Greenland Integrated Observing System
About GIOS
Greenland plays a unique and central role in the global climate system. The purpose of the Greenland Integrated Observing System (GIOS) is to resolve and understand the mechanisms behind climate and environmental change in Greenland and beyond. GIOS is a new coordinated network of sustainable long-term research infrastructures in and around Greenland observing the changing air, ice, land, and ocean conditions. GIOS is an important and timely national research infrastructure linking all institutions and universities currently carrying out Arctic research in the Danish Realm.
GIOS observing system
The ability to predict future changes are strongly dependent on concurrent and long-term records of glaciological, terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric processes. Arctic communities depend on knowledge especially at the ice sheet/ocean margins – where exchanges of heat, greenhouse gases, nutrients and freshwater are occurring. Sea level changes require monitoring of glaciers and ice sheets and have a global impact. In order to promote sustained data observations, we are developing a new and integrated system, the Greenland Integrated Observing System (GIOS).
Marine
There are no permanent tide gauge stations in Northeast Greenland which is recognized as a gab in the existing network. GIOS will facilitate the expansion of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) tide gauge network by installing tide gauge (sea level) stations in Northeast Greenland. Internationally the combined new tide gauge network will contribute to a more complete understanding of the ocean currents exiting the Arctic Ocean, sea ice “drainage” volumes, the potential timing of open water in summer in the Arctic Ocean.
