packages in the project (FMI, IOPAN, NORDECO, TDUE, IMR). Partners generating data are responsible for making their collections available in line with the recommendations of the DMP. The Data Management Theme Leader (NERSC) and data centre partners (AWI, CNRS, FMI, IMR, IFREMER, ONC, RADI, RIHMI-WDC) provide support with data publication in open data repositories. Close collaboration between data managers and data providers has been key to implementing sound data management in the project. INTAROS is pan-Arctic in scope and collects in situ observations, extract parameters from satellite data and model projections in several regions and across multiple spheres (themes). The focus areas of INTAROS include Coastal Greenland, North of Svalbard, Fram Strait, the Eurasian Basin, and (5) selected sites in Siberia, Finland, Canada and Alaska. Within these areas, INTAROS partners are collecting new observations and generating high-level data products from different spheres: (1) Atmosphere, (2) Ocean, (3) Sea ice, (4) Marine ecosystems, (5) Terrestrial, (6) Glaciology, (7) Natural hazards, (8) Community-based monitoring. Datasets collected or generated within these spheres by the time of writing are summarised in this document, based on the deliverables from WP 2 (“Exploitation of existing observing systems”), datasets collected in WP 3 (“Enhancement of multidisciplinary in situ observing systems”) and WP 4 (“Enhance community-based observing programs for participatory research and capacity-building”), as well as model products and derived datasets from WP6 (“Applications of iAOS towards Stakeholders”). The published datasets have been registered in the INTAROS Data Catalogue, available at https://catalog-intaros.nersc.no/. This data catalogue is updated as new datasets are prepared during the remainder of the INTAROS project. The DMP recommends standards for metadata and data standards that INTAROS partners should prepare their datasets in, to make it easier for other scientists and stakeholders to reuse the data. Some widely used open-source tools and libraries that can help scientists generate metadata and data in standard formats are described. Use of servers that support the OPeNDAP standard protocol is recommended to facilitate data extraction from distributed sources. INTAROS, together with the Useful Arctic Knowledge (UAK) project has organised several user meetings and one research school to build competence in data management within the INTAROS consortium. Training material from these and other events with INTAROS contribution is made publicly available on the INTAROS web site http://intaros.eu/. Major changes since the previous release of the DMP (Hamre et al., 2019) include: Revised the list of recommended metadata and data formats (section 2) Updated the list of datasets collected or generated (sections 3-6) Updated list of recommended data repositories for long-term storage of data (section 8) Added a template for planning data management for a field experiment or a monitoring programme (Appendix D) Added a template for metadata for timeseries data collected by ocean moorings (Appendix E)

This document Final implementation of the observing system: Data delivery and report on results of the observing systems for the Coastal Greenland, describes the final results and future perspectives, including data accessibility, of INTAROS WP3 Task 3.1 for the Coastal Greenland reference site, which is identified as a key location for freshwater output from the Greenland ice sheet to the ocean. The work reported here describes a range of improvements on our monitoring capabilities for the entire journey of the freshwater flux from the Greenland ice sheet, through the fjords and into the ocean, including its impact on the marine ecosystem. Below is a short summary of the results reported by each partner in Task 3.1 of INTAROS. GEUS: Data on snow water equivalent (SWE) successfully retrieved from SnowFox instruments and processed from four sites co-located with PROMICE weather stations, power supply issues were identified, and mitigation measures taken. High-precision vertical and horizontal positional data was successfully retrieved from the new GNSS unit, capable of recording e.g., ice ablation by accurately recording changes in elevation. The deployment successfully tested a range of possible issues and a modified version of the device has already been implemented for landslide monitoring. A rugged, precise and low-power tilt and azimuth sensor was developed and tested in the lab. Field test deployment is ongoing.Corrected rain datasets from the ice sheet have been successfully retrieved and compared to results from regional climate models and reanalysis products. All the demonstrated measurements above will be rolled out for additional PROMICE, GC-Net and GEM weather stations over the coming years and data made openly available through their respective databases. AU: Two years of CTD data so far successfully retrieved from the marine instruments deployed in Aug 2018 and again in 2019, with a third year expected by Aug 2021. It is planned to continue this monitoring as a part of the GEM monitoring programme. SurfacebpCO2and carbonate parameters were observed during two coastal cruises in West Greenland 2016 and East Greenland 2018, respectively, to study the impact of freshening on CO2-uptake of the ocean, yielding 746 observations of the pCO2in the upper 50 m distributed among 120 stations. FMI: Laboratory instrumentation and procedures to characterize the thermal and angular response of pyranometers, to increase the accuracy of the solar irradiance and albedo measurements were successfully applied to CNR1 and CNR4 net-radiometers of the PROMICE network. The method is expected to be applied to similar radiometers of the PROMICE, GC-Net and GEM monitoring networks in the future. UPM: Test flights delivered 200 km of good radar profiles over ice, proving the concept of the new helicopter-borne radar system in the field. The processed radar profiles have successfully yielded bedrock returns in usually difficult glaciological settings near glacier fronts, although partly disrupted by occurrence of meltwater and reflections off nearby nunataks. CNRS-Takuvik: More than 1900 profiles have been acquired so far with unprecedented sets of data with series measured under ice during wintertime. Takuvik intends to continue measuring sea-ice properties in Qikiqtarjuaq and other coastal ecosystems in Baffin Bay. The sensors developed at Takuvik will be integrated to a sea-ice endoscope in development at Université Laval, which will optimize the acquisition of data in situ over a wide range of sea-ice geometries.

