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A global network of mountain observatories

17.02.2015

As follow-up to the Reno Global Fair and Workshop on Mountain Observatories, the leaders of the final summary sessions have decided to scope such a network from a researcher’s perspective. Led by Derek Kauneckis, a political scientist now at the University of Ohio, the group is considering submitting a research proposal to a synthesis center such as the Powell Center or SESYnc. Mountain Research Initiative (MRI)’s Science Leadership Council has also discussed this potential network, and particularly how one balances the many different scientific interests.

The Group on Earth Observations has approved the Global Network for Observations and Information in Mountain Environments (GNOME). Prof. Antonella Provenzale of the University of Turin leads this effort with support from Francesco Gaetano at the GEO Secretariat in Geneva. GEO-GNOME brings the policy weight and considerable information technology achievements of GEOSS to bear on mountain observations. In short, a network of mountain observatories may be able to rely on GEO-GNOME to promote discovery and access of their data.

The Belmont Forum is likely to publish a call re: mountains that will include Collaborative Research Actions as well as a scoping exercise on observatories. That call, when published, could be very important not only for observatories of social-ecological systems, but also for sites crucial for specific questions such as Elevational Dependent Warming.

MRI is currently discussing with Jeff Brown and Ian Billick of the Organization of Biological Field Stations a call for a two-day workshop to scope a network on mountain observatories from a manager’s perspective. The workshop would be held on 14-15 September 2015 in Crested Butte Colorado (USA) just prior to the annual meeting of the Organization of Biological Field Stations. The foci of this meeting – lessons learned from existing stations, sensor design and information technology (i.e. on-the-ground mechanics of observatories) - will complement the science question scoping by Kauneckis et al. Stay tuned for more info about this meeting.

MRI continues to request information about mountain observatories to place on the Google map on the Global Fair and Workshop webpage. A comprehensive database of existing observatories - where they are, what they measure, who manages them and who holds the data - is a key part of due diligence on observatories. If your observatory is not on the map, click on the link above and enter your site’s information.

All of these activities feed into a research presentation session and a roundtable, both with the title “Advances in observatories of mountain social-ecological systems”, proposed for the Perth Conference (4-8 October 2015) in Perth Scotland. Jan Dick is chair of those sessions. The call for Perth closes on 27 February so if you plan on going to Perth (and you should ALL be considering that!) please get your abstracts in on time!

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by Mountain Research Initiative (MRI)