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4 Meeting the Challenges
Pages 111-164

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From page 111...
... For example, remotely sensed data suffer from a lack of appropriate validation data and a need for calibration to Arctic conditions. Social indicators often lack specific relevance to the Arctic.
From page 112...
... At the low end of the scale, these could be found inside DoD [Department of Defense] , but eventually planners needed to rely on industry, international partners, or the whole of U.S.
From page 113...
... The ongoing Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) program and the Arctic Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES)
From page 114...
... Research under the Arctic Council similarly illustrates what can be accomplished by working together. The scientific community is looking forward to the new Belmont Forum Arctic Collaborative Research Action (CRA)
From page 115...
... Because of the geographically remote nature of much of the Arctic, specialized research platforms and instruments are often necessary to advance regional knowledge and understanding. These needs range from detailed in situ observations to satellite observations and from year-round manned field stations to research vessels.
From page 116...
... As recommended in the International Study of Arctic Change report, Responding to Arctic Environmental Change, we need "development of an interactive, widely accessible, stakeholder engagement tool that can be used to develop new research priorities and research questions" (Murray et al., 2012, p.
From page 117...
... The Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook is a weekly report on sea ice conditions for subsistence hunters, coastal communities, and other interested members of the public. The Canadian Polar Commission recently launched the Polar Knowledge App, intended to expand public access to polar information.1 In addition, some science blogs are interpreting scientific studies for a lay public and providing broader context.
From page 118...
... Long-term observations also provide the temporal-spatial context in which shorter-duration, hypothesis-driven process studies can be undertaken. In this context it allows researchers to determine whether the processes under consideration occurred under typical or atypical condi 118
From page 119...
... Much of our recognition and understanding of the dramatic changes occurring in the Arctic has emerged from long-term observations. For example, routine measurements revealed the dramatic warming of the Arctic atmosphere and the accelerating decline in sea ice; both are consistent with some of the earliest model predictions of climate response to greenhouse gas warming (Manabe and Stouffer, 1980)
From page 120...
... Coordinating Long-Term Observation Efforts As outlined above, the guiding principles behind a monitoring effort seem logical, but the design of a monitoring program in a system as complex and diverse as the Arctic 120
From page 121...
... . We expect that a carefully developed approach that involves local residents would provide numerous benefits (see "Growing Human Capacity" section)
From page 122...
... Monitoring efforts that address the physical and biological systems of the Arctic include observations of the atmosphere and cryosphere and their interactions with the boreal forests and the tundra biomes in the terrestrial realm and the broad continental shelves and subbasins of the marine environment. Each evolves and processes energy and materials in distinctive ways, subject to external forcing.
From page 123...
... As conceived, the DBO is a holistic approach to track and understand the effects of changing oceanographic and sea ice conditions on the marine ecosystem. Until recently, biophysical sampling has occurred at several shelf biological hotspots from research vessels-of-opportunity that transit the region.
From page 124...
... Further progress is likely to depend upon concerted and coordinated efforts rather than reliance primarily on individual researchers or funding programs. Arctic science has a history of large and interdisciplinary programs, so there is some precedent for successful management of complex datasets.
From page 125...
... Creating a Culture of Data Preservation and Sharing Many advances in Arctic science have resulted from broad-scale synthesis of relevant data streams. These advanced analyses have been made possible by technological 125
From page 126...
... The flow of data from our observing networks into permanent archives can be disrupted or delayed, limiting our capacity for analyses and syntheses. A similar challenge arises when working with the traditional knowledge and local observations of Arctic residents.
From page 127...
... . Data centers also need to serve a dual mission of archive and synthesis and be capable of integrating individual projects, real-time data streams, traditional knowledge, and "big data" that are now accessible through a myriad of data-mining techniques.
From page 128...
... , UNIDATA, and NCAR that was established to provide data archival, preservation, and access for projects funded by NSF's Arctic Science Program, including the Arctic Observing Network (AON)
From page 129...
... To take full advantage of such autonomous systems, we need to simultaneously improve our communications capability to enable access to sensor networks in extremely remote locations. Presently, lack of infrastructure and high-power requirements of some communication packages place insurmountable limitations on remote monitoring capabilities.