Community-based and citizen science observations in the Arctic do not only have the potential to inform management decisions at local or provincial and national levels. The observations can also shed light on changes in the environment on a national and even international scale. This will, however, often require that the community-based and citizen science observations are connected with scientist-based datasets. This document contains the description of a model for connecting community-based and citizen science knowledge systems with scientist-based knowledge systems, and of the effort done in INTAROS to make selected Arctic community-based and citizen science data collections connected with the INTAROS data catalogue. The model for connecting community-based and citizen science knowledge systems with scientist-based knowledge systems is based on collaborative work with multiple partners, led by Dr Maria Tengö, Stockholm Resilience Centre. The model is primarily for use in situations where management decisions about a specific area or specific natural resources require establishment of a knowledge base. The model depicts graphically the notion of ‘science and other knowledge’ being worked together to build a more comprehensive knowledge base than could be achieved by any one knowledge system alone (Tengö et al. 2014, 2017, and in review). This “Multiple Evidence Base” model positions Indigenous and Local (ILK) and scientific knowledge systems as different manifestations of valid and useful knowledge that generates complementary evidence for sustainable use of land and resources. We demonstrate the use of the model on the case of coastal fisheries management in Disko Bay, Greenland. The model cannot directly be used for connecting data collections from community-based, citizen science and scientific knowledge systems, but it provides a good background for later applying specific examples of cross-weaving of knowledge. The INTAROS has established a data catalogue (https://catalog-intaros.nersc.no/). The data catalogue comprises brief descriptions of the data collections (meta-data) and links to each dataset. In less than two years, the data catalogue has become an internationally recognized data catalogue for the Arctic environment. As of November 2020, this data catalogue comprises more than 100 data collections. We entered meta-data on a total of 15 Arctic community-based monitoring and citizen science data collections into the data catalogue. Seven of the data collections comprised data from Disko Bay and five from Svalbard. In this report, we describe each of the data collections, the tags and the parameter names used, the links to the datasets, and the potential uses of the data.

The Arctic environment is changing rapidly. A range of observing approaches is being used to increase our understanding of the environment and to mobilize sound decisions in response. To demonstrate ‘real world’ examples of the benefits of cross-weaving data from local and scientific observation systems, we have prepared a series of policy briefs. The key observations and recommendations in the policy briefs are summarized. Through dialogue with civil society organizations, research institutions and the local authorities, we have identified four topics of high priority to local communities where local/citizen-based and scientific observations are important and where recommendations for better-informed decisions and better-documented processes are pertinent: − Local and scientific observations for improving fisheries in Greenland − Natural disasters in Disko Bay, Greenland − Monitoring Svalbard’s environment and cultural heritage by expedition cruises − Natural disasters in Longyearbyen, Svalbard

The “Integrated Arctic Observation System” (INTAROS) is a 5-year project funded by Horizon 2020 under the Blue Growth Programme. The overall objective of INTAROS is to build an efficient integrated Arctic Observation System (iAOS) by extending, improving and unifying existing systems in the different regions of the Arctic. Within INTAROS, WP5 (Data integration and management) is tasked with designing and implementing evolution of the cloud platform and tools for the iAOS. This document defines version 2 of the iAOS cloud platform and tools. The cloud platform has the objective to integrate multidisciplinary and distributed data repositories and provide a set of tools for data analysis, transformation and visualization. The cloud platform offers services to access observations and derived parameters, including the new observations from WP2-3-4. In addition, it offers seamless integration with geo-statistical methods for interpolation of spatiotemporal datasets, and services to store the generated datasets in iAOS enabled repositories The cloud platform offers scalable allocation of data storage and computer power for integrative data processing and analysis. Selected applications established in WP6 will use the services and tools provided by the platform, and thereby demonstrate the usefulness and functionality of the platform. These applications will showcase the benefit of enhanced integration of data from Arctic observing systems. Examples of services developed using the cloud platform are presented in D5.7. Processing Services for iAOS v1. The iAOS cloud platform provides tools to users with essential functionality for data discovery view, data download, data transformation (e.g. sub-setting, projection, interpolation), and facilitate for development and streamlining data processing workflows. The platform tools address the challenges of Big Data (Volume, Velocity, Variety, Veracity, Value). The cloud platform architecture is supported by a federated cloud infrastructure to facilitate the management of the applications’ lifecycle (integration, validation and deployment in production). The version 2 (D5.8) of the iAOS cloud platform and tools presented in this deliverable augments the version 1 (D5.2) with the following descriptions: -Clarifications on the scope of the iAOS cloud platform within the overall iAOS -New section presenting the evolution of the Cloud Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) Handbook -Enhanced user guidance as part of the sections presenting the Cloud Platform's Ellip Solutions portfolio -More detailed tools descriptions and examples for the developer user guidance in section 3. “Catalog client tools” (OpenSearch Catalog client, OpenDAP/THREDDS Catalog client, Pangaea Catalog client).

