Arctic observations are crucial for adapting to and responding to changing conditions in the Arctic and for understanding the global ripple effects. The Arctic is one of the most dynamic regions on the planet; however, existing Arctic observations often fall short of meeting the needs of Arctic communities, researchers, and policymakers. The US Arctic Observing Network (US AON) is a collaborative initiative guided by a federal board with representatives from various agencies, aimed at enhancing the Arctic observing system. US AON is recognized as a sub-body of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC).
US AON has developed a Benefit Assessment method that enables users and producers of Arctic data to demonstrate the value of their work and identify problematic gaps. This is achieved by systematically evaluating how observational systems, data products, and applications connect to societal benefits. Through a participatory research process known as expert elicitation, relevant experts assess capabilities, performance, and gaps. US AON’s online Benefit Tool translates expert elicitation into powerful visualizations that highlight the strengths of the current system while identifying opportunities for value generation.
BENEFIT stands for Benefit Evaluation | Network Exploration | Find Gaps | Improve Together, reflecting key features of the Benefit Assessment and the Benefit Tool.
- Benefit Evaluation – Desired outcomes are specified within a benefit framework, which clarifies how the strengths and gaps of the observing system impact society.
- Network Exploration – Users can explore how the interconnected system of observations, data, and products and services works together to generate value. Experts provide ratings in this specific context. For instance, a dataset may show a reliable trend over several decades but perform poorly for real-time measurements or forecasting (or vice versa).
- Find Gaps – Benefit Assessments include ratings of each input's relative impact and performance, such as how well a given observing system supports a specific data product. The rationale for each rating is documented, including gaps that impede performance. Experts can also create "hypothetical future state" diagrams to illustrate potential future changes in the system, including improvements and degradations.
- Improve Together – By gaining a more comprehensive understanding of how different observing and data systems work together to generate real-world benefits, decision-makers at local, regional, and national levels can make informed choices to sustain and enhance critical observational systems.
Arctic observations are crucial for adapting to and responding to changing conditions in the Arctic and for understanding the global ripple effects. The Arctic is one of the most dynamic regions on the planet; however, existing Arctic observations often fall short of meeting the needs of Arctic communities, researchers, and policymakers. The US Arctic Observing Network (US AON) is a collaborative initiative guided by a federal board with representatives from various agencies, aimed at enhancing the Arctic observing system. US AON is recognized as a sub-body of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC).
US AON has developed a Benefit Assessment method that enables users and producers of Arctic data to demonstrate the value of their work and identify problematic gaps. This is achieved by systematically evaluating how observational systems, data products, and applications connect to societal benefits. Through a participatory research process known as expert elicitation, relevant experts assess capabilities, performance, and gaps. US AON’s online Benefit Tool translates expert elicitation into powerful visualizations that highlight the strengths of the current system while identifying opportunities for value generation.
BENEFIT stands for Benefit Evaluation | Network Exploration | Find Gaps | Improve Together, reflecting key features of the Benefit Assessment and the Benefit Tool.