Helge Tangen, Regional Director, met.no Tromso EuroArctic node manager in Polar View

1. Earth Observationfor Polar MonitoringA unique view of the environment, the economy, and safety Helge Tangen, Regional Director, met.no Tromso EuroArctic node manager in Polar View

2. Who We Are • An international consortium,1 • Of government, academic, and private sector organizations, • With a mandate to make earth observation more accessible, • To stakeholders interested in the Polar Regions, • Supported by the European Space Agency and the European Commission, with participation by the Canadian Space Agency. 1. Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom

3. Our Clients • Currently, Polar View works with over 30 user groups, • Including government departments, scientific institutions, northern residents, and private sector clients, • To deliver services that address their operational and scientific needs, • For better information that improves decision making and planning. • Many clients contribute to the continuing development of services by participating in trials and defining requirements.

4. Polar Issues • The Polar Regions are having a growing ecological, economic, and political impact on world affairs. • Polar View services contribute to monitoring and analysis of Polar issues regarding: • The Environment • Monitoring polar fresh water cycles • Tracking sources of pollution • Helping to understand and manage animal habitats and populations • Increasing global awareness of climate change impacts and adaptation • Sustainable Economic Development • Helping to manage hydropower generation • Optimizing transportation routes • Assisting in resource exploitation • Maintaining traditional ways of life • Safety • Guiding fishing and hunting expeditions • Providing safe transportation routes • Protecting off-shore drilling operations • Improving flood protection

5. Our Services • Services are offered in the Arctic, Antarctic, and mid-latitude areas with significant snow and ice across Europe, Russia, Canada, and the North Atlantic • Polar View services: • Provide accurate, real-time information • Can be customized to meet users’ needs • Offer cost savings over alternatives • Are provided by an experienced team of experts

6. Sea Ice Icebergs Ice Edge Coastal Erosion Ice Drift Trajectory River Ice Lake Ice Glaciers Snow Cover Climate Change Adaptation Indicators Our Services

7. Earth Observation • Satellite-borne Earth Observation (EO) systems have been providing imagery for more than two decades • Some sensors can penetrate clouds and ‘see’ in the dark; conditions that are prevalent at the poles • Polar View uses primarily Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors that are excellent for observing snow and ice

8. EO in the Polar Regions • Polar regions have: • Large and remote areas with limited accessibility • Low population densities • Sensitive ecosystems of global importance • Rich non-renewable and renewable resources • Increasing industrial activity • Effective monitoring strategies are vital to understanding conditions, identifying impacts, and guiding responses • EO is often the only cost effective and technically feasible means of obtaining information • EO sensors can supply types of information that are not available from any other source

9. Polar View and GMES • Global Monitoring of Environment and Security (GMES) is a joint initiative of the European Space Agency and the European Commission • GMES is the main European contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOS) • The Earthwatch GMES Service Element (GSE) is a programme within GMES to raise the profile of EO among policy makers and non-traditional users • Polar View is a project under GSE

10. For More Information • General Information: • Web site: www.polarview.org • Telephone: +01.709.737.3735 • Email: info@polarview.org • Regional Contacts: • International: David.Arthurs@polarview.org • North America: Thomas.Puestow@polarview.org • Baltic Sea: Ari.Seina@polarview.org • Europe: Helge.Tangen@polarview.org • Antarctica: Andrew.Fleming@polarview.org