In the Arctic, it is a priority of governments and Indigenous peoples’ organizations to increase the spatial and temporal coverage of environmental observations. One solution is to enhance community-based and citizen science observations. We piloted a series of people-based observing activities in Disko Bay, Greenland, and in Svalbard. Our aims were to examine the feasibility of specific community-based and citizen science observing and networking activities and, at the same time, to assess their potential for wider use. We assessed the observing activities against six criteria: (1) the cost, (2) the need for expertise, (3) the ability to detect trends, (4) the ability to support decision-making, (5) the potential for enhancing local stakeholder capacity, and (6) the capacity to inform international monitoring. The results of our tests are presented and discussed in this report. The key findings are summarized below. In Disko Bay, fishing and hunting are the most important livelihoods whereas, in Svalbard, it is tourism and science. In both areas, the susceptibility to natural disasters is increasing, and landslides and earthquakes have recently led to loss of lives. Through dialogue with civil society organizations, research institutions and the local authorities, we identified five community-based and citizen science observing and networking activities which we co-facilitated with many partners in Disko Bay and Svalbard between 2016 and 2019: − Garage-type geophone devices to observe natural hazard events − Expedition cruise operator-based observing − Focus group discussions with fishermen and hunters − Interviews and workshop dialogues to inform urban development − Linking social science climate research with the needs of the decision-makers. Citizen seismology. We tested the use of four garage-type geophone devices, two in each area, over two years. We compared the citizen-generated seismic data from the geophones with existing scientist-executed seismic sensors. In Disko Bay, the citizen geophones enabled the location of 23 events and improved the location of 209 events, thus significantly improving our understanding of the cryo-generated and tectonic events that occurred in the area whereas, in Svalbard, it was impossible to find suitable locations for the instruments. Citizen seismology may be useful in Arctic communities where the buildings are constructed on bedrock and trusted relationships exist between government agencies, scientists and the local residents. If seismic events detected by the geophones are discussed with the communities and the authorities, citizen seismology may help build community awareness of natural hazards and contribute to improved decisions on safety. Expedition cruise operator-based observing. Cruise guests already make observations of the environment in the Arctic but the number of attributes observed and the volume of records are limited and very few of the observations are used by decision-makers. We initiated a dialogue about coordinated expedition cruise operator-based observing with the expedition cruise industry, scientists, and the authorities. Together, we tested the use of six citizen science programs among six cruise operators in Disko Bay and Svalbard for one cruise season. A total of 165 people contributed observations, mostly bird checklists to eBird and marine mammal encounters with photos to Happywhale. Cruise guests and cruise guides can contribute large volumes of observations from areas visited by expedition cruises during the Arctic cruise season, April to September. Enabling factors may include: (1) equipping cruise vessels with tablets that allow for easy upload of records, (2) prompt feedback to observers and decision-makers directly from the citizen science programs through the use of digital platforms, and (3) a well-funded intermediate organization facilitating communication. Further work is necessary to fully understand the feasibility and potential of coordinated expedition cruise operator based environmental observing in the Arctic. Focus group discussions with resource users. In Disko Bay, we tested focus group discussions with fishermen and hunters for monitoring and managing living resources as part of the PISUNA program (Piniakkanik Sumiiffinni Nalunaarsuineq). A total of 30 fishermen and hunters summarized observations, from 4,287 field trips, of 33 attributes, including sea-ice and climate/weather, plus 10 fish, 11 mammal and 10 bird taxa, over four years. The community members used the observations as a basis for submitting 197 management proposals to the local and central authorities. Focus group discussions with resource users are useful where community members depend on living resources for their livelihood and where government policies are supportive of collaborative resource management. To achieve their full potential, focus group discussions require government staff time and funds to be prioritized for supervising the fishermen’s and hunters’ monitoring and for making decisions and taking action on the basis of the management proposals. Networking for people-based observing. In Svalbard, we initiated a dialogue with local actors on environmental observing so as to build trust and long-term collaboration while addressing both ethical, democratic and cultural dimensions. We facilitated interviews and organized workshop dialogues to inform urban development. We also co-established a digital platform for linking social science climate research with the needs of the decision-makers, thereby promoting experience exchange, coordination and communication. The initiatives contributed to important community dialogues during the Covid-19 crisis in Svalbard. From observation to action. The three piloted activities that involved field-based data-gathering in Disko Bay and Svalbard represent approaches with varying levels of participant and scientist involvement and with different linkages to decision processes and action. The geophones case is an example of automated data collection with Arctic residents. The role of the participants is limited to installing the geophones and providing electricity and Internet. The expedition cruise operator-based observing is an example of human production of data by visitors to the Arctic. The observers are cruise guests and guides, and their role is limited to making observations and taking measurements and photos. In both cases, if the data is to inform decision-making, it will need to be interpreted and analyzed by scientists and the findings made available to the appropriate decision-making bodies. In the third tested field-based data-gathering activity, the focus group discussions with resource users, the participants not only submit records to scientists but they also themselves interpret and discuss their records, and propose management interventions to the authorities. In this case, communicating findings and proposing decisions are in-built components of the monitoring process.

This document contains a description of the Data Governance Framework for the INTAROS project, with an updated version of the Data Management Plan (DMP). The Data Governance Framework defines the procedures for how data management is carried out in the project, including the planning, conducting and monitoring the preparation and distribution of data collections. The DMP describes how new datasets collected or generated by partners in the project, will be managed according to guidelines for FAIR data management in Horizon 2020. Data governance in INTAROS is pragmatic and geared towards supporting partners in preparing and publishing their data collections. The planning and monitoring activities are carried out by the Data Management Theme Leader and the leaders of the four data generating work-packages in the project. Partners generating data are responsible for making their collections available in line with the recommendations of the DMP. The Data Management Theme Leader, data centre partners (AWI, CNRS, FMI, IMR, IFREMER, ONC, RADI, RIHMI-WDC) and the leader of WP5 (“Data integration and management”) (Terradue) are responsible for providing support with technical aspects of data publication and distribution. INTAROS is pan-Arctic in scope and collect in situ observations, extract parameters from satellite data and model projections in several regions and across multiple spheres (themes). The focus areas of INTAROS include Coastal Greenland, North of Svalbard, Fram Strait, the Eurasian Basin, and (5) selected sites in Siberia, Finland, Canada and Alaska. Within these areas, INTAROS partners are collecting new observations and generating high-level data products from different spheres: (1) Atmosphere, (2) Ocean, (3) Sea ice, (4) Marine ecosystems, (5) Terrestrial, (6) Glaciology, (7) Natural hazards, (8) Community-based monitoring. This makes datasets collected or generated within INTAROS relevant for a number of research projects as well as for infrastructures such as EMODNET and GEOSS. Datasets collected or generated within these spheres by the time of writing are summarised in this document, based on the deliverables from WP 2 (“Exploitation of existing observing systems”), new datasets collected in WP 3 (“Enhancement of multidisciplinary in situ observing systems”) and WP 4 (“Enhance community-based observing programs for participatory research and capacity-building”), as well as upcoming model products and derived datasets from WP6 (“Applications of iAOS towards Stakeholders”). Datasets prepared for distribution in WP 2, 3 and 4 have also been registered in the INTAROS Data Catalogue, available at https://catalog-intaros.nersc.no/. This data catalogue will be updated with new datasets collected or generated during the remainder of the INTAROS project. The DMP recommends standards for metadata and data standards that INTAROS partners should prepare their datasets in, to make it easier for other scientists and stakeholders to reuse the data. Open source tools can help scientists generate metadata and data in standard formats, such as Rosetta, GDAL (Geospatial Data Abstraction Library), NetCDF utilities, and widely used programming languages, such as Python, MATLAB and R, offer libraries that can be used to write customised format converter tools. A dataset prepared in NetCDF format can be made publicly available using data publishing tools like the Thredds Data Server (TDS). INTAROS, together with the Useful Arctic Knowledge (UAK) project has organised several user meetings and one research schools, to build competence in data management within the INTAROS consortium. Additional competence building activities are planned in INTAROS; the training material developed will be made publicly available.

