Satellite Earth Observation of the Marine Environment in the Svalbard region

Earth Observation (EO) data from polar orbiting satellites play an increasingly important role in environmental and climate sciences and for operational use. EO data in the Arctic is particular useful because the coverage from polar orbiting satellites is better at high latitudes and the fact that the remote Arctic locations make regular survey more demanding. The SEMES proposal will address research topics in sea ice and icebergs, oceanography, marine meteorology and ocean primary production. SEMES will focus on using the research infrastructure in Svalbard to improve satellite-based environmental and climate research including use of in situ data from field experiments as well as making the data available for own and others use. SEMES will include coop eration with Russian scientists and use Russian research facilities in the Svalbard area in the following way: (1) Russian scientists will participate in field work to collect in situ data for validation and verification of remote sensing data, and contri bute with Russian instruments for this data collection. (2) Russian scientists will compile historical observations from Russian stations in Svalbard and Franz Josef Land and from ship and aircraft expeditions in the area, with focus on meteorological, se a ice, iceberg, oceanography and marine biology data. (3) Databases of Russian satellite, airborne, shipborne and other in situ data relevant for the marine research topics will be prepared. (4) Russian scientists will stay at the research facilities in L ongyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund in periods to develop cooperation with other research groups in relevant thematic areas. During visits to the Svalbard Science Park, the Russian scientists/students will give seminars and participate in workshops related to sate llite earth observation research and applications. SEMES will implement a web-enabled database for sea ice, ocean surface and ocean color parameters for the Svalbard region from both Norwegian and Russian sources.