Senate Hearing, 109TH Congress - International Polar Year

S. HRG.
1091160
INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR
JOINT HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
AND THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
SEPTEMBER 26, 2006
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
TED STEVENS, Alaska, Chairman
JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii, Co-Chairman
CONRAD BURNS, Montana
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
BARBARA BOXER, California
GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon
BILL NELSON, Florida
JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia
FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey
JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire
E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska
JIM DEMINT, South Carolina
MARK PRYOR, Arkansas
DAVID VITTER, Louisiana
LISA J. SUTHERLAND, Republican Staff Director
CHRISTINE DRAGER KURTH, Republican Deputy Staff Director
KENNETH R. NAHIGIAN, Republican Chief Counsel
MARGARET L. CUMMISKY, Democratic Staff Director and Chief Counsel
SAMUEL E. WHITEHORN, Democratic Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel
LILA HARPER HELMS, Democratic Policy Director
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana, Chairman
CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware
PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland
LINCOLN CHAFEE, Rhode Island
CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut
GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota
RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin
GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio
BARBARA BOXER, California
LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee
BILL NELSON, Florida
JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire
BARACK OBAMA, Illinois
LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska
MEL MARTINEZ, Florida
KENNETH A. MYERS, JR., Staff Director
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, Democratic Staff Director
(II)
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CONTENTS
Page
Hearing held on September 26, 2006 .....................................................................

Statement of Senator Murkowski ...........................................................................
Statement of Senator Stevens ................................................................................
Letter, dated September 14, 2006, from Syun Akasofu, Director, International Arctic Research CenterUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks .........
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WITNESSES
Armstrong, Dr. Thomas R., Program Coordinator, Earth Surface Dynamics,
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Department of the Interior ...........................
Prepared statement ..........................................................................................
Bell, Robin E., Ph.D., Doherty Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty
Earth Observatory, Columbia University; Chair, Polar Research Board, U.S.
National Committee for International Polar Year, Division on Earth and
Life Studies, National Research Council, The National Academies ................
Prepared statement with attachments ...........................................................
Bement, Jr., Dr. Arden L., Director, National Science Foundation .....................
Papp, Vice Admiral Robert, Chief of Staff, U.S. Coast Guard .............................
Parkinson, Alan J., Ph.D., Deputy Director, Arctic Investigations Program,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and
Human Services ...................................................................................................
Sharpton, Dr. Virgil L. Buck, Vice Chancellor for Research, University
of Alaska (UA) Fairbanks; UA Presidents Professor of Remote Sensing .......
Treadwell, Mead, Chair, U.S. Arctic Research Commission ................................
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APPENDIX
Inouye, Hon. Daniel K., U.S. Senator from Hawaii, prepared statement ...........
Lautenberg, Hon. Frank R., U.S. Senator from New Jersey ...............................
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce, prepared statement ..........................................................................
Response to written questions submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to:
Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr. .................................................................................
Vice Admiral Robert Papp ...............................................................................
Response to written questions submitted by Hon. Daniel K. Inouye to:
NOAA ................................................................................................................
Mead Treadwell ................................................................................................
Response to written questions submitted by Hon. Frank R. Lautenberg to:
Dr. Thomas Armstrong and Dr. Virgil L. Buck Sharpton ..........................
Robin E. Bell, Ph.D. .........................................................................................
Mead Treadwell ................................................................................................
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(III)
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INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006
U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND

TRANSPORTATION, MEETING JOINTLY WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS,
Washington, DC.
The Committees met, pursuant to notice, at 3:30 p.m. in room
SR253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Ted Stevens, Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. TED STEVENS,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA
Chairman STEVENS. My apologies for being late. Gentlemen, I do

appreciate your being here. And we have had some questions from
the press concerning why were holding this hearing. I hope it will
become apparent to them very quickly.
And Im delighted that Senator Murkowski has joined in this
hearing. It is a joint hearing, with the Foreign Relations Committee and our Commerce Committee. Youre the first Senator who
was ever born in Alaska. So
Senator MURKOWSKI. Thats right.
Chairman STEVENS.youre unique.
As we all know, the Earth is changing, and these changes are
happening in the polar regions faster than anywhere else in the
world. The upcoming International Polar Year will be a critical opportunity for the worlds science community to come together and
study the climactic changes and impacts on the Arctic and Antarctic.
We feel we have a vested interest, as Alaskans, in the findings
of this IPY, because many of usmany of our people live above the
Arctic Circle, and those who dont, live in the polar region anyway.
The research that will be done will, we hope, enable us to make
informed decisions on where we build schools, when and where
subsistence hunts take place, and what to do to prepare for winter
storms, or to, most importantly, determine what has to be done to
help people who have already been affected by the changes that
have taken place so far.
Now, this third IPY aims to involve not only young graduate students, but K12 students and indigenous people of the Arctic. Its
my hope that the IPY will have a lasting impact, like that of the
International Geophysical Year that took place almost 50 years
ago.
(1)
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I look forward to the testimony you all are going to present
today. Again, Im sorry to be late. Its been sort of a strange day.
Do you have a statement, Senator?
STATEMENT OF HON. LISA MURKOWSKI,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA
Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you.

I want to thank you, Senator Stevens, for agreeing to hold this
hearingas you note, a joint hearing with the Foreign Relations
Committee today.
You know, this is a pretty significant consideration, when we
think of the international nature of IPY and, kind of, the interrelating or overlapping interests among so many different committees here in the Senate. So, again, Im appreciative to have this opportunity with you today.
Understanding the polar regions is obviously very important to
us in Alaska. The fact that you have two-thirds of the Alaska delegation in attendance today should bear evidence to that.
I would also like to note that Alaska will serve as the host of the
2008 Conference of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of
the Arctic region. This is more commonly referred to as the Arctic
Parliamentarians. Ive had the pleasure of participating in this
group as the U.S. Representative now for 2 years, and I can report
that each of the delegates that I serve with is very much excited
about the upcoming IPY. In factand the fact that the 2008 Conference comes on the tail end of IPY will give Alaska and the
United States an opportunity to demonstrate all that has been, and
is being, advanced through IPY.
But, just as the interest from the Arctic Parliamentarians demonstrates, IPY isnt just about Alaska. It isnt just about the United
States. This is truly an international effort, and thats what really
makes it excitingan international effort involving researchers,
from over 60 countries, whose projects and data gathered over the
next few years will have atruly global impact.
Were fortunate to have a talented group of scientists and polarregion experts with us today from all over the country, each of
whom will play a key role in making IPY a success for the United
States and for the rest of the world, and I want to thank all of you
who have agreed to be with us today. I know several of you have
come from extremely long distances, whether its from the north or
whether its from Europe. So, thank you. We appreciate your close
attention to this.
With that, Senator Stevens, Im prepared to move on to the first
panel.
Chairman STEVENS. Yes, thank you very much.
We have two panels, and roughly, I think, about an hour and a
half-plus clearance from the floor, so again, were delighted that
you all would come and join us.
And our first panelour first witness will be Mead Treadwell,
Chairman of the Arctic Research Commission. Mead, its nice to see
you here today, we appreciate your coming.
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STATEMENT OF MEAD TREADWELL, CHAIR,
U.S. ARCTIC RESEARCH COMMISSION
Mr. TREADWELL. Thank you, Senator Stevens, Senator Murkowski.