Based on a coupled ocean-sea ice model and its adjoint model, we evaluate the capacity of the existing Arctic Ocean observing system on capturing different aspects of the Arctic Ocean changes, using Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs). Subsequently, we produce a 10-year ocean-sea ice synthesis by assimilating all available observations into the system. The main findings are: 1) Moorings deployed in the Fram Strait and along the pathway of Atlantic inflow to the Arctic Ocean are critical to capture the remote-propagating signals. The existing mooring system needs to be enhanced. 2) Sea ice processes, especially sea ice concentration changes, are the dominant mode that is improved by data assimilation. The improvement benefits from the spatiotemporal coverage of sea ice concentration observations. 3) Changes in the temperature and salinity are tiny in the ice-covered region and are caused by enhanced air-sea interaction due to sea ice reduction. Although the availability of hydrographic profiles increased significantly over the past decades, its effects are not apparent in the data assimilation experiments.

An overview of information, products and services requested by users representing primarily the private commercial sector has been collected via INTAROS user survey supplemented with results from similar surveys performed by other projects and organisations together with information obtained by INTAROS consortium members in dialog with relevant user at meetings, workshops and conferences. Most important products: • Pre-operational phase o Model projections on the long-term (years) development o Risk assessment associated with safe navigation, deployment and recovery of gear, seabed mining, hydrocarbon extraction etc o Statistics and analysis based on existing data • Operational Phase o Operational Services – real-time observations and/or short-term forecasts (5-10 days) o Ship routing o Risk assessment Information on sea Ice (concentration, ice edge, drift thickness) and iceberg are central in the required product portfolio; but the surveys additionally revealed requests for meteorological parameters (pressure, wind, temperature, visibility, precipitation, humidity, icing) and oceanographic parameters (temperature, currents and waves, salinity, oxygen and chlorophyll). The users have very strong demands to resolution in space and time, quality and timeliness of the products they receive: • a horizontal resolution of down to 100 m especially for special ice products was articulated. • Updating frequency for the information are generally requested to be less than one day preferably down to a few hours. • Quality shall regularly be documented and the inclusion of uncertainty information as an integral part of the product is desirable • For operational services it is important that every product update is available in near real-time. For other types of products up to a few days are regarded as timely delivery. • For model forecast the most important forecasting period is the next 2-3 days for operational purposes, while longer forecasting periods 7-10 days are valuable for more long-term planning purposes. Due to the limited communication facilities in the Arctic region the delivery of the requested products represents a special challenge. This overview is a valuable tool for service providers to plan the production line. The required resolution in time and space indicates that satellite observations and model simulations will be key components in the product generation. In situ observations are however indispensable for such a production line to secure the quality of products generated based on satellite observations and numerical models, but do also serve as a valuable source of information for product generation in itself. The design and establishment of a fit-for-purpose sustained Arctic Observation System is therefore of utmost importance.

This document First implementation and operational use of the observing systems. Data delivery and report on results of the ocean and sea ice system, describes autonomous components of the Arctic observing system for ocean and sea ice measurements that were implemented during the first field season under INTAROS. Instruments and platforms described in D3.4 drift freely on the sea ice or in the water column (ice tethered platforms, ice buoys and floats), move along preprogrammed tracks (gliders) or measure autonomously at fixed locations (deep ocean moorings). An autonomous sensor package (FerryBox) and drone-based sensors are used to collect observations from the ships of opportunity. This document is intended to: −Review current status of autonomous mobile and fixed observing platforms and sensors used for collecting ocean and sea ice observations in the Arctic during the first INTAROS field season −Describe an ice tethered IAOOS-Equipex platform used for combined physical, atmospheric and sea ice measurements in the central Arctic Ocean and provided data −Describe new deep ocean BGC mooring deployed for the second INTAROS field season in the deep Nansen Basin −Describe SIMBA (Snow and Ice Mass Balance Array) platforms for sea ice measurements, deployed with INTAROS contribution and data provided by them −Describe deployment of new biogeochemical sensors for the FerryBox (pH/carbonate sensor, spectral absorption sensor and microplastic sampler) developed under INTAROS and provided data sets −Describe results from new endurance glider lines established under INTAROS in Fram Strait and north of Svalbard −Describe INTAROS contribution to an array of BGC Argo floats in the Baffin Bay observatory and data provided by the floats