From page 130...
... can draw from the open-access data." SOURCE: https://ace.arsc.edu/workspace. Program of the Arctic Council,7 the Arctic Portal,8 World Wildlife Fund,9 Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna,10 and nationally through NOAA's Arctic Environmental Response Management Application,11 NOAA's Earth Systems Research Laboratory,12 and the emerging Arctic Collaborative Environment13 (Figure 4.3)
From page 131...
... Digital photogrammetry from traditional aircraft is an underutilized resource. For example, NASA's Operation IceBridge has flown numerous missions over the Arctic for the past several years, primarily covering targets on land ice and sea ice (e.g., Studinger et al., 2010)
From page 132...
... , which could be extended to smaller animals in other environments as well. Submersible Platforms AUVs, such as buoyancy-driven ocean "gliders," propeller-driven AUVs, and Wave Gliders®14 have substantial potential for environmental monitoring, ocean process studies, and inspection of industrial facilities in the Arctic Ocean and its adjoining shelves.
From page 133...
... As new ocean sensors evolve, many of these are likely to be easily adaptable to one or more of these vehicles. Sensor packages for Wave Gliders are more limited, given their size and their propulsion mechanism, which limits the depth to which sensors can be deployed.
From page 134...
... In addition to autonomous vehicles, a variety of drifting sensor platforms (buoys) has been developed for Arctic Ocean applications.
From page 135...
... . With the diminished summer sea ice extent, and the new availability of the ice-capable research vessel R/V Sikuliaq, as well as other non-ice-capable research vessels, access to a larger portion of the Arctic Ocean during ice-free months can be achieved using the assets at hand.
From page 136...
... . Still, it is important to identify a means to increase heavy ice FIGURE 4.4 Scientists obtain samples on the sea ice during a cruise to the northern Chukchi Sea using the USCGC Healy (background)
From page 137...
... , and the development of large, multi-investigator, multidisciplinary research programs and by operating research icebreaking assets as efficiently as possible. At present, research vessel time is available primarily on the USCGC Healy or non-UNOLS vessels.
From page 138...
... Satellites Arctic conditions present many challenges to the interpretation of satellite remote sensing data. The Arctic is characterized by low solar illumination, low vegetation biomass, low primary productivity, perennial snow and sea ice, prolonged darkness, persistent low clouds, and frequent temperature inversions, all of which severely limit radiometer accuracy and monitoring capabilities.
From page 139...
... At an Arctic remote sensing workshop in October 2013, participants cited the lack of calibration of remote sensing products to the Arctic as the number one current concern for effectively observing changes in the Arctic.15 For airborne and satellite remote sensing collections, field data are important for training and validation; these data require collection over an area representative of the spatial resolution or minimum mapping unit of the remote sensing platform. In this regard, distributed measurements may be collected across a somewhat "homogeneous" area and averaged to relate to the image observation resolution.
From page 140...
... More consistent measurements are needed with better spatial coverage. Snow information is essential to answer questions related to surface energy exchange and for sea ice thickness.
From page 141...
... Coverage for such a product is a challenge, particularly for optical systems, and may require a constellation of satellites. The new Sentinel-1 SAR satellite mission will provide high repeat coverage of the Arctic allowing more frequent information on sea ice, including ice motion.
From page 142...
... THE ARCTIC IN THE ANTHROPOCENE FIGURE 4.5 Alaska Mapped digital elevation model. SOURCE: alaskamapped.org.
From page 143...
... An autonomous network to uplink and disseminate multisensor information about sea ice and other Arctic data is needed. There is also a need to improve access to satellite imagery, including access to foreign satellite observations and commercial data.
From page 144...
... In 2012, small UAVs assisted an icebreaker in its effort to provide access for the delivery of fuel to the village of Nome, Alaska. In 2013, experimental UAVs were successfully launched and operated from controlled airspace near Oliktok Point, Alaska, and were tested successfully in the Chukchi Sea.
From page 145...
... Examples of new sensor types and technologies that need improvement for Arctic deployment include: • Underwater, airborne, and terrestrial still and video cameras; • Chemical sensors for nutrients, pH, pCO2, CH4, and other dissolved gases; • Bottom-pressure recorders for tides, storm surges, and tsunamis; • Sensors to measure sea ice thickness; • Sensors for identifying organisms using molecular techniques; and • Telemetry instruments (low-power, small, inexpensive, fast)
From page 146...