On behalf of the Arctic Research Commission, thank you for
holding this hearing. The more people who know about the exciting
research going on in the polar regions during the International
Polar Year, the more likely we are to see the legacy of a strong
polar science program.
Today, Id like to address actions Congress may want to make,
this session, that could make the IPY more successful. And Ill also
speak to the legacies of IPY that Congress may want to help foster,
which could mean a robust Arctic Research Program for years to
come.
The successful IPY will do more than gather vast knowledge in
the next 2 years. With IPY, we should establish long-term monitoring networks and other science infrastructure, including the
ship- and land-based research platforms and remote sensing technologies, to keep the knowledge coming. And within the government itself, IPY will help us focus on our goals in the Arctic, in
science and in policy. The Commission believes we must use IPY
to craft a more coordinated and sustainable long-term Arctic Research Program.
Mr. Chairman, Senator Murkowski, when I was designated chair
by the President, there were two immediate calendar items that
the Arctic Research Commission faces. First is the kickoff for IPY,
next March. It iswere committed to making this a successful
broadening and strengthening of Arctic science in many places and
many disciplines. Its cooperation across disciplines, between the
poles, around the world, and will be involved in outreach, as Senator Murkowski has suggested many times. And with the Congress
and within the Executive Branch, were encouraging a level of
funding and participation appropriate to this Nations leadership in
polar research.
The second calendar item that weve got is, we owe you a Goals
Report in January, and that Goals Report, which helpsis really
the first draft of the Arctic Research Program, which the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee then vets and finalizes
into an Arctic Research Program. And that committee is chaired by
my colleague Dr. Bement, to my left. We are hoping that that plan
next year looks at the long-term research and infrastructure needs
that we have, and that that can be a legacy of IPY.
Congress can work to make IPY a rousing success several different ways. First is getting the word out. We encourage you to
have more hearings as IPY progresses. Ive heard Senator Murkowski tell the science community several times, that we must
share the excitement of exploration in polar regions. This is a risky
and adventurous frontier with great rewards from solving its mysteries. We encourage you, in Congress, to visit the field during IPY
to see the scientific work firsthand. IPY research will help human
health, energy security, safer, sounder homes, and assist in sustaining traditional cultures in the north.
Second, were hopeful enough funds and encouragement will be
provided to the other agencies to make sure were able to fulfill our
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commitments. The Administrations current proposal for $62 million funding from NSF should be approved by Congress this year.
It remains to be seen what the President and NSF will propose for
next year, but if were to move beyond fragmented and leveraged
funding for IPY, that number should be significantly greater and
should take into account the long-term need for monitoring and
data management.
Two agencies under the purview of the Senate Commerce Committee, NOAA and NASA, could play a pivotal role in IPY. Mr.
Chairman, I should say I was appointed by the President, and
were team players with the Administration, but, at the same time,
based on statute, legislative intent, and our oath to support it,
were obliged to tell you in the Congress where the Arctic Program
funding request may not effectively meet the Arcticthe Nations
Arctic Research Plan.
The Commission is sad that NOAA has recently eliminated its
Arctic office, reducing the visibility of its Arctic Research Program,
and just prior to the IPY. It has also had significant budget reductions this year. But, nevertheless, there is a lot of work being done
at NOAA in the Arctic. And those are detailed in my written testimony, and we can answer specifics and questions.
At NASA, the pressure on the Earth Science budget is also well
documented. Much of NASAs current Earth-sensing infrastructure
is in polar orbits, meaning the coverage of the Arctic and the Antarctic is robust, but, therefore, at greater risk, with delays and cancellations of key remote-sensing systems.
Japans cooperation with the United States on Arctic research
could be much more productive if work being done at the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks had greater NASA
participation. And Congress could help make that happen.
Further, this is a great time for Congress to stress to agencies
that they identify their role in Arctic research and integrate their
work with other agencies. And Im glad to say that were working
closely with IARPC staff and the staff of OMB to make sure that
you get what the law calls for, which is a unified Arctic research
budget when the Presidents budget is submitted.
The Arctic research budget has grown significantly in recent
years. Its now approaching $400 million a year and has significant
work going on in a variety of areas. At least 15 Federal agencies
support this work, and the program benefits from important partnerships with the State of Alaska, our Arctic neighbors, the European community, Korea, China, and Japan.
Last, Congress may want to encourage a discussion about U.S.
Arctic policy during IPY. The last time U.S. Government agencies
sat down to comprehensively review Arctic policy was in 1994. And
while the Presidential statement that survives that process is in
force today, much has changed. We know much more about Arctic
climate, and the change has brought imperatives in security, housing, infrastructure, transportation, and research.
Recently, just this afternoon, the House held a hearing on a National Research Council study on icebreakers which called for the
construction of two new Polar Class icebreakers. And that also requires a policy consideration.
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The Commission is working hard on issues, in terms of mapping
of the Arctic Ocean floor, which relate to Article 76 of the Law of
the Sea. And what we learned through Arctic cooperation, whether
through the Northern Forum, the Arctic Council, or by other mechanisms, is that there are opportunities for common development,
common protection, and common exploration. The long-held goal of
using the Arctic Ocean as a regular shipping route may be upon
us soon, and other nations have recently held public examinations
of their goals in the Arctic. And its appropriate for us to do the
same.
Let me conclude by saying that our Goals Report, which will be
delivered to you in January, will look at the infrastructure issues,
the long-term legacies of Arctic research thats necessary. Youll
hear about icebreakers, research vessels, submarines, satellites,
and autonomous vehiclesunderwater, in the air. There are a
number of tremendous things happening and developing in improving Arctic research, but theres one key infrastructure legacy at the
top of everyones list. The U.S. will soon launch an Arctic Observing Network that must, and will, be one of the key legacies of IPY.
Itll be a network of networks, actually, that will collect data in as
close to realtime with standards of measurement across the Arctic.
While the observation capabilities the U.S. supports in the field
today may be enough to declare that we have the Arctic Observing
Network going, the process of designing an improved system, identifying gaps, setting standards, and managing data has yet to take
place. We urge the Congress to pay close attention as this process
begins.
As our explorers head to the field, Ive heard Senator Murkowski
say, several times, that its up to them to share the excitement
with the public. When I speak to kids about Arctic exploration,
weve got lots to discuss. NASAs animation of receding ice cover,
as seen from satellites in space, prompts a discussion not only of
climate change and shipping routes, but whether the robot that
took the picture had rockets in his shoes. Alaskans used to landing
at runway 6 at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage
learned that its now runway 7, because the magnetic North Pole
is constantly moving, and taking the Aurora Borealis with it. Reports of mid-ocean ridge spreading in the Arctic Ocean bottom have
forced instructors to rewrite the textbook on plate tectonics, and recent coring near the North Pole has revealed organic rift sediments
that could likely serve as source material for oil and gas deposits
around the Arctic margin. And if you get no further than the freezers at the Institute of Arctic Biology at Fairbanks, youll meet a
number of sleeping ground squirrels. And what weve learned about
them and hibernation may help in the fight against cancer.
Mr. Chairman, there is much going on, and knowing about it
stimulates further curiosity, further interest in exploration, and
this discussion surely is to be continued.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Treadwell follows:]
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PREPARED STATEMENT OF MEAD TREADWELL, CHAIR,
U.S. ARCTIC RESEARCH COMMISSION
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committees:
On behalf of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, thank you for holding this
hearing. The more people know about the exciting research going on in the Polar
Regions during the International Polar Year, the more likely we are to see the legacy of a strong polar science program.
Today, I would like to address actions Congress may want to make this session
that could make the International Polar Year more successful.
I will also speak to the legacies of IPY the Congress may want to help foster,
which could mean a robust Arctic research program for years to come.
A successful IPY will do more than gather vast knowledge in the next 2 years.
With IPY, we should establish long-term monitoring networks and other science infrastructure, including the ship- and land-based research platforms as well as remote sensing technologies, to keep the knowledge coming.
Within the government itself, IPY will help us focus on our goals in the Arctic
in science and in policy. The Commission believe we must use IPY to craft a more
coordinated and sustainable long-term Arctic research program.
Background on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission
I have had the honor of serving on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission since
2001, and as Chair for less than 2 months. Six other Commissioners, whose names
are listed on the cover of this testimony, also serve. This Commission, Mr. Chairman, reports to you in the Congress and to the President, on goals and priorities
for the U.S. Arctic Research Program. With our counterpart, the Interagency Arctic
Research Policy Committee, (IARPC), we work to see those goals accomplished.
Much of that work is building cooperationamong U.S. agencies, universities, the
State of Alaska, the private sector, indigenous and other Arctic residents, and other
nations.
Two immediate calendar items face the Commission.
First is the kickoff for the International Polar Year. Within the Commission, were
committed to making this a successful broadening and strengthening of Arctic
science in many places and many disciplines. It is cooperationacross disciplines,
between the poles, around the world. We will participate in outreach. With the Congress and within the Executive Branch, were encouraging a level of funding and
participation in IPY appropriate to the Nations leadership in polar research.
Our Commissions second calendar item is a Goals Report due for delivery to the
Congress and the President in late January, as specified by law. In formulating that
Goals Report, Commissioners are focused on how we can ensure that the excitement
of IPY results in long-term, sustainable legacies in Arctic research.
The International Polar Year
The first International Polar Year was in 18821883. The last International Polar
Year, in 19321933, helped inspire the first International Geophysical Year fifty
years ago, in 19571958. The excitement surrounding this event was palpable, and
while I recall little of my reading in second grade, I do remember an article in My
Weekly Reader.
Last time around, IPY and its global counterpart, the International Geophysical
Year, happened as the world entered the atomic age . . . the jet age . . . the space
age . . . and soon, the digital age. The excitement of explorationthe assault on
the unknownwas contagious. This time, we hope for a similar epidemica continuing thirst for knowledge.
Whatever we gain in knowledge this time around, this IPY has important differences. Like never before, the IPY will involve the people who live in the Arctic.
Political barriers that existed during the Cold War are behind us, and Arctic cooperation is strong. Physical access barriers are disappearing, not just with receding
ice, but also with improved technology and navigation, at sea and in the air. Communication barriers to exploration and data collection have disappeared, with the
availability of fiber networks and low-earth orbiting communications networks like
Iridium phone and data systems that allow polar research to be conducted, literally,
from afar. Barriers in scientific disciplines, and those between western science and
traditional knowledge, are also fading. That trend suggests that the knowledge we
get, in the end, will itself be more whole.
Thus, we begin this IPY with the prospect that its real legacy will be a connected
Arcticone that will continue to reveal itself, know itself, and share its mysteries.
Immediate Actions the Congress May Take in Support of IPY
There are two ways the Congress can help make the IPY a rousing success.
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First is getting the word out. We encourage you to have more hearings, as IPY
progresses. I have heard Senator Murkowski tell the science community, several
times; we must share the excitement of exploration in the polar regions. This is a
risky and adventurous frontier, with great rewards from solving its mysteries.
We encourage Members of the Congress to visit the field during the International
Polar Year, to see the science firsthand, and to understand the value of what were
learning. Understanding the Earths processesand mans impactis just the start.
IPY research will help human health, energy security, safer, sounder homes, and
will increase culture sustainability.
We believe the U.S. will be well represented in IPY if appropriate funding is provided in several agency budgets. The Administrations current proposal for $62 million funding from NSF should be approved by the Congress this year. It remains
to be seen what the President and NSF will propose for next year. If we are to move
beyond fragmented and leveraged funding for IPY, that number should be significantly greater, and should take into account the long-term need for monitoring and
data management.
Second, were hopeful that enough funds and encouragement will be provided to
other agencies to make sure we are able to fulfill our commitments. Two agencies
under the purview of the Senate Commerce CommitteeNOAA and NASAcould
play a pivotal role.
Mr. Chairman, I was appointed by the President, and we are team players with
the Administration. At the same time, based on statue, legislative intent, and our
oath to support it, we are obliged to tell you and the Congress where the Arctic program funding requests may not effectively meet the Nations Arctic Research Plan.
NOAA has recently reduced its office, by eliminating the Arctic Program, and just
prior to the IPY. Nevertheless, NOAA has a lot of work to do. Through negotiations
on Capitol Hill in 1996, the Arctic Research Commission convinced Congress to establish an Arctic Research Initiative (ARI) within the budget of NOAA with the understanding that the ARI would be institutionalized as part of NOAAs annual budget request. Instead, the ARI, which provides funds for extramural research through
a competitive process that is managed by CIFAR (the Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research), has been zeroed out in the past 2 years. Additionally, the Joint Russian-American Long Term Census of the Arctic (RUSCALA), the result of the Memorandum of Understanding between NOAA and the Russian Academy of Sciences in
2003, is an on-going collaboration between U.S. and Russian scientists in the northern Bering and Chukchi Sea. Funds are needed for this program to make awards
for proposals already competitively selected and approved by NOAA for work beginning in FY07 for the next major Russian-American cruise in 2008. Without the requisite commitments to such research infrastructureso critical to mobilizein light
of the upcoming IPY, it will be difficult to ensure a strong U.S. presence in the initiative.
NOAA funds sought for Arctic research in the coming year must support further
construction of the Barrow Global Climate Change Research Facility. Funds provided must also support NOAAs leadership of the Arctic Councils Arctic Monitoring
and Assessment Program, and NOAAs participation in the development of integrated monitoring networks. To make these things happen, the Arctic program of
that agencyrecently downgradedneeds more visibility and support.
At NASA, the pressure on the Earth Science budget is well documented. Much
of NASAs current Earth sensing infrastructure is in polar orbits, meaning that coverage of the Arctic and the Antarctic is robust, but therefore at greater risk with
delays and cancellations of key remote sensing systems. Japans cooperation with
the United States on Arctic research could be much more productive if the work
being done at the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks had greater
NASA participation. Congress can help make this happen.
Within our government, it is important to encourage each appropriate agency of
the U.S. Government to participate in IPY. Further, this is a great time for Congress to stress to agencies that they identify their role in Arctic research and integrate their work with other agencies.
Toward that end, Congress has called for an integrated Arctic research budget
from Federal agencies since 1984, to be delivered in enough time for your analysis
and ours from the Commission. The data call made this year, done only after Senator Murkowskis request, lacked input from several key agencies. Im happy to report that the Commission, IARPC staff, and the staff of OMB are working together
to solve this problem. We will try again this year to see that the budget presented
to Congress in January clearly shows what were up to during the IPY. And even
though the requirement is in the law, we are helped in this process when Congress
asks for the information.
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The Commission believes that knowing what were doingacross the boardcan
promote much stronger cooperation.
What we have learned so far is that our Nations commitment to Arctic research
has grown significantly in recent years. IARPC reports that the U.S. Arctic Research Program, with expenditures approaching $400 million a year, has significant
work going on in a broad variety of areas. At least fifteen Federal agencies support
this work, and the U.S. program benefits from important partnerships with the
State of Alaska, our Arctic neighbors, the European Community, Korea, China, and
Japan.
The Commission, for much of the last decade, has worked to focus the U.S. Arctic
Research Program on five key questions:
What is the changing climate of the Arctic, and how will it affect the rest of
the world?
What processes govern the worlds richest fishery in the Bering Sea?
What can be learned to enhance the health of Arctic residents?
What are the vast resources of the Arctic that we own in common?
What changes to Arctic infrastructure must we make in response to changing
climate?
To answer these questions, the research community has responded with a set of
integrated science programs, some of which are reflected in budgets sent to Congress, and some of which exist as less formal initiatives combining contributions
from many sources.
SEARCH, the Study of Environmental Arctic Change, is the Nations integrated
look at climate and environmental change in the region. Funding is led by NSF,
but agency contributions come from a number of sources. Leadership exists both
in the academic community and in the government.
BEST, the Bering Ecosystem Study, is a part of SEARCH. It focuses on the Bering Sea, and is just getting started under NSFs leadership. The work of the
North Pacific Research Board is adding greatly to the capabilities of this science
plan.
Arctic Health studies are coming together through a U.S. initiative at the Arctic
Council. Dr. Alan Parkinson, speaking here today, can tell you how NIH and
CDC are bringing a broad base together to address very important questions,
from contaminants in the food chain to dealing with the high alcohol and suicide problems in the Arctic populations.
The U.S. Geological Survey has taken the lead in the Resource Assessment program called for in the U.S. Arctic Research plan. Other agencies should join,
and the Commission is formulating specific recommendations in that area.
Infrastructure Research has no specific agency leader today, and we hope yet
for integration. Candidates to participate in an integrated infrastructure research program include the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The Commission will be
working with IARPC to bring this about.
Lastly, Congress may want to encourage a discussion about U.S. Arctic policy during IPY. The last time U.S. Government agencies sat down to comprehensively review Arctic policy was in 1994. While the Presidential statement that survives that
process is in force today, much has changed. We know much more about Arctic climateand the change has brought imperatives in security, housing, infrastructure,
transportation, and research.
The world is looking to the Arctic much more now for its energy security. The
Commission has recommended that new support for oil spill research programs, focusing both on prevention, detection, and response, become a national priority.
Even as the Senate considers the Law of the Sea Treaty, the Commission believes
we should move forward with the mapping of the Arctic Ocean floor which other
nations have begun to claim under Article 76. Congress could help make the submarine platforms available to do it more quickly.
What weve learned through Arctic cooperation, whether through the Northern
Forum, the Arctic Council, or by other mechanisms, is that there are opportunities
for common development, common protection, common exploration. The long-held
goal of using the Arctic Ocean as a regular shipping route may soon be upon us.
Other nations have recently held public examinations of their goals in the Arctic,
and it is appropriate for the U.S. to do the same.
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An IPY Legacy: Monitoring and Other Infrastructure
At the U.S. Arctic Research Program, we believe the legacy of IPY should be longterm, sustainable infrastructure for Arctic research.
As our past and present Commissioners deliberate with the science community on
what research infrastructure is needed in the 21st century, there are a wide variety
of needs.
Just this afternoon, a House Committee was briefed on a new National Academy
study on the Nations needs for an icebreaker fleet.
In our upcoming Goals Report, you will hear much from us about icebreakers, research vessels, submarines, satellites, and autonomous vehicles under water and in
the air.
The Bering Strait has been described as the choke point of the Arctic and yet
support for oceanographic moorings (that monitor currents, temperature, salinity,
various measures of productivity, and nutrient status) in both Russian and American waters are funded on a year-by-year basis and at present, hinges in part on
funding for the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS). As an integral part of the
Arctic Observing Network, long-term support for the yearly recovery and deployment of moorings in the Bering Strait is an essential part of our IPY legacy and
key to understanding how change will affect storm events in our coastal communities, marine mammal and fisheries resources so important to our citizens, as well
as evolving transportation needs in the Arctic.
We must sustain onshore research platforms in the Arctic, such as the Barrow
Global Climate Change Research Facility, or Toolik Lake in the Brooks Range, or
our cooperative facilities in Greenland, Russia, or Svalbard.
Outside the Arctic, researchers rely on communications networks, supercomputers, ice core repositories, carbon-14 dating laboratories in Florida, and the National Ice Center here in Suitland, Maryland.
Mr. Chairman, there is hardly a member of the Senate who does not represent
facilitiesand researchersparticipating in the important work of Arctic research.
But there is one key infrastructure legacy that is on the top of everyones list. The
United States will soon launch an Arctic Observing Network that must and will be
one of the key legacies of IPY. It will be a network of networks actually, that will
collect data, in as close to real time, with standards of measurement, across the Arctic. The ambition of such a networknurtured by the very effective international
cooperation which produced the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment 2 years ago in
the Arctic Councilis strong.
In the next few years, new technologies will bring datasets we collect once a year
to us in real time. Hydrology, humidity, temperature, rainfall, winds, atmospheric
gas composition, radiation, ozone, ice thickness, currents, salinityinformation collected by many agencies in many placeswill be more prolific, more immediate, and
most important, more organized.
While the observation capabilities the U.S. supports in the field today may be
enough to declare that we have the AON going, the process of designing an improved system, identifying gaps, setting standards, and managing data has yet to
take place. We urge the Congress to pay close attention as this process begins.
On so many key issues today, the Arctic is a bellwether for the globe. With suitable support, this could be an excellent and early working system of the networks
envisioned as part of the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS). It
supports the goals, as my fellow Commissioner Dr. Charles Vorosmarty wrote, of the
American Competitiveness Initiative.
Mobilizing and harmonizing major land, water, air, and space-based observing
systems across the pan-Arctic would also be an important vehicle to entrain the
U.S. private sector, stimulating innovation through technology along the lines
of the American Competitiveness Initiative. The use of miniaturized, state-ofthe-art sensors provides an interesting focal point private sector engagement.
Training the next generation of scientists and engineers also provides critical
long-term support to the ACI.
What Congress could do: Call for an assessment (through the National Academies Polar Research Board) of U.S. science and technology capabilities in this
realm with the express aim of uniting academic, agency and private sector partners; stimulate private investment in instrumentation, data broadcast technologies, supercomputing, new mathematical and statistical approaches; commit
to make appropriate instrumentation purchases . . .
Exploration Under IPY: the Human Legacy
As our explorers head to the field, Ive heard Senator Murkowski say several