This report presents a synthesis of the substantial assessment of Arctic observations within INTAROS.Since the assessed systems mainly belong to the European partners in the project, the assessment is unavoidably biased towards the European sector of the Arctic. The detailed results of the assessment can be found in previous deliverables (D2.1, D2.2, D2.4, D2.5, D2.7, D2.8 and D2.12). Also some higher-level recommendations for future improvements of Arctic observing are taken into account. The assessment addresses a substantial subset of Arctic observing systems, data collections and satellite products across scientific disciplines, also including some data repositories and a brief scientific gap analysis. In the assessment we analyzed sustainability, including funding, technical maturity and data handling for the entire chain from observation to users, including metadata procedures and availability of data. The gap analysis includes both technical characteristics, such as spatial and temporal coverage and resolution or accuracy, and a smaller set of scientific gap analyses where models and observations were used synergistically. Each characteristic of the observing systems were ranked from maturity 1 (lowest score) to maturity 6 (highest score) based on the results of the survey. In the synthesis wefirst ranked the systems according to general sustainability and then other characteristics were used. The range in maturity of sustainability varied from 1 to 6, and so did the other characteristics. A noteworthy result was that systems with high sustainability scores tended to score high also on other characteristics, such as data handling and technical maturity. Moreover, many systems with high maturity in sustainability, as well as in data handling and data availability, are supported by national or international monitoring or infrastructure programs. It is also noteworthy that several of these are mostly present at mid-latitudes, but poorly represented in the Arctic. For observations over Arctic land, the quality of some existing systems would benefit from being enhanced by new instruments or improved methods. As example, adequate observing of snow properties is problematic due to the high spatial variability of snow cover. While this also applies to hydrological observations, the situation improves as a result of large overarching international programmes. Observations of aerosols and some trace gases are also lacking in some specific regions. For the Arctic Ocean there is a lack of in-situ observing systems across all disciplines, which is connected to limited infrastructure provided by ships,icebreakers, and various types of autonomous observing platforms operating on sea ice with capacity to transfer data in near real-time.Subsurface observing systems such as bottom-anchored moorings and sea floor installations are robust and can operate autonomously over several year, but the data can only be delivered in delayed mode.In the atmosphere, icebreaker-based summer science expeditions provide the only reliable information on atmospheric vertical structure. While scientific expeditions likely provide the highest quality observations available for the Arctic Ocean region, the scores for almost all other aspects, sustainability as well as for data handling, in general and especially for atmospheric observations are among the lowest for vessel-based observations. Satellite observations provide the only possibility to obtain data with sufficient spatial and temporal coverage as well as resolution. Satellite data products have generally high score on data handling aspects, but for some data products the score on quality and uncertainty estimation is low. While retrieved temperature, and to a lesser extent, humidity at levels in the atmosphere is generally adequate for monitoring, satellite profiling of the atmosphere suffers from significant and seasonally varying biases and errors. Passive satellite sensing of clouds is also problematic; while some bulk products, such as cloud fraction, are useful during the sunlit season, more precise information, such as liquid water path, has high uncertainty as indicated by comparing different retrievals from the same set of sensors. In the dark season, when visible radiation channels vanish, most satellite cloud products are very unreliable. Regarding sea ice observations, there is significant uncertainty in the estimation of thickness and snow layer. There is also uncertainty in ice concentration in the summer season with melt-ponds on top of the ice. Traditionally, observation network assessments build on the network concept with a “comprehensive” level including all observations, a “baseline” level of an agreed subset of sustained observations, and a “reference” level, with observations adhering to specific calibrations and traceability criteria. An atmospheric example is the “comprehensive” global GCOS radiosounding network, and the “baseline” GUAN (GCOS Upper Air Network) and “reference” GRUAN (GCOS Reference Upper Air Network) networks. With the lack of in-situ observations and the logistical difficulties to deploy new stations, this concept does not work well in the marine part of the Arctic. In summary, we recommend to •Advance Arctic observing systems under national, international or regional programs that provide more sustainable funding than short-term research projects •Coordinate better between operational monitoring systems and research-funded observations, since both systems often use the same data and will have mutual benefit of collaboration •Improve the utilization of existing infrastructures on land and sea for more cost-effective collection of in situ data across multiple disciplines •Deploy more autonomous observing platforms in the sea ice areas for year-round operation and implement data collection from all types of ships operating in the Arctic ocean •Enhance the observing system on existing stations, including supersites, by use of new sensors and methods to validate satellite observations and support modelling and forecasting systems •Improve the exploitation of satellite data and coordinate better in situ and satellite observations for use in data assimilation, modelling and reanalyses •Clarify roles and responsibilities between data producers and managers and establish adequate funding mechanisms to support a functional data management system for multidisciplinary Arctic data., The reviewer's comments are not included in the present version, but are taken into account in the follow-up publications and in the Roadmap document (D1.10) developed during the final phase of the project.

The INTAROS project aims to improve access to and the quality of environmental measurements across the Arctic in a multi disciplinary manner. One key aspect of this work is documentation and collation of information about status of existing observing systems. This work has been undertaken as part of Work Package 2: Exploitation of existing observing systems. The main effort has been to collect important metadata about each of the observing systems by many of the project partners as well as third parties using a standardized set of questionnaires. Questions asked included, but were not limited to, reflections on observing system management. The replies to the questions provide valuable indicators of the observing system maturity following approaches undertaken in the H2020 GAIA-CLIM project [Thorne et al., 2017]. The results of the questionnaires were presented in deliverables D2.1, D2.4 and D2.7, which provided detailed qualitative descriptors of each observing system, divided into atmospheric, ocean and terrestrial domains, without any overall synthesis. The present report aims to undertake such an assessment of in-situ observing system maturity across the domains. It first selects 40 observing systems following reconciliation of cross-thematic systems and removal of those systems that did not provide adequate information. It then takes a series of cross-sections through those observing systems contributed by WP2 to elucidate strengths and weaknesses of the selected systems relative to state-of-the-art practices. I In the context of the system of systems architecture espoused by the Global Climate Observing System, the selected in-situ networks were assessed according to the three-tier maturity classification: (1) reference, (2) baseline and (3) comprehensive observation system, which was used in the H2020 GAIA-CLIM project.This GCOS system recognises that a system-of-systems approach an appropriate mix all three types represents the optimal solution.The assessment showed that the vast majority of the observing systems were operating at baseline and comprehensive levels across all domains, but only two systems attain reference level, which requires the application of metrological and management best practices in all aspects. Additional reference quality measurements would be highly desirable to complement existing capabilities, and several observing systems that may in future attain reference quality status are identified. It is clear that observing system maturity is intrinsically linked to the sustainability of support, both financial and expertise. Those observing systems that have sustainable support have better documentation, metadata, data management and uncertainty characterisation. Further work is required to ensure more sustainable support for Arctic observing programs in order to make observations more useable and widely available, in agreement with the FAIR principles [www.datafairport.org]

This document reports the activities of the Task 3.5, Deliverable 3.9 “First implementation of the observing system: data delivery and report on results of the distributed observing systems for atmosphere and land”. D3.9 focuses on (a) atmospheric observation of the main greenhouse gases (CO2and CH4) using ground, mobile and airborne eddy covariance observations to determine the atmospheric concentrations and fluxes in North slope of Alaska and Sweden; (b) trace gases monitoring of N2O, SF6, CO, O2/N2 using a flask sampler for the automated collection of air samples under standardized conditions; (c) effects of snow cover on surface energy balance and permafrost thermal regime; (d) observation with a spectro-albedometer at high temporal resolution, and VNA-based radar system to monitor soil, snow and surface vegetation proper-ties;(e)multiple airborne campaigns conducted in the Alaskan North Slope,Mackenzie River Delta, Canada,and the Lena River Delta, Siberia,assessing the composition and height of the atmospheric boundary layer as well as greenhouse gas concentrations; (e) development of a low-maintenance atmospheric observatory onboard of the Swedish research icebreaker Oden that include measurements of incoming broad-band radiation, surface temperature, cloud-base lidars and eddy covariance fluxes of CO2and CH4 Referenced materials and products in this report were compiled with inputs from the INTAROS partners of Task 3.5

