During the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2023 in Vienna, EuroGOOS and Arctic ROOS, together with international partners, held a roundtable meeting to discuss the prospect of developing a GOOS Regional Alliance (GRA) for the Arctic. The meeting summarised the current landscape of ocean and sea ice observing networks and systems in the Arctic, presented results of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of developing an Arctic GRA, and an overview of existing GRAs established within the GOOS system. Discussions followed on why an Arctic GRA is needed, what it could potentially look like, and how to work towards it.
The consensus of meeting participants was that an Arctic GRA, or other pan-Arctic alliance for ocean observing, is needed. Emphasis was made on the need to involve different stakeholders in the design of such a system from the beginning, with particular involvement of Arctic Indigenous communities and other users. A task team will be established to develop a process towards realisation of an Arctic GRA, with key milestones for broad community input planned at the Arctic Circle Assembly in October 2023 and the Arctic Observing Summit in March 2024.
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