times, it is up to them to share the excitement with the public.
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When I speak to kids about Arctic exploration, weve got lots to discuss. NASAs
animation of receding ice cover, as seen from satellites in space, prompts a discussion not only of climate change and shipping routes, but whether the robot that took
the picture had rockets in his shoes.
Alaskans, used to landing at runway 6 at Ted Stevens International Airport in
Anchorage, learned that it is now runway 7 because the magnetic North Pole is constantly moving, and taking the Aurora Borealis with it.
Reports of mid-ocean ridge spreading in the Arctic Ocean bottom have forced instructors to rewrite the textbook on plate tectonics, and recent coring near the
North Pole has revealed organic-rich sediments that could likely serve as source material for oil and gas deposits around the Arctic margin.
If you get no further than the freezers at the Institute of Arctic Biology at Fairbanks, you will meet a number of sleeping ground squirrels. What weve learned
about them may help in the fight against cancer.
Mr. Chairman, there is much going on, and knowing about it stimulates further
curiosity, further interest in exploration. This discussion, surely, is to be continued
. . .
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you, Mead. Its going to be a stimulating period, theres no question about that.
Our next witness is Dr. Arden Bement, Director of the National
Science Foundation.
Doctor, its nice to have you with us again.
STATEMENT OF DR. ARDEN L. BEMENT, JR., DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Dr. BEMENT. Thank you, Chairman Stevens and Senator Murkowski, for the opportunity to testify on the upcoming International Polar Year and how NSF and our sister agencies are addressing this important opportunity.
Fifty years ago, the Third International Polar Year and International Geophysical Year entranced Americans youth and galvanized Americas innovative powers. That effort left a permanent
legacy ranging from scientific Earth satellites to the development
of a generation of world-class scientists and engineers whose interest in research was piqued by news coverage of polar research.
NSF has equally high aspirations for the upcoming International
Polar Year. We intend to create a legacy of infrastructure and data
for future generations of scientists. We also intend to expand international cooperation. And, finally, we hope to engage the public in
polar discovery and help attract and educate the next generation
of scientists and engineers.
The impacts of climate change on northern peoplesand, more
generally, on ecosystems and polar environmentsstrongly motivate a broader focus than that of the last IPY. Thus, NSF will emphasize three scientific themes, coupled with education and outreach activities.
The extremes of polar environments provide unique opportunities
to advance our understanding of how organisms adapt to climate
extremes, how they have evolved, at the genomic level, and how
gene expression depends on the physical environment. The development of a circum-Arctic Observing Network, or AON, will provide
the missing data essential to faithfully model and predict Arctic climate change. Multinational investigations of changes in the
Earths great ice sheets will improve our understanding of how
these affect global conditions, including global sea level.
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NSFs Office of Polar Programs and the Director for Education
and Human Resources have already funded nine truly outstanding
and creative projects in education and public outreach that will
launch our IPY efforts in great style. The second round of projects
will be funded early next year.
To fulfill the IPY leadership role assigned to NSF by OSTP, we
are cooperating with other Federal agencies. NSF and NASA are
working to coordinate ground-based and space-based observations
in order to provide a comprehensive body of benchmark data.
NASA has initiated discussions with space agencies around the
world to bring the worldwide satellite fleet to bear on this effort.
A circum-Arctic system requires active collaboration with countries around the Arctic Rim. NSF has already developed strong
links with Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Russia to bring their
activities to bear on AON. We are working actively with the European Polar Board and the Canadian officials to build IPY partnerships.
In response to the recommendations of the Arctic Research Commission, NSF is now working closely with the Northern Pacific Research Board. We are aligning our Bering Sea Ecosystems Program
with NPRBs related studies and with NOAAs long-term Bering
Sea fisheries management activity. Through these combined efforts, we aim to understand the response of the Bering Sea ecosystem, the most productive fishery in the U.S., to environmental
change; most notably, to reductions in seasonal sea ice.
Barrow was a key station in the first IPY, and we anticipate it
will be, again. U.S. contributions to an Arctic Observing Network
activity are expected to include Barrows new Global Climate
Change Research facility, and investments to improve a safe and
effective year-round research capability to the University of Alaskas Toolik Field Station.
NSF places high priority on securing funding to build a new icestrengthened ship to serve research needs in the waters around
Alaska. Subject to appropriations in Fiscal Year 2007, construction
will begin during the IPY. Designated the Alaska Regional Research Vessel, the ship will conduct scientific research cruises yearround in waters of the Gulf of Alaska and southern Bering Sea,
and, in the summer, as far north as the Chukchi and the Beaufort
Seas, during minimal ice cover.
Chairman Stevens and Chairwoman Murkowski, earlier I mentioned the educational legacy created by IPY 50 years ago. The current IPY effort has even greater potential. By linking the publics
fascination with things polar to outreach into museums, homes,
and classrooms that conveys the excitement of research and discovery, we can attract a new generation of Americans into science
and engineering careers, while contributing to a more informed
public.
Thank you both, again, for providing an opportunity to highlight
NSFs role in the upcoming International Polar Year, and I would
be pleased to answer any of your questions.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Bement follows:]
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PREPARED STATEMENT OF DR. ARDEN L. BEMENT, JR., DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to testify before the Committee
concerning the upcoming International Polar Year (IPY) and on how the National
Science Foundation (NSF) and our sister agencies are addressing this important opportunity. Our job is to enable U.S. scientists and educators to realize these opportunities, opportunities that members of todays distinguished panel will be speaking
to in more detail.
We intend for the International Polar Year periodwhich has been declared by
the International Council of Science (ICSU) and the U.S. National Academies (NAS)
to be from March 2007 through March 2009to explore new frontiers in polar
sciences; improve our understanding of the critical role of the Earths polar regions
in global processes; create a legacy of infrastructure and data for future generations
of scientists; expand international cooperation; engage the public in polar discovery;
and help attract and educate the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Fifty years ago, the Third International Polar Year and International Geophysical
Year (IPY3/IGY) entranced Americas youth and galvanized Americas innovative
powers in ways that created a legacy that lives on today. That legacy ranges from
scientific Earth satellites to the development of a generation of world-class scientists
and engineers who drove our knowledge-based economy forward for the next halfcentury.
Advances in instrumentation and technology, the realization that polar regions
are critical in the changing global climate system, and linkages among international
research organizations offer opportunities for breakthrough developments both in
fundamental disciplinary science and in science for policy during IPY. In addition,
the impacts of climate change on northern communities, and more generally, on ecosystems in polar environments strongly motivate a broader focus than the last IPY
had. The NSF tradition of linking research and education offers the further opportunity to engage Americas youth in this period of discovery and awaken them to
the excitement of a career in science and engineering.
In his introduction to the American Competitiveness Initiative, Leading the
World in Innovation, President George Bush stated that a well-educated and
skilled work force is the bedrock of Americas competitiveness. U.S. institutions of
higher learning remain the envy of the world, but the global economy has greatly
increased the competition for the best and brightest students. America must ensure
that its best and brightest young people give appropriate consideration to careers
in science and engineering and that they take advantage of the fact that ours is the
most open educational system in the world. NSF, its sister agencies, and IPY have
a key role to play in achieving this goal.
NSF has been tasked by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
to provide leadership for the U.S. in IPY. And, the agency is poised to do exactly
that, both domestically and on the broad international stage. We have worked closely with our colleagues in other Federal agencies and with the NAS to that end over
the last two and a half years. Back in July 2004, I was pleased to be invited to deliver the keynote address at a meeting organized by the three Presidents of the NAS
that was devoted to IPY planning. With your permission, I would like to enter my
remarks for the record. As I said then, and I quote:
Both the National Academy of Sciences and the International Council of Science
have made a compelling case for why we should launch an international polar
year in 2007. NSF is in full agreement. In the polar regions, we are discerning
the outlines of environmental change, from sea ice extent, retreating glaciers,
shifting patterns in flora and fauna, to environmental observations by Arctic natives.
What is more, such changewhether environmental, biological, or socialhas
implications for the rest of the globe. Polar change ripples across the planet on
a spectrum of time scales, through the atmosphere, oceans, and living systems.
We do not yet fully understand the causes of what we are observing. Now is
the time to change this, for new tools make possible the needed observations
and synthesis. They range from satellites to ships to sensors, and from genomics
to nanotechnology, information technology, and advances in remote and robotic
technologies.
The NAS subsequently conducted a year-long study to develop a Vision for the
International Polar Year, one that would take advantage of the broad expertise of
the U.S. scientific community; position the U.S. for world leadership in IPY; and
most importantly, create a long-term legacy that would not otherwise exist. This Vision is providing a framework for IPY planning among the Federal agencies. It was
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developed under the leadership of Dr. Mary Albert of the U.S. Army Cold Regions
Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, New Hampshire, and I believe
my colleague on the panel, Dr. Robin Bell, will outline its recommendations in more
detail. Robin chairs the NAS/National Research Council (NRC) Polar Research
Board that oversaw the work of Marys committee. They both have earned our continuing gratitude and congratulations.
In exercising NSFs leadership role, I also convened several meetings of the policylevel officials to discuss IPY planning. These activities resulted in a report we provided to the Congress last year and a number of agencies have taken the opportunity to update their sections of the report for this hearing. With your permission,
Mr. Chairman, I would like to submit a copy for the record and mention a few highlights.
NASA is holding discussions with space agencies around the world to organize a
coordinated program to map the polar regions using todays sophisticated satellites.
NSF and NASA are working together to coordinate space- and ground-based observations in order to provide future generations of scientists and others with a comprehensive body of benchmarked data. These data will greatly increase our ability
to discern change on a regional basisa basis that relates directly to the different
environments in which people work and live.
The Department of Commerces National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NSF are developing atmospheric, land and ocean-based environmental monitoring capabilities that will be key components of the planned circumArctic Observing Network (AON), which will significantly enhance our observing capability in the Arctic Region beyond that currently available. Data from this AON
will enable the U.S. multi-agency program SEARCHthe Study of Environmental
Arctic Changedeveloped under the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee
to get a handle on Arctic environmental change. We discuss specific U.S. investments later.
Here, too, the NAS have helped significantly with an NSF-funded study of how
best to implement AON. A circum-Arctic system requires active contributions from
countries around the Arctic rim. We have already developed strong links for coordination with the $30-million European program called DAMOCLES; have initiated
discussions with our Canadian colleagues; and have joined with Norway, Sweden,
Germany, and Russia in establishing an office in St. Petersburg to assist with linking Russian activities to AON. NOAA has led an effort to build U.S.-Russian Federation collaboration in ocean and polar region studies, as highlighted by the Russian American Long Term Census of the Arctic RUSALCA program. This will be a
key U.S.-Russian component of the IPY. NOAA, in collaboration with NSF, also
leads the U.S. participation in the IPY International Arctic System for Observing
the Atmosphere, which began as a grass roots international activity under the IPY
umbrella that now has the potential to provide the climate component of AON.
Responding to the recommendations of the Arctic Research Commissions Goals
Report, which Im sure Mr. Treadwell will mention in more detail, NSF is now
working closely with the Northern Pacific Research Board (NPRB) to align our Bering Sea Ecosystem Program (BEST) with NPRBs related studies, as well as NOAAs
long-term Bering Sea fisheries management activity. Through these combined efforts we aim to understand the response of the Bering Sea ecosystem, the most productive fishery in the U.S., to environmental change, most notably, reductions in
seasonal sea ice.
I would like to note that plans have been underway for several years for construction of a new ice-strengthened ship that would serve research needs in the waters
around Alaska. NSF has assigned high priority to securing funding to build this
ship, and subject to appropriation of funding in Fiscal Year 2007, construction will
begin during the IPY. Designated the Alaska Regional Research Vessel (ARRV), it
would likely be operated by a university as a UNOLS vessel. It would replace the
Alpha Helix, and like that ship, it would conduct research cruises year round in
waters of the Gulf of Alaska and southern Bering Sea. And in the summer, the
ARRV would travel as far north as the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas during minimum
ice cover.
Additional IPY efforts by NOAA, NASA and other sister agencies are described
in the attached document entitled, The International Polar Years 20072009.
NSFs Office of Polar Programs (OPP) and the Directorate for Education and
Human Resources (EHR) combined to jumpstart IPY preparations by committing
$12 million from their FY06 appropriations to a special IPY proposal solicitation.
The solicitation drew a very strong response from U.S. scholars; taken together the
proposals requested over $150 million in the four focus areas (three science areas
and education).
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We chose to focus on areas that, for one reason or another, needed extra lead time
for preparation and that would represent a good start toward realizing the NAS/
NRC Vision. The NSF merit review of the education proposals was completed just
a few days ago, and the results exemplify the creativity and the enthusiasm of our
educators and scientists. I expect to be able to announce the results from the three
research areas by the end of October. Meanwhile, the Program Officers overseeing
the merit review process tell me the quality of the proposals is outstanding.
Building on this excellent FY06 start, NSF Program Officers from the Agencys
disciplinary directorates are working with OPP to formulate how best to respond to
IPY opportunities in FY07 and FY08. On the basis of their work, the Administration
requested $62 million in FY07. And, Im very happy that both Houses of Congress
have signaled their agreement with our IPY agenda.
The strong partnership created with EHR in developing the FY06 solicitation is
the very first legacy of IPY; it will ensure an effective outreach and education effort
throughout the upcoming 2 years and well into the future. A strong partnership
with the NSFs Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) is enabling
rapid development of new international links, as well as a strengthening of existing
ones.
IPY planning by the Biological and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorates and studies by the NAS/NRC have identified an exciting group of leadingedge research subjects in biology and the social sciences, ones that with strong IPY
support and focus could create 21st century legacies. The Geosciences Directorate
and OPP have a long history of joint cooperation for proposals, and IPY provides
a strong basis for developing new partnerships in key focus areas such as climate
studies. The Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate and OPP have an outstanding partnership in astrophysics at the South Pole, another excellent IPY building block. Thus, there is great potential for creating legacies through research
achievements, a new generation of American scientists and engineers, and new networks of international collaborations.
The aforementioned solicitation identified three science themes and a strong education focus as key investment areas for special emphasis during FY06. These
themes will be developed further during FY07 and FY08. A cross-directorate working group is evaluating the extent to which the original focus areas will have been
addressed by the FY06 solicitation, and how they can be broadened to address more
of the Vision developed by the NAS. NSF and the Office of Management and Budget
will soon discuss how to address these focus areas in the FY08 budget request to
Congress.
The first of these research themes addresses climate change in the Arctic by contributing to building the circum-Arctic Observing Network (AON) that I mentioned
earlier. This program was organized under the direction of the U.S. Interagency
Arctic Research Policy Committee chaired by the NSF Director and involves partnership with NOAA, NASA, DOI, DOE, NIH, DOD, USDA, and the Smithsonian Institution.
During the past few decades, the Arctic has experienced significant environmental
changes that could have broad-reaching consequences for human and animal populations in the form of impacts on local ecosystems, as well as on global climate. One
example is that winter sea and river icefor centuries used by northern communities to facilitate hunting and transportation and more recently for industrial developmenthave become useable for shorter and shorter periods with less predictability. Warmer winter temperature minimums have lead to the spread of pests. For
example, Spruce Bark Beetles once thrived only in the lower 48 U.S. states, but now
have become a threat to more northerly communities by killing large stands of forest and increasing the risk of significant fire damage to communities and habitats.
But new opportunities are also emerging. For example, significantly reduced summer sea-ice minimums might mean that the Arctic finally becomes the summer seatransportation route once sought by early explorers.
The AON will provide a network of observations that will facilitate this understanding of the profound change that is occurring in the Arctic in a global context.
To achieve this goal, Cyberinfrastructure (CI) will need to be developed to provide
interoperability between the various elements of the observing network, seamless
broadband communications capabilities at the poles, data storage and archive capabilities, and timely access to dataparticularly for input into large-scale coupled
models. This initiative will not only support the Foundations broader CI interests,
it also supports the broader Administration goal of developing a Global Earth Observing System (GEOS). The Chairman need not be reminded that Barrow was a
key station in the first IPY, and we anticipate it will be again. U.S. contributions
to a pan-Arctic AON activity are expected to include Barrows new Global Climate
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Change Research facility and investments to provide a safe and effective year-round
research capability to the University of Alaskas Toolik Field Station.
A second broad theme addresses research on what were calling Life in the Cold
and Dark. Relatively recent developments in instrumentation and technology offer
the opportunity to study the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to the climate
extremes they face in polar environments, how they have evolved at the genomic
level and how gene expression depends on the physical environment. A recent NAS
report, Frontiers in Polar Biology in the Genomics Era, outlines the opportunities
and challenges, and describes the ecological relevance and research benefits of these
tools of modern biology. The Life in the Cold and Dark theme also encompasses research on the interactions between living and physical systems at all levels and
brings together researchers trained in the biological and social sciences.
The last International Polar Year in 19571958 focused almost entirely on physical science but IPY 20072009 will be different. Many northern languages are now
spoken by only small numbers of elderly people and NSF will partner with the National Endowments for the Humanities in the U.S. and with Canada and other
countries in sponsoring work to document those endangered languages in Alaska
and throughout the Arctic.
NSF-supported research also will address issues associated with environmental
change that are of critical importance to people living in the North. These studies,
sponsored jointly by NSF and NIH, will seek to determine not only what causes
change and predicting it more accurately, but also how change allows infectious diseases to move into new areas where vulnerability is high because the people and
wildlife will not have developed resistance to the novel pathogens that will be moving into these regions.
The third broad theme addresses changes in the Earths great ice sheets, changes
that could have profound impacts on global conditions including global sea level. Recent data indicate that the Greenland Ice Sheet is thinning at the edges but thickening at the center. Some ice streams draining the West Antarctic Ice Sheet have
slowed while at least one other is accelerating. Relatively small changes in the mass
balance of these ice sheets can raise global sea level significantly while complete
loss of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet would raise global sea level by over five meters.
Furthermore, a combination of ground-based, airborne, and satellite observations
shows that surface melt water can penetrate the ice sheet at thicknesses of a kilometer and accelerate flow beyond previously suspected rates. Research supported by
NSF, NASA and other agencies under this theme will combine with work supported
by many other countries to develop a much more complete understanding of the behavior of these ice sheets and how changes in this behavior might evolve. The theme
will also address further studies of ice sheet changes that occurred over geological
time and the causes and effects of those changes.
The overall scientific impact of IPY will only become apparent through synthesis
activity that brings together results from disparate research groups addressing different aspects of these broad themes. NSF recognizes the critical importance of
funding workshops and related activities to that end, and will do so well beyond the
end of the two-year IPY period.
The education focus has the potential to create a legacy for the decades, one that
will benefit the Nation as well as the science and engineering community more specifically. By linking the publics fascination with things polar to outreach that conveys the excitement of research and discovery, we hope to attract a new generation
of Americans into S&E careers while contributing to a more informed public.
With the jumpstart provided by the EHR/OPP FY06 solicitation, NSF will enter
the IPY period well-placed to make major impacts during the ensuing two-year period. A multi-year outreach and education strategy will have substantially greater
impact than one limited to a single year, while the international collaborations that
can greatly enhance the reach and impact of NSF-supported research will also hinge
on continued support.
While our outreach and education strategy will be focused on U.S. students, parents and families, we recognize that IPY also brings the opportunity to demonstrate
to them how research and understanding can result when people from many nations
work together on problems of global interest. The many international scientist-toscientist collaborations now under development will help us carry that story to our
public and to others around the world.
Indeed, part of the IPY impact will be the enduring partnerships established
among scientists in the over 30 countries that have signaled their intention to provide funding for IPY activity. Countries around the world have seized on the 50 year
anniversary of IPY3/IGY to create a new legacy of scientific understanding and a
new generation of scientists and engineers. We understand that Canada has committed $150 million over 6 years to its IPY effort, Korea$150 million, Japan$460
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million for a new icebreaker, and China$60 million for infrastructure and research. Among the EU commitments, one exceeds $30 million for a project closely
linked to the U.S. IPY centerpiece addressing climate change in the Arctic.
The 19571958 International Polar Year culminated in an international meeting
in Washington, called by the State Department, to frame what became the Antarctic
Treaty. As President Nixon noted in 1970, . . . the Antarctic is the only continent
where science serves as the principal expression of national policy and interest. The
State Department plans to host the annual meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties in 2009, which will spotlight the historic diplomatic achievement by
the Treaty Parties 50 years ago. We expect this new IPY to create a further legacy
of international partnerships in the interest of advancing scientific research and understanding.
The U.S. research community is poised to provide worldwide leadership throughout IPY, and NSF is committed to enabling that to the best of our ability.
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you, Doctor Bement. Im sure were