This document presents the state-of-the-art in the implementation of new observing systems developed within the INTAROS project as well as the optimization of existing systems in Fram Strait. In addition, it reports on results from the observing systems and describes ways for the delivery of data retrieved by these systems. AWI developed the experimental system arcFOCE (Arctic Free Ocean Carbon Enrichment) that enables scientists to study impacts of ocean acidification on small, sediment-inhabiting deep-sea organisms. arcFOCE was deployed for its first long-term experiment in September/October 2018in 1500 m water depth at the LTER observatory HAUSGARTEN. In August/September 2019,a ROV was used to take sediment samples to study anticipated changes in bacterial and meiofaunal numbers, biomass and community composition due to artificially reduced pH values in bottom waters.Because these analyses are extremely time-consuming, data from the experiment will be available not before mid 2020. All data from the arcFOCE experiment will finally be stored in the PANGAEA data repository. CNRS-UIEM installed a passive acoustics system at Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, which is identical to another system already deployed and running in Greenland,to allow direct comparison of results from these monitoring systems in western and eastern part of the Fram Strait. Acoustic data from the two systems will finally be available via SEANOE (https://www.seanoe.org) or SEXTANT (https://sextant.ifremer.fr/). CNRS-LOV continued and improved their measurements at the AWIPEV CO2 time-series monitoring site in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.Time-series data generated by in-situ sensors in the fjord and in a Ferrybox flow-through system at AWIPEV is, to our knowledge, the first one at such high frequency. Raw data from the deployed sensors are available in near real-time: https://awipev-co2.obs-vlfr.fr. Data will be quality-controlled and uploaded to the World Data Center Pangaea in 2019-2020.

This document, describes the first implementation and results of use of INTAROS WP3 (Task 3.1) for the Coastal Greenland reference site, which is identified as a key location for freshwater output from the Greenland ice sheet to the ocean. The activities reported here from Task 3.1 describe the first field deployments and results for both offshore, onshore and on-ice instrumentation to monitor identified environmental variables, including: • snow cover on sea ice - for impact of freshening on the marine ecosystem • surface pCO2 and ocean acidification - for impact of freshening on CO2-uptake of the ocean • snow-water equivalent on the ice sheet - for reducing uncertainty in meltwater output to the ocean • precise positioning of ice sheet stations - for calibration for satellite-derived ice velocity maps and numerical weather prediction • new radiometer tilt and azimuth instrument for improved radiation correction – for improving radiometer data corrections • rain gauges on ice sheet stations – for capturing the transition from snow to rain of the precipitation on the Greenland ice sheet • instrument characterization of in-situ ice sheet albedo measurements – for better validation of satellite albedo products • Improvement of ice-penetrating radar system - for generating ice thickness data over ice-sheet outlet glaciers • passive acoustics for characterization of both physical and biological parts of the marine ecosystem – for studying the ice-driven dynamics of Arctic coastal ecosystems • improvement of under-ice monitoring – for observations of spring bloom and bio-optical/-geochemical properties

One of the specific objectives of INTAROS WP1 is to establish collaboration with research groups and other actors who play an important role to develop multidisciplinary observing systems for the Arctic. This report described the activities and results of the connections and collaboration during the first 2.5 years of the project. In this period INTAROS has been present and given presentations at ≈ 150 meetings, workshops and conferences in order to establish collaboration with other projects, organisations and stakeholder groups involved in Arctic observing systems. The development of collaboration is a continuous ongoing process, in particular collaboration with EU Polarnet and the other H2020 projects under the Arctic Cluster is in progress. Also, collaboration with other projects and programmes in Europe, North America and Asia is under development. This includes SAON, Arctic Science Summit Week, Arctic Observing Summit, European projects, and projects in USA, Canada, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. Such collaboration is required in order to build an integrated Arctic Observing System covering the pan-Arctic region. The collaboration includes participation in and organization of conference sessions, workshops, and stakeholder events across the pan-Arctic area. Furthermore, joint projects are established to fund more collaboration activities, including joint field experiments and data sharing agreements. Also MoUs are developed between institutions to enable long-term collaboration. In Europe, collaboration with Copernicus programme and various research infrastructure programmes is in progress, because these programmes have long-term funding perspectives and build on research priorities which incorporate Arctic observing. Through Copernicus services and Polar programmes under the Space Agencies, the production and delivery of satellite data for Arctic observing is growing strongly. The INTAROS consortium is well-connected to these programmes and exploits satellite data in a number of Arctic observing case studies. The connection with research groups, operational agencies and other actors who play a role in developing Arctic observing systems is an important prerequisite for the Roadmap, which is under development and will be a major deliverable in INTAROS. The plan was to establish a Pan-Arctic Observing Forum as a milestone towards the Roadmap, but this plan has been changed as a result of the collaboration with SAON. In the SAON Implementation plan, one of the goals is to “create a roadmap to well-integrated Arctic observing system” and INTAROS is invited to participate in this work. The role that was envisaged for the Pan-Arctic Observing Forum is already taken care of by SAON. It is therefore not necessary to establish this forum. Instead, INTAROS has now become a member of the SAON Roadmap Task Force, which has started to develop documents related to the Roadmap. Key milestones for the Roadmap work will be the Arctic Observing Summit/Arctic Science Summit Week in March and the Third Arctic Science Ministerial in autumn of 2020. The INTAROS Roadmap document is due in autumn of 2021. This mean that the INTAROS Roadmap can incorporate the outcomes from the Ministerial meeting.

