For more information on the SCICEX SAC Priorities
for Opportunity Cruises, or "Science Accommodation
Missions," and/or to send a request, please contact:
Garry Brass (g.brass [at] arctic.gov), with a copy to
Dennis Conlon (conlond [at] onr.navy.mil)
FORWARD REQUESTS TO ABOVE NO LATER THAN: 1 April 2002
TO THE ARCTIC OCEAN RESEARCH COMMUNITY:
When the SCICEX Program concluded in 1999, the Navy
submarine community, ONR, and NSF prepared a new
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the collection of
data using submarines. Because of the severe
reduction in the number of submarines during the
1990s, it was anticipated that dedicated cruises
would rarely occur. Therefore, the concept of the
"Science Accommodation Mission" was developed.
An accommodation mission is a classified
mission/cruise by a submarine during which a
(normally brief) period of time is used for
dedicated data collection for science. There are no
civilian science riders on these cruises. Data is
collected by the Technical Director(s) from the
Arctic Submarine Laboratory (ASL), using standard
procedures defined prior to the cruise. Most of the
data is from the baseline set identified in the MOA
(similar to the earlier SCICEX baseline data). Data
under this MOA is non-proprietary. Other specific
data collection requests, such as water samples,
will be handled as stipulated in the MOA, i.e.,
assembled/considered by the Science Advisory
Committee (SAC) and forwarded for approval by the
Interagency Committee (IAC) chaired by ONR.
A SAC meeting was held in December during the AGU
where scientists in attendance were able to express
their data collection needs. (FYI: the SAC is
chaired by Garry Brass. ONR, NSF, and ASL are
permanent members. Six non-permanent members are
designated by ONR or NSF.)
The attached DRAFT priorities list was assembled
from the December meeting inputs. The roughly 20
scientists were in close agreement. The priorities
list is now provided for community comment. It
should be understood that the list can and will
change over time. Also, the item listed first has no
guarantee that it will be fulfilled during a cruise.
The nature of the submarine operation will determine
what, if any, science data will be collected. The
list when complete, serves as guidance to the Navy.
Any data requested, collected, and subsequently
released will be from within the Data Collection
Area approved for SCICEX missions.
Forward requests to Garry Brass
(g.brass [at] arctic.gov), with a copy to Dennis Conlon
(conlond [at] onr.navy.mil) by 1 April 2002.
SCICEX SAC PRIORITIES FOR OPPORTUNITY CRUISES
PRIORITIES
The FIRST PRIORITY continues to be any portion of
the transpolar track from the Eurasian Basin by the
North Pole through the Canadian Basin to the Alaskan
margin (Example: A track from vicinity 85N/15E to
vicinity 72N/150W). The continued repeat
measurements along this track are vital to
understanding change in the Arctic Ocean.
The SECOND PRIORITY is changed to the margin of the
SCICEX Box as close as possible to the Canadian EEZ.
Not all of the Canadian margin need be surveyed but
a sufficient length (at least a third) of the track
should be studied. The purpose is to assess the
thickness of sea ice close to the Canadian margin in
order to evaluate the hypothesis that arctic sea ice
is not thinning but, instead, is accumulating on the
Canadian margin. This priority is a one-time
recommendation. That is, as soon as this track has
been surveyed once, the high priority currently
attached will be removed.
The THIRD PRIORITY is the track along the Eurasian
margin of the box. This track is important for study
of the Atlantic Water front and changes in
circulation. As soon as the Canadian margin track
has been surveyed, this track will return to second
priority.
OTHER GUIDANCE The opportunity to have samples
collected by the submarine should be publicized in
some appropriate way, perhaps on Arctic Info. ASL
should work with the Agency Committee to build a
system for reviewing requests and recommending
priorities. The possibility of massive demands for
samples should be considered and a system evolved to
ensure that the capabilities of the submarine and
ASL personnel are not overwhelmed. The Commission
has received a request for a series of 125ml water
samples to be collected in the vicinity of 85N/135W
during a spiral down to 800', as was done in earlier
SCICEX cruises. This point is not far off the First
Priority (Transpolar) track, above. Other requests
may be in preparation.
Funding agencies should be alert to possibilities
for time savings on the cruises caused by
duplication of tracks by other platforms (ice camps,
icebreakers). These should only be implemented when
it is clear that these platforms will collect
equivalent or superior data at approximately the
same time of year. At the same time, coordination
with ASL should indicate planned tracks for research
icebreakers.
U.S. agencies sponsoring research using moorings in
the Arctic Ocean and/or neighboring seas and straits
should inform ASL of the location and duration of
these potential obstructions. The location of moored
or hanging arrays installed by other nations will be
sought by members of the Agency Committee at
international venues.
ASL will consult the SAC via the Agency Committee if
extra time becomes available for use of the
submarine.