going to see a lot of each other in the years ahead here now, but
this is a very important function were going to commence.
Our next witness is Vice Admiral Robert Papp, the Chief of Staff
of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Admiral?
STATEMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL ROBERT PAPP,
CHIEF OF STAFF, U.S. COAST GUARD
Admiral PAPP. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon. And,

Senator Murkowski, good afternoon to you, as well. Thank you for
including the Coast Guard in this hearing this afternoon. Its my
pleasure today to discuss the Coast Guards role in the International Polar Year.
Id like to submit my full statement for the record and follow on
with just a few brief comments.
Chairman STEVENS. Yes, all statements will be printed in full in
the record. I noticed the others have abbreviated theirs, too, but we
appreciate your courtesy.
Admiral PAPP. Thank you, sir.
The Coast Guards committed to providing support to the scientific community during the IPY to make it a success. Weve always maintained a presence in the Arctic, since 1867, when President Andrew Johnson dispatched one of our cutters to research and
chart the waters of the Alaska coastline, while, at the same time,
enforcing United States sovereignty and laws, and ensuring the
safety of Americans in that newly acquired territory.
Coast Guard missions to support safety, security, and stewardship, as well as sovereignty in the Arctic and Antarctic, have been
continuous and sustained over the decades. And in 1964, President
Lyndon Johnson directed the Coast Guard to become the sole agency with responsibility for Federal icebreaking resources. That role
was reaffirmed in 1990 by a Presidential declaration, and then
validated recently in the Coast Guard Roles and Missions Study of
1999. Put simply, the United States Coast Guard has the authority, the experience, and the capabilities to support and sustain operations in the polar regions.
Now, in terms of capabilities, 50 years ago four Wind-Class Coast
Guard icebreakers supported the U.S. efforts in the Third International Polar Year and International Geophysical Year. Coast
Guard icebreakers also participated in the first Operation Deep
Freeze, in 1956, which established U.S. presence on the Antarctic
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continent. Today, one heavy icebreaker, the POLAR SEA, remains
to support the U.S. Antarctic program resupply effort. Her sister
ship, POLAR STAR, is in caretaker status, and would take up to
18 months to reactivate. One medium Coast Guard polar icebreaker, HEALY, remains to provide scientific and icebreaking support in the Arctic.
The Coast Guard is committed to working with the science community and other Federal agencies to provide the support needed
to make the upcoming IPY a success. In accordance with our existing Memorandum of Agreement, well support the National Science
Foundation and other agencies, as requested and as funded.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today, and Id
be delighted to answer your questions.
[The prepared statement of Admiral Papp follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL ROBERT PAPP,
CHIEF OF STAFF, U.S. COAST GUARD
Introduction
Good afternoon Chairman Stevens, Chairman Lugar, Senator Inouye, Senator
Biden, and distinguished Members of the Committees. It is my pleasure to appear
before you today to discuss the Coast Guards role in the International Polar Year
(IPY). The International Council of Science (ICSU) and the U.S. National Academies
have stated that the goals of the International Polar Year (March 2007 through
March 2009) are: to explore new frontiers in polar sciences; improve our understanding of the critical role of the Earths polar regions in global processes; create
a legacy of infrastructure and data for future generations of scientists; expand international cooperation; engage the public in polar discovery; and help attract and educate the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Fifty years ago, four Wind Class Coast Guard icebreakers supported U.S. efforts
in the Third International Polar Year and International Geophysical Year. Coast
Guard polar icebreakers also participated in the first Operation Deep Freeze in
1956, which established a stable U.S. presence on the Antarctic continent by forging
a path through the challenging Antarctic ice belt, allowing a U.S. naval task force
to establish permanent bases at McMurdo and the South Pole. Today, one heavy
Coast Guard polar icebreaker, the Cutter POLAR SEA, remains to support the U.S.
Antarctic Program re-supply effort; the other heavy polar icebreaker, the Cutter
POLAR STAR is in caretaker status and could be available for use with approximately 18 months advance notice, due to extensive maintenance requirements. In
the Arctic Region in 1957, the U.S. Coast Guard successfully sent the Cutters
STORIS, BRAMBLE, and SPAR through the Northwest Passage to determine the
feasibility of an emergency Defense Early Warning (DEW) line shipping support
route. Today, one medium Coast Guard polar icebreaker, the Cutter HEALY, remains to provide science and icebreaking support in the Arctic.
Since 1956, the Coast Guard has been a regular presence in the polar regions.
Significant historical events have been the catalyst that influenced national polar
policy decisions. These events have included: the purchase of Alaska; World War II;
the Cold War; the 19561957 International Geophysical Year; the Antarctic Treaty;
and the oil crises of the 1970s. In addition to the planned IPY events, recent focus
on issues such as the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, increasing world-wide demand for natural resources, changing shipping patterns driven by a global economy,
recent severe ice conditions in the Antarctic, and changes in Arctic sea ice have
fueled U.S. debate on national polar policies and associated resource needs.
These recent and developing polar issues, coupled with U.S. interests in both
polar regions, demand heightened awareness of our national polar missions. In particular, the United States must consider the increasing international initiatives in
the Arctic. Thus far, the Arctic has witnessed a growing foreign polar presence in
and more frequent and assertive international claims on the Arctic.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has been tasked by the White House to
provide leadership for the U.S. in the IPY. As the Federal agency charged with providing all U.S. polar icebreaker needs, the Coast Guard is committed to working
with the NSF, the science community, and other Federal agencies to provide the
support needed to make the upcoming IPY a success. The NSF and other Federal
agencies have had general discussions with the Coast Guard about using polar ice-
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breakers for the upcoming IPY, but have not made any specific requests outside of
annually planned polar icebreaker activities in the Arctic and Antarctic.
Coast Guard Polar Icebreakers
The Coast Guard polar icebreaker fleet currently consists of the cutters POLAR
SEA, POLAR STAR and HEALY. The POLAR SEA and POLAR STAR were built
and commissioned in the 1970s and are nearly thirty years in age. The HEALY was
commissioned in 1999 and has been actively supporting annual Arctic research deployments ever since. Unlike the older Polar class ships, HEALY was designed from
the keel up as a science platform, with due consideration of Coast Guard multi-mission capabilities as well. Due to the harsh and remote polar environment and operating procedures for polar icebreakers, all of these vessels require durable marine
engineering features in order to withstand years of colliding with sea ice (typically
having the characteristics of concrete, found twenty feet thick or more, and at temperatures as low as negative 60F). The unique environment in which polar icebreakers operate, coupled with their significant operating requirements, make the
vessels inherently costly to operate and maintain.
Conclusion
The Coast Guard is committed to working with the science community and other
Federal agencies to provide the support needed to make the upcoming IPY a success. In accordance with our existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), we will
support the National Science Foundation, and other agencies IPY efforts as requested and as funded. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today.
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you very much, Admiral.