Arctic people live in and observe the Arctic environment year-round. Intimate knowledge of the environment and environmental changes is fundamental to the survival of these people who frequently depend on natural resources for their livelihood. This report presents a review of the capabilities, good practices, opportunities and barriers of community-based environment monitoring programmes in the Arctic, with a focus on decision-making for resource management. The review builds upon previous work that contributed to the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON, Task #9; Johnson et al. 2016). We first identified 170 community-based monitoring programmes in the Arctic from the peer-reviewed literature and from searching the internet. Then we chose 30 programmes that reflect the widest possible set of situations and issues for more in-depth analysis. We reviewed the scientific literature and discussed experiences at workshops with practitioners and community members engaged in monitoring programmes in Nuuk in 2016 and in Fairbanks, Quebec and the Russian communities of Komi and Zhigansk in 2017. Key findings are summarized below. Capabilities. There is a long history of involving community members of all ages in monitoring the Arctic. Programmes involve various organizations, including community groups, all levels of government, universities, schools and the private sector. Programmes monitor biological attributes, abiotic phenomena and socio-cultural attributes, often within the same framework. The observing domains that receive the greatest attention are ”land/cryosphere” and ”ocean/sea-ice”. By their nature, community-based monitoring programmes tend to focus on those issues of greatest concern to local stakeholders, thus having considerable potential to influence on-the-ground management activities. The programmes complement scientist-executed monitoring by utilizing different methodologies, engaging the experience of Indigenous knowledge holders and other long-term residents who have significant knowledge of the environment, and by enabling an increase in sample size or density, area and time. Most Arctic community-based monitoring programmes make observations between 61-70°N. They cover all the Arctic biomes with the exception of ice desert. Data are typically collected throughout the year. The majority of the programmes involve Indigenous knowledge. The programmes inform decisions at local, regional and national levels and often provide insight into processes and changes not captured in agency or research-driven monitoring programmes. Thus, they contribute to better informed decisions or better documented processes within the key economic sectors in the Arctic: - Fisheries, - Forestry, - Herding, - Hunting, - Mineral and hydrocarbon extraction, - Shipping, and - Tourism. Methods originating from both the natural and social sciences are often used, increasingly also drawing on Indigenous knowledge for programme design. New technologies enable the programmes to collect data and communicate findings with greater certainty than ever before. Some programmes have made their data publicly available, but few have links to data discovery portals or global repositories. The programmes have the potential to contribute to monitoring progress in relation to ten international environmental agreements of particular relevance to the Arctic. They could also contribute to achieving 16 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Good practices. Arctic community-based monitoring programmes are diverse, with many successful approaches. By providing actionable information to management authorities and community members, the programmes inform many kinds of decisions. Web based knowledge management platforms are increasingly used for data storage and communication. Credible knowledge products are obtained in many ways, including through careful planning, thorough guidance of the participants, and validation of data through different approaches. Many programmes follow the principles of “Free, Prior and Informed Consent” and contribute, directly or indirectly, to protecting the rights of the Indigenous and local communities. Co-design of programmes and co-production of knowledge can help ensure relevance and utility of monitoring data. Opportunities and barriers. Community-based monitoring offers strong potential for linking environmental monitoring to awareness raising and enhanced decision-making at all levels of resource management. Moreover, community-based monitoring programmes could provide hypotheses and data that potentially could fill gaps in climate modelling and in research within such areas as risk management, safety, and food and water security. Community-based monitoring is also a way to fulfill the rights of the citizens to take part in decisions that are related to their local and regional areas and to be able to take part in the knowledge production in order to develop and safeguard their environment. One barrier to maximizing the potential of community-based monitoring for decision-making has been the perception that information from local people is subjective and anecdotal. Today, a growing body of literature demonstrates that where Indigenous and local knowledge has been systematically gathered, the data collected by community members are comparable to those arising from professional scientists. Another barrier is that management authorities are sometimes slow at operationalizing or acting upon community observations in their decision-making. Regardless of this, involving people who face the daily consequences of environmental challenges in monitoring can help in adapting decision-making on natural resource management to local realities in a rapidly changing Arctic.

To understand the quality of the existing observing system in the Arctic to capture important elements of change over the Arctic we performed a gap analysis with respect to the Arctic Ocean, the Arctic atmosphere and the high-latitude carbon-monitoring network. The main points of the findings are: 1) The ocean observing system: The satellite altimeter system is a critical system to monitor the high-frequency variability. Due to the presence of sea ice in winter time, most of the area can be observed only every 5-10 days, leading to large observing gaps. Closing the gap can be done with new arrays of bottom pressure sensor ssuch as tide gauges or moorings in the ocean bottom. In addition, high-frequency transport measurements are required in the Fram, Davis Straights, the Barents Sea Opening, and north of the Laptev Sea. On the seasonal cycle, bottom pressure observations from GRACE are required to monitor the mass related variability and sea-ice observations are crucial for monitoring the halosteric related variability. On decadal time scales,it is important to have a sufficient hydrographic observing component capable of capturing temperature and salinity changes over the entire Arctic Ocean from the surface to the bottom. New algorithms that can recover sea level from sea ice covered areas may help to improve current satellite altimeter systems,and to improve the ability to monitor the Beaufort Gyre. 2) The atmosphere observing system: The density of the existing radiosonde observation network is not the most critical factor for the quality of T850 forecast. Instead,the results pointed out that stations on small islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean are critical for the quality of analysis. The Central Arctic Ocean and the Northern North-Atlantic would prob-ably benefit most from new sounding stations. Efforts to improve the quality of radiosonde observations, especially in Russia, would be very beneficial for the quality of T850 forecasts in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Current data assimilation systems are probably not adequate to optimally exploit the information from the existing observational network. 3) GHG fluxes observing system: The existing network of pan-Arctic atmospheric monitoring sites provides continuous, well-calibrated observations on atmospheric greenhouse gas mixing ratios, generating basic information to quantify surface-atmosphere greenhouse gas exchange processes for most regions in Canada, Europe and Western Russia; also the Arctic Ocean receives good overall data coverage. Regions showing limited data coverage include the Russian Far East, Western Alaska, and the Eastern Canadian Provinces. Areas where footprint coverage gaps exist seasonally include parts of Western Russia and Central Siberia. Investments in observational infrastructure in any of these areas would be beneficial to increase the overall coverage of the pan-Arctic atmospheric network for greenhouse gases.

