The report is divided into two main sections, firslty, the Plan of the Implementation Phase of the SAON and secondly, the Description of the Implementation Phase of SAON.

The Goal of SAON is to enhance Arctic-wide observing activities by facilitating partnerships and synergies among existing observing and data networks (“buildingblocks”), and promoting sharing and synthesis of data and information.

The history of development of SAON (Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks) parallels the development ofthe International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008. The scoping document for the IPY called for a legacy of sustainedArctic observing. The Arctic Council recognized its potential role in creating this legacy and included in itsSalekhard Declaration (2006) the request for Arctic states and partners to work toward such a capability.In response to this Declaration, the SAON process was initiated in early 2007.

The full report can be downloaded here.