Mead, you say that theres already mapping going on, on the
floor of the Arctic Ocean?
Mr. TREADWELL. Yes, sir. In fact, the mission that the HEALY
was doing when the two crew members were killed this summer
was a mapping mission. The Appropriations Committee has provided for that, for a couple of years now.
We actually believe that the United States should develop an
overall mapping plan for the extended Outer Continental Shelf,
and were glad to be participating in a workgroup that the Department of State has had on developing this proposal.
The idea of having a claim available forU.S. claim, under Article 76, Law of the Sea, is one of the drivers. A scientific driver is
that itwhile youve got the platforms out there, youre learning
much, much more, as well.
We believe its important to have the robust icebreaker platforms
for this work, and, also, weve recommended reinstating the use of
submarine platforms also to support this work.
Chairman STEVENS. Admiral, were all familiar with the loss of
your people up there, and we do express our regret about that. Is
thisis Mead right? Were they part of a mapping program up
there?
Admiral PAPP. Yes, sir, thats what they were involved in. They
had to terminate that early, as you know, and return, to deal with
the deaths of the crew members, and then return to home port
forto, sort of, recalibrate the crew. When that will be rescheduled, a continuation of that project, remains uncertain, at this
time.
Chairman STEVENS. How expensive is that program of mapping,
at this time?
Admiral PAPP. Im not sure how much that program costs, sir.
We get the money to operate the ship and take it out on the missions. NSF provides us the funding for that. And Im not sure what
the cost of that program is.
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Chairman STEVENS. Now, have we outlined mapping the whole
part of the Arctic adjacent to our StateArctic Ocean adjacent to
our State?
Admiral PAPP. I dont know that, sir. Weve been dealing in parts
of that. I think probably NSF has a better handle on that than we
do.
Chairman STEVENS. What do you know about it, Dr. Bement?
Dr. BEMENT. Yes. Senator, there are cartographic activities
under the AON initiative, and in order to do the whole survey of
the Arctic Ocean, that would be a multi-year activity that wouldnt
be completed during IPY, but there would be a good start. And that
would be an important area of research to sustain in the years
after IPY.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, let me apologize for my ignorance, but
I would assume that could have been done digitally by the equipment we have. Do we have to have divers to do that? Admiral?
Dr. BEMENT. Well, I cant answer, on the operational aspects of
how that would be done.
Admiral PAPP. No, sir, we dont havethe only reason we carry
divers on our icebreakers is for emergency procedures. If theres
something wrong, they become fouled in the ice, or if there are
equipment problems, we can put down divers to inspect the hull,
or, at times, if we have equipmentfor instance, if were using a
remotely operated vehicle to do some sort of work underneath the
ice, if there are some problems with the equipment, we can put our
divers down for that. But the divers are provided only for emergency circumstances.
Chairman STEVENS. Meadmy last questionyou assume that
theres going to be some cooperation in preparing a proposed plan
for this IPY, as it affects the Arctic, in general, and our state, in
particular, as far as Federal agencies are concerned?
Dr. BEMENT. Yes, sir. We do have an updated plan. Its updated,
as of September 18. And it includes activities in the Fiscal Year
2007 request. And wed be glad to present that, for the record.*
Chairman STEVENS. Id be pleased to have it. Have you made
submissions on that, Mead?
Mr. TREADWELL. If youre talking to meaddressing me, Senator,
the Arctic Research Commission, every other year, publishes a
Goals Report. That Goals Report is referred to the Congress and
the President, and then the Interagency Arctic Research Policy
Committee takes that report and revises the 5-year Arctic Research
Plan. The United States Arctic Research Program, we hope, basically runs against the plan that the IARPC prepares.
In my written testimony, Senator, I referred to five key goals
that were in our last Goals Report that were in the plan, two of
which are very good programs underway, the SEARCH program
and the BEST program, which is just getting started. Youll hear,
from Dr. Parkinson later this afternoon, about the first, really,
interagency initiative on health. And were seeing some gaps in the
others. But I can say, just as an affirmative answer to your question, we are hoping that by the time we bring a Goals Report back
* The information can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/ipy/ipylreptluslfedl
agencylplanning.pdf.
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to the Congress this winter, that that will stimulate a discussion
of legacies of IPY throughout the Government.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, when did you submit the last Goals
Report?
Mr. TREADWELL. The last Goals Report was submitted probably
the end of January 2005.
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you.
Senator Murkowski?
Admiral, I just want to make sure that I understand the situation with the icebreakers. You say the POLAR STAR is in this
caretaker status. So, for purposes of this upcoming IPY, we can assume that it will not be available for any research that might be
associated. Is that correct?
Admiral PAPP. We have no plan for it to be available, Senator.
Its laid up right now, and our estimate is it would take probably
up to 18 months to reactivate the ship, at a cost of probably about,
roughly, $25 million.
Senator MURKOWSKI. And then, the POLAR SEA is the one that
will be available down in the Antarctic. So, would that be available
at all in the Arctic regions, or is that exclusively down south?
Admiral PAPP. POLAR SEAs mission tasking is going to be for
the Antarctic resupply mission, and she has had some money put
into her to extend her anywhere from about 4 to 8 years. We did
the sustainment repairs that we wouldthat I was talking about
for the POLAR STAR. We accomplished that on POLAR SEA. That
should keep her running at least 4 to 8 more years. And we envision her primarily used for the Antarctic resupply mission.
Senator MURKOWSKI. So then, for any IPY activities in the northern region, what were looking at as the only available icebreaker,
then, is the HEALY? And will they be able to handle anything that
comes to them, as directed by NSF?
Admiral PAPP. Yes, maam. Thats the standard operation for the
HEALY, is the Arctic operations in support of NSF. HEALYs back
in port now, will be going through some minor repairs and a drydocking in the upcoming months, and then well prepare it for the
next season, and she will be devoted solely to the support of NSF
and the IPY.
Senator MURKOWSKI. OK, thank you.
Doctor, in your testimonyand both you and Mr. Treadwell both
spoke to the legacy of IPY, and this is something thatI really look
forward, Mead, to the report coming out, and further discussion
about the specifics of the legacy and how we make this happen, because its one of those thingswe do great research, we have great
things happening, but, at the end of the International Polar Year,
everyones done and goes off on their respective ways. We want to
know that the legacy is in place, whether its through the socioeconomic effect on some of our indigenous people, infrastructure,
whether its roads or facilities. We want to see that. And, Doctor,
youve spoken to the educational legacy and an effort underway
now to do an education and public outreach. What types of programs is NSF looking at right now for purposes of funding? And
what kind of prioritization do you go through for that?
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Dr. BEMENT. Well, we give this very high priority. I can talk
about what NSF has currently funded, but I should also point out
that were coordinating activities with other Federal agencies, so
thatsthe overall effort will be larger than what Ill represent.
And I should also point out that this is also international in scope,
so our international partners are also involved. In fact, almost all
the grants that we have issued to date have strong international
participation. But we issued nine grants, based on a current solicitation this year, to jumpstart public outreach and education four
are in the area of informal education that would involve museums,
the media, bringing the experience of polar research into the classroom and into the home. Three of them are in formal education, at
the graduate and undergraduate level, that deal with the development of new courses and also involving broadening participation of
minorities. Two of them are in the K12 area and will involve students and teachers actually working with researchers in both the
Arctic and the Antarctic. And some of this work will be brought to
bear on teacher training, teacher involvement, broadly. And so, we
think that is a good spectrum of activities to begin with, but I
should point out well be doing a second solicitation next year, and
we expect to have an additional spectrum of activities that will deal
with both public outreach and education.
Senator MURKOWSKI. What efforts will be made to make sure
that you are working with the Alaskan native community?
Dr. BEMENT. Almost everything that we do in Alaska, from a research point of view, and also from the social studies point of view,
will involve Native Alaskans. I should mention another project that
we have with the National Endowment for the Humanities, which
is focused on capturing endangered languages. There are about 52
native languages in Alaska, and half of those will disappear in another year or two. So, were working very activelyin fact, I think
we have a grant with the University of Alaska in Anchorageto
help not only document those languages, but understand the culture and the history thats embedded in those languages.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Well, we recognize that we have some challenges in education, the traditional education, particularly out in
some of our remote areas, and to know that you can make science
come alive, that you can make languages come alive by the kids
being the researchers, the kids being the scientists. I mean, I think
weve got some opportunity here to help you, but to also help so
many in our State.
It has been mentioned, certainly by Mead, and by you, as well,
the reality of multiple agencies, and then you throw in over 60 different countries that youre dealing with. Can you let me know how
were doing, in terms of the interagency cooperation? Is it working?
What do we need to be doing to make it flow better, if its not flowing well?
Dr. BEMENT. Well, today weve had several high-level meetings.
One meeting at the policy level was held last year. And it was during those meetings that we began to formulate the identification of
all the activities that each of the agencies are going to be engaged
in and begin cross-correlating, through interagency cooperation, to
see that we get highest leverage of those activities, especially to
with regard to the two major activities identified by the Arctic Re-
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search Commissionnamely, the AON, the Arctic Observing Network, and also the Bering Ecological Study, of the Bering Sea.
Those two are very critical. And its not only important that we get
a good start during IPY, but we also advocate for sustainability of
those activities so that they become stronger over time.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Again, going to that legacy concept that everyones talking about.
Mr. Treadwell, you had mentioned in your testimony some of this
fragmented funding and some of the issues associated with that.
We certainly look forward to this unified Arctic research budget. I
think that will certainly help. I think getting this Goals Report, as
it comes due, is going to begoing to be very important for all of
us. But as far as the funding issues that you have mentioned, you
haveperhaps its just politically correct language, but in your testimony, you say, a level of funding and participation appropriate
to the Nations leadership in polar research. Do you have any idea
what you figure the appropriate level might be?
Mr. TREADWELL. Well, Senator Murkowski, I dont have a specific
number in mind. I dont think the Commission has discussed a specific number. And, in fact, if you track the number that IARPC has
collated for Arctic research over the past several years, the Arctic
research budget level of the Government has grown, its now approaching $400 million.
Where were concernedand, as I mentioned in my testimony
were concerned that some of the goals that were adopted last time,
after our Goals Report two years ago, havent been funded as yet,
and also that some of the programsI mean, there is a general
concern in the science community that NOAA, by closing its Arctic
office, so to speak, is moving in the wrong direction.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Is NOAAs perspective, if you will, that its
a funding issue, and its not for lack of interest in the Office of Arctic Research?
Mr. TREADWELL. I dont think its for lack of interest. I mean, the
jobs that NOAA has taken on are tremendous. They basically coordinate the international work on the AMAP program through the
Arctic Council, the monitoring program. They are responsible for
this mapping project that we talked about, all of the funding for
the Barrow Climate Change Research Facility thatyou know, I
expect you to be involved in a ribbon-cutting for that sometime this
springis coming through NOAA. TheNOAA is responsible for
theI believe its the RUSCALA program, butthe U.S./Russian
cooperation on studies in the Bering Sea, which is a very important
window, given the access problems that all of our researchers have
with Russia. And to have all of these NOAA responsibilities that
theyve taken on, and theyre appropriately taking on, at the same
time to see the budget reductions, is just a difficulty.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Well, then how do we get these agencies,
whether theyre NOAA or whether its NASA, to get excited about
what weve got going with the potential for IPY so that they are
able to move forward with those goals that have been set out?
Mr. TREADWELL. I think we can both ask.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Well keep asking.
You mentioned the kickoff for the International Polar Year for
March 2007. And, Doctor, this might also be a question for you. Do
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we have anything planned for the kickoff? Is there anything that
were looking at doing? Should we be focusing on that right now?
Thats coming up soon.
Dr. BEMENT. The one thing that were trying to schedule, at the
present time, is a White House event on or at the time of the beginning of IPY, which will be next March. We would also like to
have major events both at thein the Arctic and the Antarctic, and
certainly in Alaska. We would like to be involved in a kickoff in
Alaska.
I should also mention, going back to the Barrow Global Climate
Change Research Facility, we recognize the importance of that facility to support researchers who are going to be doing research in
that area, especially in connection with AON, and their greatest
need is going to be for cyberinfrastructure and also for communications and data management tools, because the amount of data
thats going to be generated in the Arctic is going to be enormous,
especially in Alaska. So, we have put in change orders during the
construction of the building to incorporate cabling and other facilities, so that at the time we put in the cyberinfrastructure and also
broadband communications, the building will be fully equipped for
that.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Well, weve been given a copy of a picture
here of the Army Signal Corps building, built for the first IPY, in
Barrow, in 1888.
Dr. BEMENT. Yes.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Hopefully it looks better than what
weve
Dr. BEMENT. No, that has been
Senator MURKOWSKI.were able to produce in 1888.
Dr. BEMENT.has been fully renovated, and Ive been in that
building.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Yes. Well
Mead, one last question for you. You raised the issue that we
really havent updated our Arctic policy in over a decade now, a
decade-plus, and its an issue that I have been trying to raise to
a level here where we can have a discussion about Arctic policy.
But, oftentimes, I get looked at by other Senators or other colleagues and say, Well, Im from Alabama, or Arkansas, or Iowa.
Why do I care about Arctic policy? And I think what is happeningwere on the verge of pushing forward with IPYis an
awareness that the issues in the Arctic are not just isolated to the
north, and then, of course, down to the south, in the Antarctic. So,
Im hopeful that one of the things that we will accomplish with this
IPY is an understanding as to thisyou talk about the connectedness of the Arctic, I think we also need to look to the connectedness
of the Arctic to the rest of the world. And if you want to just take
a minute and speak to that
Mr. TREADWELL. Well
Senator MURKOWSKI.Id appreciate your thoughts.
Mr. TREADWELL.since 1994, the last time the Arctic policy
interagency process produced that kind of a document, a Presidential Decision document, it was just at the beginning of the Arctic Council process. In fact, the Arctic Council hadnt been formed,
as yet. We had the beginnings of circumpolar cooperation with the
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Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy. And, since then, weve
had a robust Arctic Council process, a robust northern forum process. The kinds of activities in this whole panoply of research activities with IPY will reflect not just geophysical science, which is extremely important, but also the social science that you talked
about. So, we have a much more developed Arctic community.
The change in the Arctic since thenthat statement really did
not address climate change, it didnt address the opportunities or
the problems of climate change in the Arctic, and the opportunities
are numerous. Its not just climate change, but technology, which
is going to make the Arctic Ocean much more accessible. And if you
think about it, an accessible Arctic Ocean that has changes in
boundaries coming withArticle 76 of the Law of the Sea Treaty,
has varying claims. The Russians have claimed 45 percent of the
Arctic Ocean under that, that hasnt been adjudicated, as yet. Its
important for the United States to sit down and assess what it is.
And I can think of no better time, the Commission can think of no
better time, than during this IPY process to chew on these policy
issues at the same time.
So, with that, coming out of the other end we may find more important commitments to science, the legacies that weve talked
about. You have a very tough policy decision on the platforms, including the icebreakers, whichthe report that just came out this
afternoon, issues of how much the United States wants to promote
transportation in the Arctic Ocean. And these are the kinds of
things that should be considered.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Doctor?
Dr. BEMENT. Yes, if I may address your question. NSF supports
about 20 long-term ecological research sites, which include Lake
Toolik, Bonanza Creek in Alaska, but are distributed across the
United States, all the way to Puerto Rico. And the purpose of these
ecological research sites is to look at ecological change, especially
with regard to climate change and other changes in the environment. Those sites, collectively, will be able to determine how the
changes in the Arctic will ripple through the U.S. over time. Admittedly, the changes are most dramatic and most easily seen in the
Antarctic, not only with regard to the flora and the fauna, but also
with regard to insect infestations, as youre well aware of, the
spruce bark beetle. But also the spread of infectious diseases and
the response of people who have not normally been exposed to
these types of diseases, as warming occurs, as these viruses and so
forth move north.
So, all these things are part of our ongoing study involving the
ecology.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Mr. Chairman, I could probably spend the
rest of the afternoon with these three, but I know that we have an
equally distinguished second panel, so Im done with my questions.
Thank you.
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you very much.
Staff just gave me this. This is a planning document from the Office of the IPY. And it lists studies forrelated earth, land, people,
oceans, ice, atmosphere, space, and education, and outreach. I mention it, because I had a personal letter from my old friend, the Di-
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rector of the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks, at
the university. And Ill print the whole letter in the record.
[The information referred to follows:]
INTERNATIONAL ARCTIC RESEARCH CENTERUNIVERSITY
OF ALASKA
FAIRBANKS
Fairbanks, AK, September 14, 2006
Hon. TED STEVENS,