... Maximizing the value of independent sensor data distributed across a wide geographic area in a range of terrains (oceans, land, coast, continental ice, and sea ice) , requires robust data capture, archiving, access, visualization, and integration.
From page 147...
... At the largest scale of operation, for example, Summit Station at the center of the GrIS or Toolik Field Station in Alaska, diesel generators are still needed to produce the necessary 80 to 170 kW. Two key challenges remain in developing systems for future research questions: • Developing cleaner solutions for the large-power-requirement stations.
From page 148...
... with international collaborations that currently includes Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States (Figure 4.6)
From page 149...
... The proposal includes thirteen spur cables that would connect to Arctic Ocean coastal communities in Alaska and Canada. 20  See www.aciareport.ca.
From page 150...
... In all of these aspects, the Arctic presents unique challenges. For example, large biases in simulations of the Arctic climate by global climate system models, particularly at high elevations, over ice sheets, and in the marginal sea ice zone, illustrate the fact that modeling capability in this region lags behind that in lower latitudes.
From page 151...
... Partnerships with Industry Building the operational capacity necessary to address emerging research questions requires a mix of approaches, including partnering to leverage resources. With increased accessibility comes increased activity on the part of tourism, shipping, oil and gas, and other extractive industries.
From page 152...
... Examples of effective public–private collaboration on Arctic science are increasing. An excellent example of utilizing industry assets as observation platforms is the Smart Ocean Smart Industries program under the World Ocean Council (WOC)
From page 153...
... Building human research capacity includes both training of the next generation and engagement and professional development of the existing community so that we are better prepared to address current and future challenges. Human research capacity building was a major component of the International Polar Year (IPY)
From page 154...
... young scientists to engage in APECS's activities would contribute to growing Arctic research capacity. The University of the Arctic has a range of programs distributed among and coordinated with member higher education institutions that enable building of Arctic human research capacity with important emphasis on the recruitment and involvement of Arctic peoples.
From page 155...
... and Andy Mahoney (right) discussing sea ice conditions near Barrow while examining a satellite image.
From page 156...
... Second, the infrastructure to support community engagement is only now being developed on a larger scale than that of individual projects or, in a few cases, regions of the Arctic. Such infrastructure includes data management, to capture and make available the results of community efforts, as well as communication procedures that can help researchers connect with communities as they plan, conduct, and disseminate the results of their research.
From page 157...
... Evaluating the strengths and drawbacks of current funding mechanisms for Arctic science in the United States is beyond the scope of this report. Instead, we draw attention to certain features of research funding and suggest a closer look at whether the current approach is optimal for addressing society's needs.
From page 158...
... that was funded by the North Pacific Research Board was organized as a single project with one principal investigator, rather than as a collection of individual projects, in order to emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration and a high degree of integration of ecosystem understanding. Integrated and cross-disciplinary proposals could also be developed through the National Science Foundation's new option for program managers to handle proposals through an "Ideas Lab" model.23 A request for participation in the Ideas Lab is announced.
From page 159...
... Alternative approaches to proposal review and decision making could be utilized, along with locally inspired social-ecological experiments. Social Sciences and Human Capacity In titling this report The Arctic in the Anthropocene, the committee intended to draw attention to the central role of humans in the emerging research questions.
From page 160...
... International Funding Cooperation A major barrier to international collaboration is the nature of the present framework for funding basic research. International collaborations can by stymied by failure to obtain funding approval from agencies in more than one country.
From page 161...
... Removing these barriers to efficient international collaboration requires long-term, sustained commitments from national funding agencies, as well as the development of policies that serve the interests of both national funding agencies and the scientific community. An Arctic activity is forthcoming from the Belmont Forum, which is a welcome first step, but a long-term sustained program supporting international collaboration would yield many additional benefits.
From page 162...
... Such an approach is the idea behind the international Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) initiative and other efforts such as the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program.
From page 164...
... Photo credit: Matt Kennedy, Earth Vision Trust


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