ARCUS | Survey Answers

9. What do you feel are the most urgent arctic research support and logistics needs?

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32 Platforms
  • 10 permanent field stations for long term monitoring and intensive research, including some outside U.S. and in Arctic Ocean
  • 8 get the Healy operating like she was designed to do, including use in tandem vessel mission with international partners
  • 7 general use facility in Barrow
  • 6 better communications for remote sites
  • 4 big icebreaker that allows access to Arctic Ocean in winter or 2-3 ice stations in different locations
  • 4 establishment of new intensive field sites for comparative work
  • 4 replace the Alpha Helix
  • 3 basic infrastructure (surface met stations, RAWINSONDE, DEWline) is being dismantled--cannot be completely replaced by remote sensing
  • 3 lab facilities
  • 2 dedicated platforms such as ships, aircraft, ground support or travel-not included in budget
  • 2 need to support emphasis on autonomous instruments and AUVs
  • 2 loss of submarine support
  • 1 remote sensors for under ice data collection
  • 1 permafrost drilling capability 1 UV monitoring network in Russia
  • 1 use Polar Sea and Polar Star more effectively, especially in winter
8 Data Issues
  • 4 collection and maintenance of fundamental year round baseline data sets
  • 1 how to moderate climate warming
  • 1 continuity of the SAR data record
  • 1 problems with generally poor simulations of the Arctic in global models impart ability to address interesting problems
  • 1 a computerized inventory of cores and sediment samples in repositories world-wide
  • 1 adaptation of organisms to arctic environment and rapid climate/habitat change
23 Access
  • 6 access to Russian Arctic, including UV monitoring
  • 5 international collaboration to improve access and reduce costs
  • 3 better connections between communities and researchers
  • 3 coordinated air logistics network in N. Alaska
  • 2 better and more storage facilities in N. Alaska
  • 2 air support
  • 2 year round access to central Arctic
  • 2 improve safety
  • 1 National Ice Center support of expeditions
  • 1 investigate use of DHC-4 Caribou aircraft (Army has lots in storage)
  • 1 access to international datasets
  • 1 develop MOU with other agencies to share logistics assets
8 Funding
  • 4 keeping costs (including for use of dedicated platforms) low in research budget
  • 1 research dollars in the Arctic should provide similar support to those working in the Antarctic
  • 1 Money!
  • 1 need support for interdisciplinary work on the North Slope
  • 1 a central organization for all support (like the Antarctic model)
  • 1 ship time
23 No Response

What improvements have been made in the last 3-5 years?

19 Platforms
  • 9 new icebreaker (Healy)
  • 6 situation in Barrow improving
  • 3 vast progress in lodging, labs, communication, transportation--has greatly increased productivity
  • 3 improvements at Toolik Lake have made it accessible year round
  • 1 initial funding of AUV deployments and benthic observatories
  • 1 SCICEX
  • 1 ship logistics improved
19 Funding
  • 10 establishment and enhancement of a separate budget in NSF for logistics
  • 5 logistics manager and contractor
  • 4 agreement with NSF for Toolik user days
  • 2 BASC logistics coordinator
  • 1 more NSF support for Alaskan field projects
  • 1 plan for Barrow logistics
  • 1 NOAA Arctic Research Initiative
  • 1 hard science in Canada received a boost from NSERC last year
3 Data Issues
  • 1 improved communications from remote instrumentation and increased use of data management facilities. JOSS seems responsive to data management needs.
  • 1 initial consideration of traditional knowledge
  • 1 we are aware that simulations of the Arctic in global models are poor community should make more use of National Ice Center's now excellent regional ice analyses
6 Access
  • 2 SHEBA--proving that extensive Arctic Ocean observations can be made year round
  • 1 helicopter time at Toolik
  • 1 improved logistical coordination
  • 1 access to sea ice/central Arctic improved
  • 1 communications are improving
1 Other
  • 1 sharing field gear has improved in Barrow
3 No improvments in the last 3-5 years.

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