Chairman,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Ted:
The idea of an International Polar Year (IPY) started as a celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) (195758), which was the
largest geoscience enterprise in history at that time. Sydney Chapman, who was my
professor during my Ph.D. student days, was the President of the IGY, and I am
one of the few survivors (still active) of that event. By working alongside Professor
Chapman during that period, I learned what it took to make the IGY successful.
Government support was necessarily easy.
From the beginning of the preparations for IPY, I have voiced my opinion that
the 2007 IPY is a rare opportunity for polar researchers to demonstrate publicly
that they are combining their talents for studying a few crucial problems of the
present global warming, which is one of the major concerns of the people of the
world. In this way, we would gain a better understanding of climate change and also
the support of the people.
To be specific in terms of science, Arctic researchers should work together in distinguishing between natural components and manmade components in the present
climate change; this is one of the most difficult scientific problems. I am not saying
that because this is precisely what IARC is working toward but because, without
succeeding in this work, it is not possible to reduce uncertainty of climate change
prediction.
I believe that the IPY needs a few, focused projects. Unfortunately, the present
trend appears to be that individual Arctic scientists want to satisfy their own curiosity by expecting special funding for the IPY. Such projects are undoubtedly important, too, but we would lose the rare opportunity for combining many talents in pursuit of specific and focused programs.
When I expressed this opinion recently, one of the most respected climatologists,
John Walsh, who is Chief Scientist of IARC, called it excellent, saying that my
written opinion saved him the time of writing the opinion himself.
With best regards,
SYUN AKASOFU,
Director.
Chairman STEVENS. But Dr. Akasofu says this, I believe that

the IPY needs a few focused projects. Unfortunately, the present
trend appears to be that individual Arctic scientists want to satisfy
their own curiosity by expecting special funding for the IPY. Such
projects are undoubtedly important, too, but we would lose a rare
opportunity for combining many talents in pursuit of specific and
focused programs.
What do the three of you think about that comment?
Dr. Bement?
Dr. BEMENT. Well, I have a high regard for Dr. Akasofu. We do
communicate. I would remind him, however, that all of our projects
are merit-reviewed. We pick the best of the best. And he happens
to be one of them, in the work that hes doing at IARC. So, I think
that the statement is a bit extreme, but we do pay attention to
those details.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, do we need some specialsome broadgauge projects that encompass a series of studies, or are we going
to just pick individual studies, as we can afford them?
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Dr. BEMENT. Senator, we have some of both, and I think youll
hear, in the next panel, some of the activities that we are funding
at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks that are focused and involve multiple investigators. And those investigators are collaborating with other investigators throughout the United States. The
broader-gauged programs that are interagency and multinational
tend to be the Arctic Observing Network and the Bering Ecology
Ecological Study.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, were going to be very interested in
this. And it does get subjective. Before I came here, I had a visit
withfrom three members of the Alaskan Native community from
the West Coast, three separate villages. And they wanted to know
what we were going to do to try and deal with the causes of the
change that they see, that many of them have great fear of today.
Dr. BEMENT. Yes.
Chairman STEVENS. We know that some of them have already
been impacted by enormous waves and storm conditions. But they
also see changes, in terms of the habits of the wildlife, of the
growth of trees, and other plants in the Arctic area, and they see
the permafrost thawing. So, they want some answers. And Im not
sure how the IPY is going to function into getting some of the answers to their questionsthe people most affected by the change
we know of, in terms of our country. And I think their questions
are similar to those that would be in Siberia and others areas of
the Arctic throughout the world. Are we going to find a way to try
to do both, to look into the long-range science and, at the same
time, try to get some answers for the people who are affected now?
Dr. BEMENT. The answer, Senator, is yes, we have involved Native Alaskans in our studies. I have personally talked with elders
at Barrow. I understand their concerns. I understand the trauma
of trying to adapt to change that theyre facing, especially with regard to movement and hunting and whaling. The answers to some
of those issues are not going to be short term, necessarily, but we
are focused on dealing with climate change through our SEARCH
programs. And, of course, thats what the AON is all about, in
order to make those measurements on a regional basis. And we are
also interested in the effects of ice sheet stability, on the possible
climate change, as well as ocean rise, over time. We have a fair
amount of data, working with NASA, on the recession of ice coverage in the Chukchi Sea and also in the Beaufort Sea, and well
be able to continue to measure that over time. And that will affect
the fetch ofcaused by storms. It will contribute to coastal erosion.
We understand some of those processes now. Well be able to add
more information as time goes on.
In addition to that, we are looking at the effects of extreme environments, especially the cold and the dark in the Arctic regions, on
the ecology, as well as on life forms. And there are, in addition to
that, social studies that will involve not only individuals, but also
communities to examine the issues that have, with adaption to
change among thesethey used to be nomadic, theyre less nomadic nowbut, nevertheless, this is a community that has
learned how to adapt, over time. And we have to maintain very
close communication with thatwith those native populations.
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Chairman STEVENS. Well, thank you very much. We thank all
the three of you.
Were going to turn to the second panel now, if we may. Its Dr.
Robin Bell, Dr. Buck Sharpton, Dr. Alan Parkinson, and Dr. Thomas Armstrong.
Thank you very much for coming, the first panel.
[Pause.]
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you very much. Our first witness in
this panel is Dr. Robin Bell. Shes Chairwoman of the Polar Research Board for the National Academy of Science, and Chairwoman of the USIPY Planning Committee.
Thank you for coming, Dr. Bell.
STATEMENT OF ROBIN E. BELL, PH.D., DOHERTY SENIOR
RESEARCH SCIENTIST, LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH
OBSERVATORY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY; CHAIR, POLAR
RESEARCH BOARD, U.S. NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR
INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR, DIVISION ON EARTH AND
LIFE STUDIES, NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL,
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Dr. BELL. Good afternoon, Senator Stevens and Senator Murkowski. Thank you very much for inviting me to speak about the
International Polar Year, which I see as a scientific opportunity of
a generation, for our Nation, for our society, and for our planet.
Im a geophysicist at Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth
Observatory, where I run major programs looking at the stability
of ice sheets and looking at subglacial lakes. So, thats my passion,
in terms of trying to understand our planet. And Ive been active
in planning for the International Polar Year, both nationally and
internationally, since the inception of the idea.
You may wonder whyin this era of instant communications,
why the scientific community has gotten excited about a strategy
that was developed 100 years ago, when maps of both poles were
empty, blank. We didnt even know if there was a continent in the
middle of the Arctic Ocean. You wonder if were arguing about
what it looks like now; then, we still thought there might be a continent sitting on top of the North Pole. And our cutting-edge communication was the telegraph. But, even though the maps are
much richer today, the scientific community is still motivated by
our need to understand our planet, as a whole.
While environmental change and variability are part of the natural pattern on Earth, the environmental changes currently witnessed in the polar regions are generally much more pronounced
than they are elsewhere in the world. The Arctic Ocean sea ice is
thinning. The ice shelves in Antarctica, in some cases, are retreating and thinning. Glaciers are shrinking, and ecosystems, as you
know, are changing. These changes have impacts locally and globally. Alaskan villages have been moved. Permafrost is thawing and
undermining roads. Environmental change and rising sea level is
really of impact globally, even though its at the poles. So, thats
one of the tremendous motivators, is the scientific community is
very concerned and wants to understand whats causing the change
in our planet.
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Now, although we made tremendous progress in the last year in
coloring in those mapsthose last hundred yearsthere are still
tremendous frontiers at the edges of scientific knowledge. The
maps arent blank anymore, but the frontiers and the unknowns
have grown. Theyre no longer just spatial and geographic, but
theyre actually at the molecular and, still, at the continental scale.
Theyre fundamental unknowns.
Through the planning process begun at the National Academy,
weve identified five major challenges. The first is to assess the
large-scale changes that are happening in the polar regions. The
second is to conduct scientific exploration of these new frontiers,
whether theyre molecular or continental. Third is to observe the
polar regions in-depth, with adequate knowledge, so we can look at
whats causing the change. The fourth is to understand the human/
environment dynamics in an environment where the interaction is
very intimate. And, finally, we want to create a new connection between the science and the public.
And thats one of the major differences between this IPY and the
earlier IPYs, is the recognition that the physical world and the biological world and the human society are intimately interrelated.
The upcoming IPY is inherently not just about science, but science
in support of human interests.
As you saw before, as you were holding up, Senator Stevens, this
is the present international map of the 225 projects that highlights
the geographic and discipline breadth of the IPY. And while this
looks a little overwhelming, this represents 63 nations and 6,000
scientists. So, this is really the global view. And its broken down
so you can understand the breadth, both discipline-wise and geographically, of this International Polar Year. It provides an illustration of how their projects have crossed both poles, crossed the
disciplines, and crossed the nations. Each cell is a major program
with an international team of scientists working together and producing a tremendous multiplicative effect, far more than we would
if it was simply funded through our classic national funding process.
The net result will be a huge leap forward in our understanding
of polar processesphysical, biological, and socialand the global
connections.
Plannings proceeding, as youve heard today, at a rapid pace
with the official kickoff coming in March 2007. And there are a couple of potential requirements that must be met if its going to meet
the expectations. I think we need to see a broadening and deepening of participation of the agencies, increase in the level of funding, increase the coordination, nationally and internationally, and
fostering the interdisciplinary work. How do we draw the linkages
between these columns? These issues are things that must be addressed for a vibrant and successful International Polar Year.
In conclusion, I just want to address your questions about what
the societal benefits of the International Polar Year are going to be.
Just as these science programs are multifaceted and multidisciplinary, so are the benefits. It will advance our fundamental understanding of our planet, from the polar ecosystems to subglacial terrains. It will improve our understanding of the processes of change
and that complex double-edged sword of how society is influencing
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change, and how change is influencing society, especially to the inhabitants of the North. It will inspire a new spirit of discovery
across ages, and help us develop the next generation of leaders in
science, engineering, education, industry, commerce, and, we hope,
government.
At the international level, itll show, again, even in the most difficult times, that science can be a powerful arena for international
cooperation. Why should much of our Nation, who primarily live in
the warmer part of our Earth, care about IPY? They think of the
polar regions as being physically distinct, and they dont understand the critical links to the global climate system. I like to think
of this simple experiment that you can door you can just do in
your mind, I can do right now. Imagine holding an ice cube between your thumb and your forefinger. As you hold it, your finger
starts to melt the ice cube, and you quickly feel the water dripping
down across the ice cube and down your hand. Thats what the
poles are like. We know the poles are changing, but, as the poles
change, it impacts the rest of our planet, the rest of the ice cube.
We dont actually understand. And what we hope to understand is
whats causing the warming fingers on our planet. But on our planet, the poles are causing the ocean currents to changethats
whats keeping Europe warmer, presently. And the sea ice is what
modifies much of the climate as it reflects the solar energy back.
Melting the ice sheet will raise sea levels, threaten coastal communities around the world. Polar regions are integral parts of the
Earth system and will respond to, and drive, changes in the planet
elsewhere.
So, from assessing large-scale environmental change to exploring
the new frontiers, the International Polar Year is a scientific opportunity of a generation.
Thank you very much for your time, and Im happy to address
any questions you have.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Bell follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF ROBIN E. BELL, PH.D., DOHERTY SENIOR RESEARCH
SCIENTIST, LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY;
CHAIR, POLAR RESEARCH BOARD, U.S. NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL
POLAR YEAR, DIVISION ON EARTH AND LIFE STUDIES, NATIONAL RESEARCH
COUNCIL, THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Good afternoon. Thank you very much for inviting me to speak about International Polar Year 20072008. The International Polar Year (IPY) is the scientific
opportunity of a generation for our Nation, for our society, and for our planet.
My name is Robin E. Bell, Ph.D. from Columbia Universitys Lamont-Doherty
Earth Observatory, where I am a Doherty Senior Research Scientist. I am a geophysicist by training and at Columbia I lead major geophysical programs on the stability of ice sheets including subglacial lakes. I also direct Columbias NSF sponsored ADVANCE program, aimed at recruiting and retaining women in science. I
was the first woman to lead a major aerogeophysical program from the Antarctic
continent, and this has been the focus of much of my research for the past two decades.
In addition to my research, I chair the National Research Councils Polar Research Board, which acts as the national coordinating committee for IPY. The Research Council is the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences, National
Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine, chartered by Congress in
1863, to advise the government on matters of science and technology. I served as
the Co-Chair of the International Council for Sciences (ICSU) initial IPY Planning
Group, and I currently serve as a member of the ICSU-World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Joint Committee for IPY, the main international planning group.
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Today I will provide an overview of why IPY is happening and why its important
to us here in the United States. What has motivated more than 5,000 scientists
from some 63 nations to decide to participate in a year devoted to polar studies and
education? Ill highlight the major science questions that will be addressed, outline
the role that U.S. scientists and science managers have been playing developing
IPY, and conclude with thoughts on the many societal benefits that can result from
the IPY.
In this era of instant communications and global connectivity, it might seem surprising that the global scientific community is so excited by a scientific strategy that
was developed more than 100 years ago. Because it was indeed back in 18821883,
that the idea of holding a focused, internationally-coordinated year of polar researchan International Polar Yearwas first developed. At that point in history,
the poles were blank white spaces on maps, and the cutting edge communications
technology was the telegraph. The decision to coordinate with other nations rather
than compete, and to focus on research to understand polar phenomena rather than
acquisition of territory, was something new and exciting. That first IPY in 1882
1883 and subsequent ones in 19321933, and the International Geophysical Year
(IGY) in 19571958, drew great minds and generated great leaders; these international years set a precedent of cooperation in science that, while innovative at
the time, is considered the norm today.
Todays scientists are similarly motivated by societys need for integrated global
knowledge. There is still a fundamental human need to push the limits of our understanding about polar phenomena. The polar regions are integral components of
the Earth system. As the heat sinks of the climate system, they both respond to,
and drive, changes elsewhere on the planet. While environmental change and variability are part of the natural pattern on Earth, the environmental changes currently
witnessed in the polar regions are in many cases more pronounced than changes observed in the mid-latitudes or tropics. The Arctic sea ice cover is decreasing; some
ice shelves in Antarctica are retreating and thinning; glaciers are shrinking; and
ecosystems are changing, for instance, with plants flowering at earlier times. These
changes are having human impacts: some Alaskan villages have been moved to
higher ground in response to rising sea levels, and thawing of permafrost is undermining roads and buildings in northern communities around the world. We must
understand the implications of environmental change for the future of our global society.
Although weve made tremendous progress in all science over the past 100 years,
the polar regions are still at the frontiers of human knowledge. The maps arent
quite as blank, but the frontiers and unknowns have actually increased, and range
from the molecular, to the ecological, to the continental. How is it that certain microbes can survive at minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit, that certain nematodes live even
when ice forms in their cells, that polar fish species have evolved with an antifreeze
protein in their blood? What will happen to the unique under-ice ecological communities of the Arctic, which are the base of the Arctic food web, as ice conditions
change and new species arrive from southern waters? In just the last 10 years we
discovered more than 150 subglacial lakes that exist under the ice in Antarctica.
These range in size from something similar to the reflecting pool on the Mall to a
lake the size of Lake Ontario. Why are these lakes important? They are thought
to contain exotic ecosystems; the water in these lakes is part of the subglacial
plumbing system that can be thought of as the lubricant that makes the ice sheet
flow faster.
At its most fundamental level, IPY 20072008 is envisioned to be an intense, coordinated field campaign of polar observations, research, and analyses that will be
multidisciplinary in scope and international in participation. IPY will provide a
framework to undertake projects that normally could not be achieved by any single
nation. It allows us to think beyond traditional borderswhether national borders
or disciplinary constraintstoward a new level of integrated, cooperative science. A
coordinated international approach maximizes both impact and cost effectiveness,
and the international collaborations started today will build relationships and understanding that will bring long-term benefits. Within this context, IPY will seek
to galvanize new and innovative observations and research, while at the same time
building on and enhancing existing initiatives. IPY will serve as a mechanism to attract and develop a new generation of scientists and engineers with the versatility
to tackle complex global issues.
In addition, IPY is clearly an opportunity to organize a range of education and
outreach activities designed to excite and engage the public, with a presence in
classrooms around the world, and in the media in varied and innovative formats.
The IPY will use todays powerful research tools to better understand the key roles
of the polar regions in global processes. Automatic observatories, satellite-based re-
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mote sensing, autonomous vehicles, Internet, and genomics are just a few of the innovative approaches for studying previously inaccessible realms. IPY 20072008 will
be fundamentally broader than past international years because it will explicitly incorporate multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, including biological, ecological, and social science elements.
IPY 20072008 is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the polar regions
and their global linkages and impacts, and to communicate these insights to the
public. IPY planners have identified five broad scientific challenges:
Assess large-scale environmental change in the polar regions, with questions
looking at both the physical and human dimensions of change and its impacts.
Conduct scientific exploration of new frontiers, whether these are once inaccessible places beneath the ice sheet, or areas of inquiry that are now open because of advances in technology, such as how the tools of genomics now allow
exploration of previously unanswerable questions about biological adaptation.
Observe the polar regions in depth, with adequate coverage of the vast and
challenging landscape, to provide a description of current conditions and allow
for better future understanding of variability and change.
Understand human-environmental dynamics in a region where the connections
are intimate and where the impacts of change are clear.
Create new connections between science and the public, using these regions
that are inherently intriguing.
Previous IPY efforts were characterized by very top down planning and generally
driven by the military. For example, under the oversight of Abraham Lincolns son,
Robert Todd Lincoln, then head of the Department of War, the U.S. participation
in the first IPY in 18821883 was led by the Army. The science priorities for our
upcoming IPY, on the other hand, emerged from grass roots planning, international
scientific groups, U.S. agency input, and help from the U.S. National Academy of
Sciences and National Academy of Engineering.
Beginning in 2002, the National Academies became involved in a serious dialog
about whether there should be another International Polar Year (following in the
tradition of the year held in 18821883, 19321933, and 19571958) and whether
it would be advantageous to participate. We began talking with colleagues around
the world to judge international interest, as well. Here in the U.S., the Chair of that
first planning effort was Dr. Mary Albert of the Armys Cold Regions Research and
Engineering Laboratory. She led a committee that sought wide input on whether the
U.S. should participate in IPY and, if so, what we should hope to accomplish. The
Committee led a series of web discussions, gave talks at numerous professional
meetings, wrote an editorial for Science magazine (included as an attachment), met
with agency leaders, hosted a multi-day workshop, and compiled contributions from
13 Federal agencies into an initial planning document. The report, A Vision for
International Polar Year 20072008 was released in 2004, and came to be the foundation for much of the international planning as well. (A summary of this report
is attached to my testimony.) This early involvement put the U.S. in a leadership
role in planning the IPY internationally.
One of the major differences between the first two IPYs and IGY and our upcoming IPY 20072008 is the recognition that the physical world, and the biological
world, and human society are intimately interrelated. This upcoming IPY is inherently about not just science, but science in support of human interests. It includes
work in engineering, medicine, sociology, and human-environment interactions. The
so-called honeycomb diagram (attached) highlights some 225 large groupings of
projects that illustrate the geographic and disciplinary breadth of IPY 20072008.
Each cell represents a major program with many participating projects involving
international teams of scientists. Working together, this research will produce a tremendous leap forward in our understanding of polar processes (physical, biological,
and social) and their global connections.
Of the 225 projects, the U.S. plays a leadership role in 52 projects (20 percent)
and is participating in 80 percent. Right now, everything is still conceptualwhat
will actually happen on the ground is still being determined, both here and in other
nations. Significant planning efforts are occurring in each of the participating nations; in addition, there is an international IPY Programme Office, staffed by Dr.
David Carlson and hosted in Cambridge, England, by the British Antarctic Survey.
There is also an international planning committee, called the Joint Committee, of
which I am a member, and subcommittees devoted to data management, observation
systems, and education and outreach.
Although planning for IPY started with the scientific community, all the Federal
agencies with cold regions responsibilities are having roles in implementation. When
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the National Academies hosted a workshop to encourage agency coordination in
2004, 13 agencies participated. At the request of the White House, the National
Science Foundation is serving as the lead Federal Agency. (In Alaska, the University of Alaska Fairbanks has stepped forward as the state-wide leader.) NSF has
shown real leadership in its role, holding interagency planning meetings, creating
a multi-agency website, and starting the process of soliciting proposals for the actual
on-the-ground research and education and outreach activities. (In fact, last week
NSF announced the first of the education and outreach activities to be funded, and
these provide an excellent first glimpse at the kinds of exciting activities that will
occur.)
The National Academies continues to provide coordination through the Polar Research Board, which acts as the U.S. National Committee for IPY. The Polar Research Board focuses on communication and coordination, in particular interacting
with other nations and the international Programme Office, communicating whats
happening in the U.S. science community, encouraging U.S. agencies to participate,
and looking for ways to bring other partners into IPY. For instance, as part of its
coordinating role, in early October, the Polar Research Board will host a meeting
of the heads of IPY secretariats so that the staff working behind-the-scenes on IPY
have an opportunity to coordinate.
Planning for IPY is advancing at a continued, rapid pace, with the official kickoff coming in March 2007. But there are some potential requirements that must be
met if the IPY is to meet expectations.
1. Broaden and deepen the participation of the agencies. NSF is doing a stellar
job leading and coordinating efforts, but other key agencies with polar interests
remain less engaged.
2. Increase the level of funding. The programs outlined in the Vision document
require a significant investment of funds both to NSF and other Federal agencies.
3. Enhance coordination nationally and internationally. Early IPYs were directed by the military. Todays grass-roots approach provides great flexibility
and innovation, but frankly is more difficult to coordinate.
4. Foster multi-disciplinary work. While in the 1950s science was very discipline-based and that met the needs of the times, todays biggest scientific and
societal challenges require a more complex, systems-based approach.
These issues must be addressed to ensure a vibrant and successful International
Polar Year.
In conclusion, I want to think ahead about the societal benefits of the International Polar Year. Just as the IPY and the emerging science programs are multifaceted and multi-disciplinary, the benefits of the IPY will be multifaceted and multidisciplinary. The IPY will advance our fundamental understanding of our planet
from polar ecosystems to subglacial terrains. The IPY will improve our understanding of the processes of change, and that complex double-edged sword of how
society is influencing change, and how change is influencing societyespecially the
inhabitants of the north. The IPY will inspire a spirit of discovery across all ages,
and help us develop the next generation of our Nations leaders in science, engineering, education, industry, commerce, and government. At the international level, IPY
will again show that even in the most difficult times, science can be an arena of
international cooperation. IPY will foster the continued peaceful use of the polar regions, engage new partners in the global science community, and leverage precious
scientific and logistical resources so that, in essence, we get more from our investments.
Why should the vast majority of us, who live in the warmer regions of the Earth,
care about IPY? The polar regions, while physically distant, are critical links in the
global climate system. Does this matter for the rest of the planet? Imagine holding
an ice cube between your thumb and your forefinger. Beneath your fingers a pool
of water forms quickly. The water will drip down your arms and down the ice cube.
The changes at the end driven by the warmth of your fingers are transferred across
the entire ice cube. The relationship between the poles to the rest of the globe are
the same. The polar oceans play a critical role in maintaining ocean currents that
keep coastal Europe much warmer than it would be otherwise, and the sea ice cover
modifies Earths surface temperature by reflecting solar energy. Melting ice sheets
will raise sea levels, threatening coastal communities around the world. The polar
regions are integral components of the Earth system that both respond to, and
drive, changes elsewhere on the planet.
The polar regions also hold unique information of Earths past climate history,
and they are growing in economic and geopolitical importance. They are a unique
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vantage point for studies that will help scientists understand environmental
changes in the context of past changes, which in turn will help us make informed
choices for our future. The exploration of new scientific frontiers in the polar regions
also will lead to new discoveries, insights, and theories potentially important to all
people.
In summary, International Polar Year 20072008 will leave us the following important legacies:
an improved understanding of environmental status and change,

