NSF and Arctic Oceans science NSF and Arctic Oceans science Simon - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NSF and Arctic Oceans science NSF and Arctic Oceans science

Simon Stephenson Simon Stephenson NSF Division of Arctic Sciences NSF Division of Arctic Sciences

Drivers Drivers

• Following NSF strategic plan format

Following NSF strategic plan format

• Discovery

Discovery

• Learning

Learning

• Research Infrastructure

Research Infrastructure

• Stewardship

Stewardship

Discovery Discovery

• Healthy foundational research in

Healthy foundational research in the social and natural sciences the social and natural sciences concerning elements of the Arctic concerning elements of the Arctic system. system.

• Thematic (next slide)

Thematic (next slide)

• Arctic system and its global linkages

Arctic system and its global linkages

• Modeling and synthesis

Modeling and synthesis

• Global context and connections

Global context and connections

Discovery (continued) Discovery (continued)

• Thematic

Thematic

• Bering Sea studies

Bering Sea studies – – strengthening the social science strengthening the social science component component

• Abrupt climate change

Abrupt climate change

• Glacier & sea

Glacier & sea-

• level

level

• Ocean acidification

Ocean acidification

• A warming tundra/permafrost and the carbon cycle

A warming tundra/permafrost and the carbon cycle

• Sustainability, adaptation & resilience

Sustainability, adaptation & resilience

• Black carbon

Black carbon

• Sea

Sea-

• ice vulnerability

ice vulnerability

• Human eco

Human eco-

• dynamics

dynamics

Discovery (continued) Discovery (continued)

• Thematic

Thematic

• Bering Sea studies

Bering Sea studies – – strengthening the social science strengthening the social science component component

• Abrupt climate change

Abrupt climate change

• Glacier & sea

Glacier & sea-

• level

level

• Ocean acidification

Ocean acidification

• A warming tundra/permafrost and the carbon cycle

A warming tundra/permafrost and the carbon cycle

• Sustainability, adaptation & resilience

Sustainability, adaptation & resilience

• Black carbon

Black carbon

• Sea

Sea-

• ice vulnerability

ice vulnerability

• Human eco

Human eco-

• dynamics

dynamics

Learning Learning

• Maintain the scope established during the

Maintain the scope established during the International Polar Year (2007 International Polar Year (2007 – – 2009) 2009)

• Main vehicle will be climate change education

Main vehicle will be climate change education in the next year or so. in the next year or so.

• K

K-

• 12

12

• Undergraduate

Undergraduate – – post post-

• doc

doc

• Informal education, outreach & media

Informal education, outreach & media

• Broadening participation

Broadening participation

Research Infrastructure Research Infrastructure

• Arctic Observing Network

Arctic Observing Network

• Cyberinfrastructure

Cyberinfrastructure

• Next generation instrumentation

Next generation instrumentation

• Logistics

Logistics

• Greenland enterprise modeling

Greenland enterprise modeling

• Increase energy efficiency

Increase energy efficiency

Stewardship Stewardship

• Conducting a dialogue with Arctic residents,

Conducting a dialogue with Arctic residents, priorities and participation priorities and participation

• Support for research community planning and

Support for research community planning and dialogue dialogue

Fourth IPY Observatories Fourth IPY Observatories

A Sense of Scale A Sense of Scale

Glaciers and Sea Glaciers and Sea-

• level

level

The Polar Earth Observing Network is an Arctic and Antarctic network of GPS stations that measures crustal uplift and accumulation of the world’s major ice sheets. Data complements satellite measurements of ice-sheet dynamics

The Arctic Observing Network The Arctic Observing Network

A system of atmospheric, land- and ocean-based environmental measurements contributing to the interagency U.S. government initiative--the Study

• f Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH)

The AON Network measurement locations on a polar projection as of the end of 2009. Observation sites, moorings, and the general region of drifting buoys are assigned a symbol unique to each investigator.

Bering Sea Ecosystem Study Bering Sea Ecosystem Study

The Bering Ecosystem Study (BEST), is a partnership between NSF and the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) to support a comprehensive and vertically integrated investigation of the Bering Sea ecosystem during 2007-2012.

A Movement to a New Arctic Ecology?

Zina Zina Deretsky retsky / Nat National

• nal Sci

Scienc nce F e Foundation tion

A project partly funded by NSF is published in this weeks Science . The research indicates that a section of the Arctic Ocean seafloor that stores vast amounts of methane is showing signs of instability and increased venting of the powerful greenhouse gas.

Ocean Acidification

Research indicates that ocean acidification is likely more severe and is happening more rapidly in Alaska than in tropical waters. NSF has issued a cross-directorate solicitation to help understand the processes and effects of ocean acidification, including acidification of the Arctic Ocean.

Jeremy Mathis takes samples

Acidification affects creatures like this sea butterfly on which salmon feed.

http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/newsletter/fall09/ocean_acidification.html

The Arctic as a contributor to Global Processes

NSF’s Freshwater Switchyard of the Arctic Ocean project studies

• utflows of Russian and

U.S. Rivers and how an increasing southward flow of “light” arctic water might influence the sinking of North Atlantic waters that drive the global ocean circulation.

RV Sikuliaq RV Sikuliaq

NSF is funding the NSF is funding the construction of the Arctic construction of the Arctic Region Research Vessel, Region Research Vessel, now named now named Sikuliaq Sikuliaq, an , an Inupiaq word that means Inupiaq word that means “ “young sea ice. young sea ice.” ” NSF will NSF will

• wn the ship, the
• wn the ship, the

University of Alaska University of Alaska Fairbanks will operate it. Fairbanks will operate it. Scheduled for completion in Scheduled for completion in 2012, the 254 2012, the 254-

• foot

foot Sikuliaq Sikuliaq will be one of will be one of the most advanced the most advanced university research university research vessels in the world, vessels in the world, capable of breaking ice capable of breaking ice up to 2.5 feet thick. up to 2.5 feet thick.

Emerging National Ocean Policy Emerging National Ocean Policy

• Ecosystem

Ecosystem-

• based management

based management

• Coastal and marine spatial planning

Coastal and marine spatial planning

• Inform decisions and improve understanding

Inform decisions and improve understanding

• Coordinate support

Coordinate support

• Resiliency and adaption ot climate change and ocean

Resiliency and adaption ot climate change and ocean acidification acidification

• Regional ecosystem protection and restoration

Regional ecosystem protection and restoration

• Water quality and sustainable practices

Water quality and sustainable practices

• Changing conditions in the Arctic

Changing conditions in the Arctic

• Ocean, Coastal and Great lakes observation, Mapping

Ocean, Coastal and Great lakes observation, Mapping and infrastructure and infrastructure

From draft document released public comment

Emerging National Ocean Policy Emerging National Ocean Policy

• Ecosystem

Ecosystem-

• based management

based management

• Coastal and marine spatial planning

Coastal and marine spatial planning

• Inform decisions and improve understanding

Inform decisions and improve understanding

• Coordinate support

Coordinate support

• Resiliency and adaption of climate change and ocean

Resiliency and adaption of climate change and ocean acidification acidification

• Regional ecosystem protection and restoration

Regional ecosystem protection and restoration

• Water quality and sustainable practices

Water quality and sustainable practices

• Changing conditions in the Arctic

Changing conditions in the Arctic

• Ocean, Coastal and Great lakes observation, Mapping

Ocean, Coastal and Great lakes observation, Mapping and infrastructure and infrastructure

From draft document released public comment