A major goal of WP2: “Exploitation of existing observing systems” is to analyze strengths, weaknesses, gaps in spatial/temporal coverage, and missing monitoring parameters of the existing observation networks and databases in relation to the requirements from different user groups. This report is prepared to assess the existing ocean and sea ice observing systems in the Arctic, primary those where the INTAROS partners have responsibilities, but also where the partners contribute to larger, international observing systems. A core activity in the first 18 months of WP2 has been to conduct a survey where partners have responded to three sets of questionnaires: Questionnaire A: Existing Arctic In-situ Observing Systems, Questionnaire B: In-situ data collections, and Questionnaire C: Satellite Products. The survey has covered the scientific disciplines addressed in INTAROS, including atmosphere, ocean and terrestrial disciplines. The focus of the survey has been on in-situ observing systems, which is the priority of INTAROS, while satellite observing systems are treated more generally. This report therefore provides more details on selected in-situ systems and data collections than previous surveys and inventories. The reason or the detailed survey is that INTAROS will develop and demonstrate machine-to-machine operations between data repositories, following the FAIR data management principle (“Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable”). An expected outcome of the survey is identification of selected observing systems and data collections that will be used further in the project, especially in WP5 (“Data integration and management”) and WP6 (“Application of iAOS towards stakeholders”). A major part of the report is a status description of in situ observing systems that are operated by the partners (Section 2). In INTAROS we identify a set of data collected from the same types of instruments and platforms over time to be an observing system (for example CTD surveys by ships, network of moorings, glider surveys). An observing system is often defined programmatically, where many institutions agree to establish and operate a network of instruments collecting a set of standard measurements and agree on sharing and exploitation of the data (for example International Arctic Buoy Programme). We have also analysed selected in-situ data collections, which can be part of one or more observing systems, or can be a stand-along data set. This analysis has been more detailed, addressing spatial/temporal coverage, uncertainty characterisation and metadata description. Requirements for observing systems is discussed in Section 3, where requirements to platforms, instruments and data management are central. For in-situ data, it is most important to focus on data at level 0 (raw data), level 1 and level 2 (physical, biological variables). These data are needed by different users along the downstream processing chain. Level 3 and level 4 data are gridded data, usually coming from satellite data and reanalysis fields, with input from in-situ data where these are available. Ocean modelling, reanalysis of forecasting are important users of data from level 2 and higher. Requirements to observational data are described in documents from programmes such as WMO, GCOS, Copernicus. Other users are marine ecosystem management, marine hazards and environmental monitoring. The assessment of the observing systems is described in Section 4. The assessment criteria include the spatial and temporal coverage of the data collection, scientific-technical support, sustainability of funding, data management, data usage, user feedback and others. The criteria are assessed on a scale from 1 (low maturity) to 6 (high maturity). The technical readiness level for all the instruments is generally high, showing that the observing systems are generally robust. For biogeochemical, observations there are fewer automated systems compared to physical observation systems. This is reflected in much less collection of biogeochemical data compared to physical data. For the ice-covered Arctic, there is a huge gap in collection in-situ measurements Uncertainty characterisation and metadata have mid to low maturity, while data management varies a lot. It is noteworthy that data management becomes a discipline in itself because the amount of data grows very rapidly. Therefore, data producers and data managers require experts and training to be able to do a good job. Recommendations to develop and maintain in-situ observing systems are described in Section 5. There are significant efforts to build observing systems by many countries, organisations and projects in the Pan-Arctic region. The amount of data collected in the Arctic is growing and there are numerous initiatives to establish observing systems for collection of data in different disciplines. Many recommendations deal with technology development, collaboration and organisation. However, the funding of the observing systems is to a large extent dependent on time-limited research and observation projects. These systems are therefore not sustainable and there is a high risk that many will not be maintained in the future. Some satellite Earth Observation programmes, such as Copernicus, have long-term perspectives and funding plans for 5 – 10 years, but most of the observations from in-situ systems on ground and in water have no long-term funding. It is therefore essential to develop and maintain long-term in-situ observing systems to monitor trends, and to detect natural variations and human impacts on climate, environment, livelihoods and societies. This requires mechanisms for long-term funding to be established. This report only provides preliminary results of the assessment, because organisations outside of the consortium are not yet included in the survey. It is therefore planned to update the assessment later in the project.

This report presents a selection of data products from existing ocean and sea ice measurements under WP2 Task 2.2 (Exploitation of existing data towards improved data products). This is done by applying various methodologies for data processing to derive of geophysical and biogeochemical quantities that can be used for further work in the project, especially in WP5 (Data management and integration) and in WP6 (Applications towards stakeholders). This report is complementary to D2.1 (Report on present observing capacities and gaps: ocean and sea ice observing systems), which includes an assessment of existing data collections based on an on-line survey (https://intaros.nersc.no/node/651). NERSC presents acoustic data from several field experiments in the Fram Strait carried out over a period of 110years. The presentation includes both active and passive acoustic data, description of how the experiments were conducted, processing steps from raw data to the resulting data products, and standardisation of formats for data and metadata. UiB and GEUS present an earthquake catalogue for the Arctic region (described in D2.8). AWI presents the Unified Database for Arctic and Subarctic hydrography (UDASH), which includes all available data for the period 1980-2015. This archive is updated yearly and is available from the PANGAEA repository. IOPAN presents a reprocessed hydrography data set for the Nordic Seas and the Fram Strait area collected by RV Oceania from 1988 to 2017 (the AREX programme). The data set is used for higher-level products such as time series of transports, heat content and dynamic topography. IOPAN also presents data from the A-TWAIN moorings north of Svalbard, deployed from 2012-2017. These data includes profiles of CTD and current data, which are used to present time series of temperature, salinity and currents. Furthermore, IOPAN presents Argo floats in the Nordic Seas and hydrographic data sets from Svalbard fjords. DTU Space presents satellite radar altimeter products from 26 years of data in the Arctic (ERS-1/2, EnviSat and CryoSat2) showing sea level anomaly, mean sea surface height, and mean dynamic topography. Aarhus University presents the Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring Programme, which collects an extensive range of physical, chemical and biological variables, with focus on two sampling sites: the sub-arctic Nuuk in West Greenland and high-Arctic Zackenberg in East Greenland. The programme allows both quantification of climate change and also an analysis of the potential biological consequences in both terrestrial, limnic and marine systems. For marine research, the CTD observations in Young Sound from 2003 to 2015 is important, showing changes in the water masses of the fjord. Ifremer presents satellite sea ice drift products from CERSAT, while University of Bremen presents satellite-derived multiyear ice concentration and thin ice thickness products. Finally, NIVA presents in situ datasets for Arctic carbonate system chemistry, nutrients, and phytoplankton biomass. The data sets include 1) surveyed existing data collections, and 2) analyzed the data collections for data coverage and sampling bias. The next step in WP2 is to select data sets and repositories to be prepared for use in the Integrated Arctic Observing System. The survey of existing systems will continue in the second half of 2018 in order to prepare a more extensive assessment of the observing systems.