more comprehensive data and the ability to understand trends in the future,
improved observation systems to capture future environmental change,
a continued spirit of exploration into new frontiers of science,
a new and inspired generation of scientifically literate citizens and leaders,
an enhanced level of international cooperation to address global scale issues.
Thank you for your time. Id be happy to answer any questions.
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38
Science Magazine, March 5, 2004
THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR

by Mary R. Albert *
Change is ubiquitous in Earths history, and evidence is clear that Earths climate
is changing rapidly now. The harbingers of change can be seen vividly in the polar
regions. The Arctic ice cover is melting, ice shelves in Antarctica are crumbling, glaciers in temperate regions are disappearing, some ecosystems are changing, and permafrost thawing is causing the collapse of roads, buildings, and pipelines. Are we
witnesses to an extreme in natural variability, the threshold of an abrupt change,
or something more subtle? How will changes first seen in the polar regions affect
us all?
Plans are under way for the International Polar Year (IPY) 20072008. Previous
IPYs (18821883 and 19321933) and the International Geophysical Year (1957
1958) (which began as an IPY) produced unprecedented exploration and discoveries
in many fields of research, and fundamentally changed how science was conducted
in the polar regions. IPY 20072008 will benefit society by exploring new frontiers
and increasing our understanding of the key roles of the polar regions in globally
linked systems. Recent technological developments give us a new ability to investigate previously unexplored areas, using new tools and new ways of looking to understand once-unanswerable questions. Autonomous vehicles, genomics, and remote
sensing instruments and networks are just a few of the technologies providing new
tools for investigating previously inaccessible realms. The polar regions also continue to loom large in facilitating our understanding of the processes by which solar
activity may seriously disturb Earths space environment, affecting the performance
of modern technologies deployed in space and on Earth. We believe that research
is needed now, so that future generations may mitigate vulnerabilities and adapt
to potential change.
Many important broad and interlinked research challenges exist today. To name
just one example, how and why are the changes in polar regions occurring, and how
can we predict and mitigate the outcome? Changes in ice mass are linked with regional and global environments, and atmospheric and oceanic processes; implementing polar observation systems would help document these changes. Clues for
understanding how and why similar changes occurred in the past remain stored in
polar earth and ice; sediment and ice coring would help us understand past changes.
Polar changes are interlinked with the behavior and survival of ecosystems, from
microbial life to large organisms, including humans; studies in polar biology are
needed. Keys to fundamental discoveries for understanding change may spring from
new modes of exploration that range from using autonomous underwater vehicles
under the ice to the use of genomics for investigating adaptation; exploration reveals
surprises. Communications technologies such as television and the Internet, combined with changes in the environment, are challenging traditional human lifestyles
in our cold regions and elsewhere. Yet, these same technologies hold the potential
for sharing ideas and experiences in both polar regions and for promoting global understanding; Internet-based efforts in global data collection, sharing, and education
are needed.
Various international organizations and individual nations are actively planning
for the IPY. The International Council for Science (ICSU) formed an international
planning group to catalyze IPY development across national boundaries. The World
Meteorological Organization also has identified IPY as a major new initiative. Other
endorsements to date include the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, the
International Arctic Science Committee, and the Arctic Council. Interested countries
have begun to form national committees and develop a consensus regarding scientific themes that will form the backbone of the activities. In the United States,
the Polar Research Board of the National Academies has formed a committee * to
facilitate IPY planning.
In a world of much uncertainty and change, citizens turn to science for answers.
The polar regions play an important role in providing these answers. A framework
such as the IPY can provide the impetus to undertake projects that normally could
not be achieved by any single nation, reaching beyond our traditional borders toward a new level of cooperative international science. Our vision for IPY 20072008
is that it will be the dawn of a new era in polar science, kicked off by an intense
internationally coordinated campaign of activities. IPY 20072008 will address re* Mary R. Albert is Chair of the U.S. Planning Committee for IPY 20072008.
* The U.S. National Committee to the IPY actively welcomes input from the science community (www.us-ipy.org).
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search in both polar regions, which have strong linkages to the rest of the globe.
It will be multi- and interdisciplinary in scope and truly international in participation. It will educate and excite the public, and help produce the next generation of
engineers, scientists, and leaders.
Science Magazine, March 5, 2004
POLAR EXPLORATIONA YEAR TO REMEMBER
AT THE
ENDS
OF THE
EARTH
RESEARCHERS CHARTING A COURSE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR IN 20072008

ARE HOPING TO RECAPTURE THE GLORY OF A SIMILARLY AMBITIOUS VENTURE A
HALF-CENTURY AGO
by Richard Stone and Gretchen Vogel
Cambridge, U.K. and Berlin

