The International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere program is a story that is still largely unwritten and will depend on the active cooperation and participation of Arctic atmospheric researchers from around the globe. The potential to combining individual station and network measurements in an integrated observing system is tremendous. By combining resources from this program with other IPY programs focusing on hydrology, glaciology, oceanography, terrestrial and biological systems it may be possible to understand the mechanisms of the the entire Arctic system well enough for humans to mitigate undesirable change, and adapt to inevitable change.
IASOA SCAR poster 2008 PDF version