Sustaining Arctic Observing Network (SAON) is a joint activity of IASC and the Arctic Council with the purpose to support and strengthen the development of multinational engagement for sustained and coordinated pan-Arctic observing and data sharing systems. SAON promotes the vision of well-defined observing networks that enable users to have access to free, open and high quality data that will realize pan-Arctic and global value-added services and provide societal benefits.
SAON was initiated by IASC and the Arctic Council´s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) in 2007 and is now governed by a SAON Board, with the Arctic Council appointing the Chair and IASC appointing the Vice-Chair. Secretarial support is provided by AMAP and IASC.
SAON´s activities are managed by two committee: (1) the joint SAON/IASC Arctic Data Committee and (2) the SAON Committee on Observations and Networks (CON).
The biennial Arctic Observing Summit is held in conjunction with the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) and through SAON both IASC and the Arctic Council are contributing to the program.
For more information please see: www.arcticobserving.org