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Polar View products and services are typically designed to provide support to user operations. The dynamic nature of the environment requires regular monitoring and timely response to aid in user planning and decision-making. A by-product of the services is a time history of the environmental parameters monitored throughout the season and from year to year. Although the utility of the product for the operational user diminishes with time after an image is acquired, the products are meaningful to other users, particularly in the form an archive containing a continuous historical record. Polar View services are a very important information source for those who must assess and make decisions on climate change. Therefore a high quality, annual report of Polar View Climate Change Indicators will be produced. The indicators will be used by international and national assessment and outreach programs and will be available for future Arctic Climate Impact Assessments undertaken by the Arctic Council. An annual report on Polar View climate change indicators will be produced. Background Polar View provides services focused on meeting operational needs related to marine shipping, water management, safe travel, search and rescue, meteorological prediction and environmental protection. Each service is provided at intervals and through a format and delivery mechanism that is most useful to the respective end users and ultimately conforming to standards such as INSPIRE. In general the data are not used to examine trends and are not interpreted in relation to climate change. Many of these data sets have the potential to be developed into indicators that, over the years, would grow in value and contribute to assessment and early warning of climate change impacts in the Arctic. The recent release by the Arctic Council of the first Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA 2004) focused attention on the regional and global implications of the rapidly-changing Arctic climate. The ACIA report identifies research and monitoring needs for improvement of future assessments: "Continuation of long-term records is crucial, along with upgrading and expanding the observing systems that monitor snow and ice features, runoff from major rivers, ocean parameters and changes in vegetation, biodiversity and ecosystem processes." (ACIA 2004, p. 122). Part of this upgrading of arctic monitoring is making better use of available information. Polar View produces datasets for operational purposes that can also be used to monitor changes in ocean, ice and land features. Selected datasets from the Polar View services can be analysed and presented in the form of Arctic climate change indicators. As with the services currently provided, to be effective and used, these indicators must be provided at intervals and through formats and delivery mechanisms that are useful to the identified end users. This proposal is aimed at meeting the needs of those engaged in assessing and reporting at the national and international level on the status, trends and implications of climate change in the Arctic. Environmental Indicators The most useful environmental indicators are simple measurements that can be used to represent a more complex situation. Examples of climate change indicators are: changes in sea level, trends in the position of glacier fronts, and length of ice-free periods on lakes and rivers. Indicators are normally selected based on criteria including: relevant to people and the environment, reliable and long-term measurements, and clear relationship to the force of change in question. Indicators are used to provide an overview of a situation and a focal point for explaining trends and consequences of environmental change. With the use of effective graphics and clear, accessible text, they can be effective methods of communicating information on the state of the environment. The work will be performed by UNEP/GRID-Arendal. They have 15 years experience in the development of indicators as tools for state of environment reporting. Methodology developed through UNEP/GRID-Arendal has been applied throughout the world, for countries, regions and urban areas. GRID-Arendal contributes to UNEP's state of environment reporting (GEO: Global Environment Outlook) and leads the development of the Polar sections of the annual reports (Yearbooks) and the 5-year reports (GEO 4 will be released in 2007). Methods A set of Polar View climate change indicators will be developed by UNEP/GRIDArendal, with assistance from Polar View scientists and with guidance from experts in environmental assessment and climate change. Indicators will be based on the existing and new Polar View services. Examples of Potential Indicators Developed from Polar View Services
Each indicator dataset will be presented graphically, with photos and easily understood descriptions of the dataset, trends, implications and significance. The indicator set will be distributed through an annual publication and the Internet, and will be promoted with national and international organizations engaged in assessing and reporting on the state of the environment. As Polar View expands its geographic coverage and its services, new indicators will be added. Steps in Project Development 1. Establish an expert advisory group including Polar View, climate change scientists and national and international practitioners in the field of environmental indicators. 2. Develop (with assistance from Polar View and guidance from the advisory group) a draft small set of indicators and a communications plan, ensuring the indicator set is linked with national and international reporting mechanisms and is coordinated with ACIA follow-up. The plan will include definition of audiences, consideration of web and print publication, formats, and frequency and method of updating. 3. Distribute the draft indicators and communications plan for wider review; finalize. 4. Produce the initial small set of indicators according to the plan. 5. Distribute and promote the indicators, following the communications plan. 6. As Polar View services are expanded and added to, undertake a thorough revision and expansion of the initial indicator set. Ongoing activities will include regularly reviewing, updating and expanding the indicators, promoting the indicator set, reviewing its effectiveness in summarizing and communicating aspects of Arctic climate change, and publishing updates (including an annual report). The expert advisory group will continue to provide input on at least an annual basis. Timeline Year 1: Develop, through consultation, the first set of indicators and produce the first annual report (steps 1 through 4) Year 2: Promote the indicators (step 5) and review, revise and expand the indicators following the initial expansion of Polar View (step 6) and ongoing activities Year 3: and following: Ongoing activities |
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