A return to our conversation about the organization of SEARCH

1. A return to our conversation about the organization of SEARCH

2. Challenges we want to meet • Maintain the broad scope of SEARCH: support science, including long term observations, necessary to advance understanding of broad scope of arctic change • Generate important science results in four years • Adjust science to pay attention to unanticipated changes • Target questions important to stakeholders and line agencies with trust responsibilities • Take advantage of funded science • Realize the potential science we can generate by integrating science within and across observation, understanding, and responding to change components

3. An approach for discussion • Task the SSC to identify a small number of four-year science targets (based on importance, funded projects, line agency initiatives) • Continue to refine the implementation plan as the long-term view of priorities • Apply Sheba-like integration to activities directed at each science target • Match annual AO’s, agency budget requests to sequence of science targets with second AO for same target within 3 years • Include in each annual AO open opportunity to promote long-term SEARCH objectives

4. “Sheba-like integration” • Tight coordination of observations for efficiency, synergy • Close connection of observation and modeling efforts • Clear identification of target science questions • Infrastructure for internal data sharing, near-real time stakeholder data sharing • Early and continuous involvement of stakeholders (integrated responding to change and education/outreach components)

5. The potential downside • Science targets fragment community with loss of broad SEARCH focus

6. And the challenge of science targets: • Settling on the four-year science targets • Who is left out of the first round? • Will the the target get blurred to achieve consensus? • But it might work if: • We include a frequent opportunity for responses to long-term SEARCH goals • The community is convinced that intent is to cumulatively include a substantial number of targets over the life of SEARCH (e.g. 10)

7. An example mix of targets (All explicitly associated with sea ice retreat and considered in the context of other factors) Explain and predict sea ice retreat Explain and predict associated consequences for marine mammals, fish, marine mammal hunting, commercial fishing Explain and predict associated changes in arctic oil and gas production

8. Observing Observing Observing Understanding Understanding Understanding Responding Responding Responding Education & Outreach Education & Outreach Education & Outreach Science Target Approach Sea Ice Retreat group Marine mammals and fish group Arctic oil and gas production group Data Integration

9. The focus of the responding component of the Sea Ice Retreat Group could be: • The relationship of sea ice retreat to national green house gas emission policies