Award Number
1928112

Project Update

Recent changes in climate have resulted in less sea ice in the Arctic ocean. This development has opened new Arctic travel routes and increased vessel traffic along existing shipping routes. Increased shipping requires a reliable Arctic maritime navigation system for safety and efficiency. However, navigation risk management in the Arctic poses many challenges compared to general maritime transportation due to significant uncertainties in climate, weather, and sea ice conditions. This project addresses these uncertainties by developing a comprehensive approach to forecast future climate and sea ice conditions in the Arctic. The results are being used to evaluate the resulting risk of Arctic maritime navigation. The outcome of this research supports a safe, reliable, and resilient navigation system for shippers seeking efficient transit routes through the Arctic. Others will benefit as well, including emergency responders, local communities, Arctic researchers, fishing and pleasure craft, and other stakeholders.


Model Integration Diagram
Model Integration Diagram

This project is developing and applying a risk-based framework integrating an analysis of environmental conditions, an assessment of navigation risk, and an evaluation of the consequences of incidents. Climate and sea ice models are analyzed to probabilistically assess environmental conditions and navigability of Arctic routes. Modeled sea ice thickness is used as a tracer for navigability of shipping routes. Climate model output is analyzed to better understand the mean state and variability spatially along routes and over time. The likelihood of an incident is being evaluated using Bayesian predictive models to incorporate uncertainty with historical data and updated information from climate and sea ice models. The predictive models are integrated with economic interdependency models to evaluate consequences of Arctic navigation incidents. The resulting probabilistic economic models are a function of the likelihood of an incident occurring and evaluate direct and indirect economic impact at the local and global scales. The outcome of the risk and economic assessment provides feedback on the most significant risk factors. Additional climate and sea ice model runs will be used to further evaluate variables to refine risk models. A stochastic simulation will iterate through the integrated risk analysis approach over a range of possible scenarios of climate models and sea ice conditions to evaluate the range of likelihood and economic impact of incidents.

Logistics Summary

This collaboration between Baroud (1928112, Vanderbilt) and DuVivier (1928119, UCAR) would fund research into future Arctic environmental conditions, and develop and apply an integrated risk analysis framework to improve the abilities to (i) forecast future and uncertain climate and sea ice conditions in the Arctic, and (ii) quantify the risk of Arctic maritime navigation. Researchers would measure the risk of navigating the Arctic by exploring the likelihood of incidents (e.g., significant delay, collision, grounding, among others) and evaluate the impact of maritime incidents. No fieldwork will be conducted.

Keywords

Maritime navigation, sea ice, climate models, risk analysis, interdependent economic modeling

Project Location

Resources

April 2020 Lightning Talk Video for NNA Award 1928112

A Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) project update video produced for the April 2020 virtual NNA Investigators meeting. The video is narrated by Hiba Baroud (Vanderbilt University).

Program
Navigating the New Arctic

April 2020 Project Update Report for NNA Award 1928112

A brief Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) project update report produced for the April 2020 virtual NNA Investigators meeting.

Program
Navigating the New Arctic

Website

PI Website

Dates

-

Location

Arctic Ocean and Coastlines

Members

Principal Investigator

Dr. Hiba Baroud
Vanderbilt University

Principal Investigator

Alice DuVivier
National Center for Atmospheric Research

Co-Principal Investigator

Ralf Bennartz
Vanderbilt University