Over 110 polar scientists gathered in January in Bergen, Norway to kick-­off a new EU Horizon2020 project INTAROS - Integrated Arctic Observation System. The Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center in Bergen, Norway and professor Stein Sandven is coordinating the INTAROS: Integrated Arctic Observation System Horizon2020 project awarded under EU call for Blue Growth.

INTAROS is one of four projects included in the EU´s efforts for increased focus on the Arctic and is an important contribution to the implementation of EU´s Arctic Strategy during the next five years. Also, the first ever Arctic science ministerial held in 2016 concluded in a Joint Statement on increased international collaboration on Arctic science and was signed by 25 nations and the European Union.

INTAROS will accordingly develop an efficient integrated Arctic Observation System by extending, improving and unifying existing and evolving systems in the different parts of the Arctic. The project will capitalize on existing observing systems and databases of atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and terrestrial data as the backbone of the INTAROS Integrated Arctic Observation System. The project will combine existing distributed data repositories with the new observations gathered and provide tools for data discovery, aggregation, analysis and visualization. A seamless information platform will facilitate easy access for users and stakeholders for a better understanding of the environmental changes in the Arctic. INTAROS will also install new and dedicated instrumentation to measure physical, chemical, biological and ecological parameters for the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and terrestrial environment. These measurements will fill information gaps complementing remotely sensed data and improving model predictions for the Arctic.

The project will implement and demonstrate applications combining information from local and scientific observation systems to support decision-makers and stakeholder on implementation of sustainable management in the Arctic. The international cooperation within and beyond Europe will be essential for the outcome of the project. A Pan-­Arctic forum will be set up to support formulation of agreements and collaboration across EU member states, non-­EU countries and transnational organizations.

At the start of the project INTAROS brings together expertise from 49 partner organizations in 20 different countries in Europe, North America and Asia with the long-­term goal to implement an integrated sustainable Arctic Observation System for future generations.