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Background:

SIOS is one of three new proposals from Norway prepared for the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) updated Roadmap and the proposal is endorsed by the Norwegian Ministry of Research and Education.

The propsal is submitted by the University Centre in Svalbard, the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Research Council of Norway (RCN.

SIOS is supported by:
• The Norwegian National Committee on Polar Research
• The Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany
• The French Polar Institute Paul Emil Victor (IPEV)
• University of Groningen and The Willem Barentsz Polar Institute
• University of Rostock - Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics
• The Natural Environment Research Council (Nerc), U.K.
• Institute of Geophysics - Polish Academy of Sciences (IGF-PAS)
• EISCAT Scientific Association
• Finnish Meteorological Institute
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• The University of Oslo
• The University of Tromsø
• The University of Bergen
• Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU)

The ESFRI Roadmap identifies new Research Infrastructure (RI) of pan-European interest corresponding to the long term needs of the European research communities, covering all scientific areas, regardless of possible location. Potential new RI (or major upgrade) identified are likely to be realized in the next 10 to 20 years.

In 2008 the ESFRI Roadmap will be updated and the establishment of the Svalbard Arctic Earth Observing System is proposed as one of the new European Research Infrastructures.

The SIOS facilities described in the application are designed to be a major building block of a Sustained Arctic Observing System (SAON), building on the recommendations put forward by AON.

A large number of research and monitoring facilities in Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund, Barentsburg, Hornsund, Svea, Bear Island and Hopen, as well as a number of research vessels, are already in place, please see appendix 1 further down.

Synthesis description
IPCC, ACIA and UNEP all point towards the High Arctic as a key region in global environmental change. The impact of climate change, pollution and other pressures on the environment appear sooner and with more severe consequences in the High Arctic compared to regions at lower latitudes closer to the pollution sources and population centres. This makes the High Arctic an early warning region for global warming.

Due to its geographical location and extensive research infrastructure as well as easy access and good living conditions, Svalbard is uniquely suited as the European hub in High Arctic research and as a node in the planned Sustained Arctic Observing Network (SAON):

1. Svalbard provides excellent opportunities for studies of ecosystem changes following global environmental change
   
   
2. Oceanic and atmospheric transport patterns prevail in the Svalbard region, allowing for studies of environmental pollution as well as its effects on the food chain
3. Svalbard is well positioned to observe and analyse the Changing Arctic ice cover as well as its albedo
   
   
4. Svalbard's position underneath the magnetospheric cusp allows for unique studies of the energy balance between the layers of the atmosphere, from the borders of space to the surface
   
   
5. The location of Svalbard and the High Arctic provides for dense satellite monitoring

The research infrastructure in Svalbard is extensive:

1. Research organizations from 20 countries are present on a regular basis, operating a wide variety of advanced facilities, ranging from large scale radars to numerous field stations and a variety of research vessels
   
   
2. Norway has established an international university in Longyearbyen (UNIS) with students and staff from 25 countries
   
   
3. Ny-Ålesund has been developed into an international, high standard field station focusing on environmental and climate research
   
   
4. Svalbard is accessible all year round because of its advanced community infrastructure and its relatively mild climate
   
   
5. Svalbard has the highest available data bandwidth in the High Arctic
   
   

Objective of SIOS
The goal of the SIOS proposal is to establish an Arctic Earth Observing System in and around Svalbard that integrates the studies of geophysical, chemical and biological processes from all research and monitoring platforms.

This will be done through:

1. Organize all infrastructure and all research and monitoring activities into four observation platforms being land-based, sea-based, glacier/ice-based and space/air-based
   
   
2. Assess the present infrastructure and activities to identify gaps and weaknesses in the system. Invest in additional infrastructure and activities to close these gaps
   
   
3. Establish a Knowledge Centre in Longyearbyen for data assessment, storage and delivery, education and outreach, cooperative efforts, and input to Earth System modeling
   
   
4. Take actions to coordinate the SIOS initiative with complementary ESFRI efforts as well as other Earth Observation Systems and related modelling efforts

Preparatory phase 2008-2010:

• Gap analysis and technical design studies of all observational platforms under the Norwegian national infrastructure roadmap
  
  
• Designing and organizing the Knowledge Centre, setting up the board and recruiting management

Construction phase 2010->:

• Implementing new instruments and validation programs, based on gap analysis
  
  
• Establishing integrated database services
  
  
• Recruiting personnel and starting up the Knowledge Centre

Operation 2012->:

• Full operation of the European Hub and Node in SAON.

Decommissioning:

• Ny-Ålesund Science Plan (http://www.ssf.npolar.no/pages/baseNyAa.htm)
  
  
• Norwegian Strategy for Polar Research (updated 2008)
  
  
• Svalbard Environmental Act (www.sysselmannen.svalbard.no/eng)
  

Downloadable documents (Pdf)

Support for SIOS: