Physical Oceanography Community of Practice

Coordinating research of the physical oceanography of the Arctic Ocean

Scope
Contributors
Team Leaders
Deliverables

Scope of Activities

The Physical Oceanography Community of Practice was formed to build a community of scientists, program managers, and stakeholders to help coordinate current and future research efforts in the physical oceanography of the Arctic Ocean, its connections to other Earth system components, and the human system. It contributes to the goals and objectives of the Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026.

Contributors

Team Leaders

Wei Cheng
University of Washington

Jaclyn Clement Kinney
Naval Postgraduate School

Deliverables from the Arctic Research Plan

DATA 1 Encourage and implement FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and CARE (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics) data management principles through enhanced coordination and collaboration across multiple levels in Arctic research.

DATA 1.1 Identify verified points of contact (e.g., agency champions, data practitioners, Arctic residents, Tribal organizations) and their areas of expertise and interests, and encourage them to join the Data Management Collaboration Team on IARPC Collaborations. As part of developing the points of contact, identify and track representation across many axes (disciplines/sectors, IARPC experience, career stage, for example) to ensure a representative group of contributors.
DATA 1.2 In order to build community buy-in and promote sustained efforts, regularly update and maintain the activities and progress related to data management on IARPC Collaborations. These efforts will ensure transparency, continuous engagement, and alignment with the FAIR and CARE data principles.
DATA 1.3 Convene quarterly seminars, discussions, and training sessions on FAIR and CARE data management in collaboration with other IARPC collaboration teams and communities of practice. These sessions will address data-related topics that are of interest across different teams or specific to a few teams, with the goal of advancing and supporting the data-related deliverables within this implementation plan. Ensure that presenters and contributors provide a broad range of perspectives and expertise. Develop a common format and structure (e.g., questions, prompts) for team meetings to help elicit and articulate perspectives on all aspects of FAIR and CARE to support work towards the community summary/synthesis products.
DATA 1.5 Develop an end-to-end Arctic data management system that includes data submission, metadata curation, data archival, and data access. Overall, these data management services will improve Arctic data FAIR compliance and interoperability, as well as streamline long-term data preservation and archival.
DATA 1.6 Support the development of an Integrated Arctic Ecosystem Toolkit that leverages existing data servers to allow for the synthesis of public hydrographic and satellite-derived environmental measurements with a diverse array of biodiversity data. Building the tools to connect these datastreams will shorten the time required for each ecosystem health assessment, enabling rapid management response for resilience. By including publicly available observations from NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA ‘Omics, and academic-led ocean observatories, as well as publicly available observations derived from open-source community science platforms, this toolkit will provide a critical holistic integration platform for the Arctic region. By further developing tools to foster the integration of non-public datastreams alongside the integrated biodiversity observations, this toolkit will serve a diverse array of federal, state, local, and community partners.
DATA 1.7 Support a catalog of systems (a registry of polar observing networks) that conduct or coordinate polar observation and monitoring. This resource will advance beyond a proof of concept through an iterative process with outreach, community engagement, collaboration, metadata curation, and web usability testing. In concert, software design and development will enable a scalable technology architecture, resulting in a fully operational, and encompassing tool for discovery. This project will also include a polar observing site discovery tool: an innovative demonstration of aggregating documentation for thousands of research and monitoring sites, stations, facilities, observatories, supersites, buoys, moorings, and community-based observations with a view to interoperability. The end result will be a single-window search for the discovery of observing assets within and across a multitude of networks.
DATA 1.8 Convene a series of webinars on the incorporation of Indigenous data sovereignty principles into Arctic data management. These sessions will aim to embed CARE data principles in the data management plan process and to explore and learn about the possibility of establishing tribally managed CARE-structured data centers. The goal is to ensure that Arctic communities have authority and control over their data, with an eye on future implementation plans and the Arctic Research Plan.
DATA 1.9 Actively engage with and support expert and advisory panel work through the US Arctic Observing Network (US AON), the Sustaining Arctic Observing Network (SAON)’s Arctic Roadmap for Observing and Data Systems (Arctic ROADS), and the Arctic Data Committee in developing Arctic observing and data systems plans. Additionally, support U.S. engagement in and the implementation of data-related recommendations from the Arctic Observing Summit. These efforts will ensure that the United States contributes to and benefits from international coordination and collaboration on Arctic data management.

RISK 1 Summarize currently available data and information requirements associated with hazard and risk mitigation, adaptation, and response efforts. Synthesize community-led activities and information to identify potential needs for future efforts.

RISK 1.1 Conduct a study identifying where information used in decision-making and planning around risks and hazards can be improved through access to new or additional data sources. This study should consider a wide range of activities associated with ongoing responses to common and emerging hazards, including risk reduction efforts and emergency preparedness and response. The scope of the study will be expanded to include information on tsunamis and volcanoes.
RISK 1.2 Share findings of RISK 1.1 as a means to (1) spur additional research and science communication aimed at addressing unmet needs for planning, prevention, response, and recovery and (2) inform time-sensitive decision-making and planning processes.
RISK 1.3 Develop a network that brings together scientists, the emergency management community, and key agency contacts to share knowledge, identify new and emerging challenges, and inform decision-making and operations through research.

RISK 2 Update and improve the “Statewide Threat Assessment: Identification of Threats from Erosion, Flooding, and Thawing Permafrost in Remote Alaska Communities.”

RISK 2.1 Identify the top threats/hazards to communities and critical remote state and federal government infrastructure in the state of Alaska that should be included in the Statewide Threat Assessment. This might include coastal and river erosion, flooding, thawing permafrost, and changes in the seasonal snowpack.
RISK 2.2 Upon completion of RISK 2.1, establish a data collection and collation plan to include mechanisms to collect threat/hazard data that may not be readily available.
RISK 2.3 Collect and integrate disparate threat/hazard information and perform modeling and analysis to understand where natural and human-made threats and hazards pose a risk to Arctic communities.

SYSTEMS 1 Advance understanding of Arctic amplification and the associated connections with lower latitudes.

SYSTEMS 1.1 Provide funding opportunities for investigator-driven modeling and observational studies that focus on the following aspects of Arctic amplification: (1) ice-albedo feedback; (2) impacts of atmospheric and oceanic circulation on Arctic amplification; and/or (3) transport of heat, moisture, and pollutants between Arctic and lower latitudes. Share knowledge and synthesize results arising from these studies.
SYSTEMS 1.3 Provide opportunities to support and coordinate research to enhance the understanding of connections between Arctic and global ocean circulation with a particular focus on Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

TCEP 1 Strengthen and streamline Tribal consultation processes related to Arctic research activities by enhancing coordination, transparency, and accessibility across IARPC Agencies and those engaged in Arctic research.

TCEP 1.1 Identify and engage with IARPC Federal Agencies and associated entities that have the largest volume of Arctic research activities that may affect Alaska Native Villages and ANCSA corporations. Characterize the type of activities that fall into this category, and identify opportunities for coordination and efficiency, as well as good practices and lessons learned.
TCEP 1.2 Develop a report of Tribal and ANCSA corporation consultations and engagement practices conducted by IARPC Federal Agencies and associated entities as they relate to Arctic research. This will include compiling a report on consultation practices (e.g., federal Tribal and ANCSA corporation consultations ) across IARPC Federal Agencies and associated entities using consistent metrics, highlighting key processes, transparency measures, and community engagement and reporting expectations. The report will include agency-specific consultation practices, links, and a clear outline of how Alaska Native and local community input is collected and used.
TCEP 1.3 Enhance IARPC’s Tribal Engagement Resources. This will include designing a strategy for leveraging the IARPC website as a centralized hub for Tribal consultation opportunities, reporting mechanisms, and accessible guidance for Tribes and Tribal entities. It will also include developing resources for Arctic researchers, including best practices and engagement guidelines that support long-term partnerships with Alaska Native Villages and ANCSA corporations.

TIA 1 Survey federally funded research technology.

TIA 1.1 Strategically engage externally, across IARPC, and within the Technology Innovation and Application Collaboration Team.
TIA 1.2 Use the Technology Innovation and Application Collaboration Team to support and coordinate technology-related conversations and activities throughout IARPC Collaborations.