The Alaska Ocean Observing System's Past and future presence in the Arctic

The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) is the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Regional Association (RA) responsible for coordinating statewide monitoring for Alaska's nearly 44,000 miles of coastline and offshore environments. The Alaska coastline is larger than that of any other RA territory as well as the combined seaboard of the United States (US). It is also the only US regional observing system that includes a polar observing component in the Arctic. The effects of climate change in Alaska are already evidenced by the steady decline of Arctic summer sea ice extent and concentration, increased wildfires, thawing permafrost, increasing ocean acidification (OA) and recognizable ecosystem shifts. Other concerns include increased marine traffic, especially through the Bering Strait and across the Arctic Ocean region, ongoing industrial activities, escalating coastal erosion and inundation affecting many coastal subsistence communities, and physical and biological ramifications from the rapid and dramatic retreat of sea ice over the past 30 years. Addressing these changes including mitigation, adaptation and management of resources (e.g., fisheries) requires sustainable, reliable and accessible marine information from both ambient monitoring activities and process oriented research projects. The AOOS conceptual build out plan for the Alaskan Arctic prioritizes core monitoring platforms and activities for safe marine operations, improved storm and hazard response, and integrated data products for ecosystem assessments and climate trends. In this paper, we summarize how AOOS approaches this mission, and discuss actions currently underway in the Arctic, including the ongoing development of the Arctic Data Integration Portal.