When Les Barclay and 20 intrepid fellow voyagers set out for Antarctica in November 1956, they knew they were embarking on the scientific adventure of a lifetime. After 5 weeks at sea, the radiophysicist and his colleagues on the International Geophysical Year (IGY) Antarctic Expedition put in at Halley Bay, then
Britains new toehold on the Antarctic Peninsula. They had lugged all the equipment they could possibly need there until the next ship called a year later. We
went down without recourse to any facilities back home, says Barclay.
For the next 2 years, he and counterparts across Antarctica and at the other end
of Earth, in the High Arctic, made some of the first high-latitude measurements of
the ionosphere and its most spectacular phenomenon, the aurora. Barclay also
teamed with W. Roy Piggott to pioneer the use of radio waves for measuring the
thickness of ice shelves, a technique that led to ground-penetrating radar. Other
major finds of the $1 billion IGY of 19571958 include the discovery of the Van
Allen radiation belts and radical new estimates of ice volume on Earths surface.
We learned a tremendous amount about the world, says Barclay, who now runs
a consulting firm in Chelmsford, U.K.
Nearly a half-century later, researchers are marshalling forces for another major
assault on the poles. Under the auspices of the International Council of Scientific
Unions (ICSU), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and more than a
dozen other scientific groups, an ambitious plan is taking shape for an International
Polar Year (IPY) to kick off during the Arctic spring of early 2007, and extend
through the Antarctic fall of early 2008. We want a real quantum jump in our understanding of how the poles work, says Chris Rapley, Director of the British Antarctic Survey and Chair of ICSUs IPY planning board.
Rapley and other organizers now face the daunting task of convincing countries
to pitch in funding and logistical support beyond that already committed to ongoing
polar programs. The overall investment could easily top $1 billion, organizers say,
as dozens of countries sign up to multilateral agreements that will govern IPY
projects.
The will be no shortage of ideas in search of funding, for unanswered questions
of polar research are legion. IPYs planning board will try to winnow the field to
a few major themes that promise to have deep scientific impact and broad public
resonance. One of the goals is to get people to realize that . . . the cold ends of
the sphere we live on really do influence us, says ICSU IPY planning Vice Chair
Robin Bell of Columbia Universitys Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. And, like their predecessors, they intend to leave a lasting legacy.
We want to design a way to take the pulse of the poles in 2007 and 2008, Bell
says, but we also want to leave a heart monitor in place so we can continue to see
whats going on.
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From Cape Horn to Sputnik

The Polar Year of 20072008 will follow in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors, each of which overhauled our understanding of global processes. The first
IPY, in 18821883, was largely the brainchild of Karl Weyprecht, an Austrian naval
lieutenant who commanded a ship during the Austro-Hungarian Arctic Expedition
of 18721874. He argued that polar exploration required more than geographic discovery and called for the establishment of a network of research stations in the
polar regions. The idea caught fire, and during the first Polar Year, 11 nations established 14 stationstwo at Cape Horn and South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic and a dozen in the Arcticto record data on everything from meteorology to
terrestrial magnetism, and the aurora, findings that shaped later theories of the
ionosphere. It was the first big meteorological experiment, says Cornelia Ludecke,
a science historian at the University of Hamburg, Germany.
The second IPY took place 50 years later, in 19321933. Despite a global economic
depression, 44 countries teamed up on nearly two dozen dedicated expeditions to the
Arctic and the Southern Hemisphere, although like the previous IPY the effort did
not reach as far south as Antarctica. Technology had come a long way: Telephone,
aircraft, and radio sounding all were at the disposal of researchers. A major achievement was obtaining detailed measurements of the upper atmosphere, including the
first maps of the jet stream.
Grand as those efforts were, they paled in comparison to the massive undertaking
of 19571958. Lloyd Berkner of the Carnegie institution of Washington aired the
IGY idea at a dinner party at the home of space physicist James Van Allen in the
spring of 1950. The suggestion snowballed into one of the biggest global scientific
undertakings ever. Still, it was the depths of the Cold War, and politics was never
tar from the surface: The Soviet Union in 1956 announced that it would put the
first satellite in orbit during the IGY (Sputnik duly went up the next year), and
China withdrew from the effort after Taiwan was brought aboard. Antarctica was
seen as a potential Cold War battleground, with countries laying claim to slices of
the continent. An international research effort, some hoped, would ease tensions
and indeed, the IGY is credited with fostering the political climate for the Antarctic
Treaty, in which signatories agreed to share the continent in the name of peace
and science. In all, roughly 80,000 scientists and support staff from 67 countries
took part in the IGY.
It was a thrilling time, recalls David Limbert, who confesses that as a 29-yearold meteorologist he left several girlfriends in England to join the Royal Societys
IGY advance team, dispatched in late 1955 to build the Halley Bay camp. We were
there as pump primers, he says. For the first several weeks he and the other expe-
41
dition members slept in tents as they built Halley beam by beam. Halley and many
of the other few dozen Antarctic bases established during the IGY continue to
produce world-class science. The IGY, says Rapley, set the standard for what can
be achieved.
The Next Frontier
The IGY will be a hard act to follow. But the half-century of polar science it ushered in has only deepened scientists appreciation of the complexity and importance
of polar processes. What happens at the poles is inextricably tied to patterns of cold
and warmth, rainfall and drought. To have any hope of understanding what is happening to global climate today, and what might happen in the future, scientists need
a better picture of conditions at the poles and how they interact with and influence
ocean and air currents.
So far scientists have only the vaguest clues to how those interactions work. We
know the climate models dont get the polar regions right, and there is a lot of work
going on to understand why that is, Rapley says. One puzzle, he notes, is that the
models have largely failed to predict the dramatic melting of the Antarctic ice shelf
And even state-of-the-art models vary widely in their predictions for the severity of
the warming that might occur in the Arctic.
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One challenge is that the polar regions seem to be reacting more dramatically
than other latitudes to global climate changes. The three fastest-warming regions
in the last 2 decades have been Alaska, Siberia, and parts of the Antarctic Ice
Sheet, notes Rapley. But whether that is the start of a long-term trend or a normal
fluctuation is unclear. Figuring this out is directly related to our ability to collect
data, Rapley says.
One likely project for the upcoming IPY will be updating an array of monitoring
stations strung across the Russian Arctic during the IGY. In the last decade alone,
many of those stations have fallen silent, depriving meteorologists of key data on
temperature and rainfall, for example. According to the Russian Academy of
Sciences, only 45 polar hydrometeorological stations were functioning in 2002, a
two-thirds reduction over the past decade. Refurbishing the stations is a top priority, says Eduard Sarukhanian, WMOs IPY Coordinator. However, adds Rapley,
what were keen to do is make sure that doesnt just focus on meteorology and hydrology but opens up new vistas on other researchfrom any field that people can
convince us is worthwhile.
Opening new vistas may well be the driving theme of the IPY. There are subglacial lakes and the spreading ridges under the Arctic that have never been explored,
Bell says. And while biologists have barely begun to catalog life in polar oceans,
there are hints that here, too, the frozen ends of Earth have a global influence.
One theory suggests that the Southern Ocean might have been a source of much
of the biodiversity in the deep oceans worldwide. When the Antarctic continent
broke away on its own, a girdle of swift-moving ocean currents formed around it,
trapping species in the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean and forcing them to
adapt to extreme conditions, Rapley explains. Those creatures, then, may have
42
hitched a ride to other oceans. Brigitte Hilbig of Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, recently identified several worms in 5,000-meter-deep waters off Angola that
are nearly identical to one first identified in the Southern Ocean, 5,000 kilometers
away, suggesting that there may be important connections between the life forms
of polar oceans and seabed habitats worldwide. To probe this further, Hilbig and colleagues have proposed taking a zoological and genetic census of the Southern Ocean
as part of the IPY.
The Arctic waters, too, likely hold new surprises. An expedition in 2001 to the
Gakkel Ridge, where the continental plates bearing Europe and North America are
spreading apart, turned up much more hydrothermal activity than scientists expected, says Jorn Thiede of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany. As part of the IPY, he and his colleagues hope
to send a remote-controlled sub to survey the region.
IPY organizers also hope to attract interest from astronomers who can use polar
summers for uninterrupted views of the sun; medical researchers who study human
responses to extreme conditions; and social and political scientists who could study
the impact of Arctic warming on northern Russia, Canada, and other Arctic Rim nations.
In an initial call, organizers received nearly 150 proposals. Its taking off like
gangbusters, Rapley says. The ICSU committee and its partners will settle on a
handful of flagship projects by autumn, he says. (Contributions are still welcome;
see Editorial, p. 1437.) Rapley says that ICSU might try to coordinate three to five
large-scale efforts, such as major transects across the poles or large-scale atmospheric or ocean surveys. He hopes the effort will inspire a wellspring of multinational projects around the globe organized by other scientists.
Its not yet clear whether such efforts will add up to the $1 billion infusion the
last IGY enjoyed. Karl Erb, Director of the U.S. National Science Foundations Office of Polar Programs, estimates that NSF might contribute up to $50 million in
research funding and logistical support for IPY-specific activities, from its nearly
$400 million annual budget. Given the formidable base that the field is building on,
a smaller investment than that plowed into IGY could have just as profound an impact, argues Chad Dick of the Norwegian Polar Institute in Troms<, Norway. The
onus will be on organizers to choose projects with far-reaching payoffs. If all we
do is have a blast for 2 years and nothing changes in our ability to monitor the poles
for the long term, we will have failed, he says. Considering the track record of the
first two IPYs and the IGY, failure would appear to be only a remote possibility.
AN OTHERWORLDLY PLACE
TO
HUNT
FOR
OTHER WORLDS
by Gretchen Vogel
High on Antarcticas frozen desert, astronomers have found some of the best conditions on Earth for peering into space. The calm, cloudless skies above Dome C,
3233 meters above sea level in the middle of the main Antarctic ice sheet, make
the isolated spot a stargazers dream. The site is the location of the newest permanent year-round station in Antarctica, a joint French-Italian project called
Concordia.
The main buildings, which will host 16 people over the 9-month winter and twice
as many in summer, are expected to be finished by the Antarctic winter of 2005
2006, in ample time for the station to participate fully in the International Polar
Year (IPY) to begin in 2007 (see main text).
Concordia, perched on an ice dome, should entice scientists from a range of disciplines. For example, researchers who use ice cores to decipher dues to past climates expect to look deep into the last Ice Age thanks to nearly 500,000 years of
snow accumulation at Dome C. And as the third permanent station on the continents interior, located more than 1,000 kilometers from its nearest neighbor, the
United States Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Concordia will help fill gaps in
measurements of Earths magnetic and gravitational fields and the continents seismic activity.
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Concordia is also set to rival the South Pole as a premier astronomical outpost.
Although there are not yet any full-size telescopes at the site, measurements suggest it is an outstanding place for optical and near-infrared astronomy. The air can
be so still, says Eric Fossat, an astronomer at the University of Nice in France, that
smoke rings from tractors at the construction site often linger for tens of seconds
before dissipating. The lack of wind and heat currents makes the atmosphere extremely clear, cutting down on the shimmer that disrupts Earth-based views of
stars. Thus astronomers can look forward to some of the best seeing anywhere on
Earth. The indications are that the seeing may be absolutely extraordinarily good,
says astronomer Tony Stark of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics,
who has worked extensively at the South Pole.
That quality, combined with the sites aridity and average ambient temperature
of 50 C, makes it a great spot for infrared astronomyperhaps the best on Earth
for searching for planets similar to our own, Fossat says. In the infrared, planets
show up brighter and stars dimmer, allowing astronomers to discern planets more
easily. And, he notes, there is half as much cloud cover as at the already impressively clear South Pole Station. Astronomers are still securing funding, but they
hope to have the first telescope in place for the IPY in 2007. An array of telescopes
could come further down the road.
Concordia may even help humans reach for the stars. To simulate the effects of
long-duration space flight, researchers plan to study how staff members cope with
the Antarctic winter (Science, 15 August 2003, p. 906). Fossat himself says he wont
winter there. Im too old for that kind of sacrifice, he says. But with Concordias
astronomical attributes, dont expect any shortage of volunteers.
A VISION
FOR INTERNATIONAL
POLAR YEAR 20072008 *
Environmental change and variability are part of the natural pattern on Earth.
But environmental changes currently witnessed in the polar regions are, in many
cases, more pronounced than changes observed in the mid-latitudes or tropics. The
Arctic sea ice cover is decreasing; some ice shelves in Antarctica are retreating and
thinning; glaciers are shrinking; and ecosystems are changing, for instance, with
plants flowering at earlier times. These changes are having human impacts: some
Alaskan villages have been moved to higher ground in response to rising sea levels,
and thawing of permafrost is undermining roads and buildings in northern communities around the world.
Why should the vast majority of us, who live in the warmer regions of the Earth,
care? The polar regions, while physically distant, are critical links in the global climate system. The polar oceans play a critical role in maintaining ocean currents
that keep coastal Europe much warmer than it would be otherwise, and the sea ice
cover modifies Earths surface temperature by reflecting solar energy. These are just
a few of many global connections. The polar regions also hold unique information
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* U.S. National Committee for the International Polar Year
44
of Earths past climate history, and they are growing in economic and geopolitical
importance. They are a unique vantage point for studies that will help scientists understand environmental changes in the context of past changes, which in turn will
help us make informed choices for our future. The exploration of new scientific frontiers in the polar regions also will lead to new discoveries, insights, and theories
potentially important to all people. To better understand these and other questions,
nations around the world are making plans to participate in International Polar
Year (IPY) 20072008.
IPY 20072008: Scope and Objectives
At its most fundamental level, IPY 20072008 is envisioned to be an intense, coordinated field campaign of polar observations, research, and analysis that will be
multidisciplinary in scope and international in participation. IPY 20072008 will
provide a framework and impetus to undertake projects that normally could not be
achieved by any single nation. It allows us to think beyond traditional borders
whether national borders or disciplinary constraintstoward a new level of integrated, cooperative science. A coordinated international approach maximizes both
impact and cost effectiveness, and the international collaborations started today will
build relationships and understanding that will bring long-term benefits. Within
this context, IPY will seek to galvanize new and innovative observations and research, while at the same time building on and enhancing existing relevant initiatives. IPY will serve as a mechanism to attract and develop a new generation of scientists and engineers with the versatility to tackle complex global issues. In addition, IPY is clearly an opportunity to organize an exciting range of education and
outreach activities designed to excite and engage the public, with a presence in
classrooms around the world and in the media in varied and innovative formats.
The IPY will use todays powerful research tools to better understand the key
roles of the polar regions in global processes. Automatic observatories, satellitebased remote sensing, autonomous vehicles, Internet, and genomics are just a few
of the innovative approaches for studying previously inaccessible realms. IPY 2007
2008 will be fundamentally broader than past International Years; because it will
explicitly incorporate multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary studies, including biological, ecological, and social science elements. It will run from March 1, 2007 until
March 1, 2009, to allow two field seasons of research in both the Arctic and the Antarctic.
What Will Happen During IPY?
During the window of IPY 20072008, scientists from many nations will join together in expeditions and research projects designed to meet the IPY objectives, coordinated at both the national and international levels. They will work both in the
Arctic and the Antarctic, and in universities, laboratories, and observatories around
the world. The specific research projects have not yet been selected, but we envision
teams of researchers collecting coordinated measurements to compile a snapshot of
environmental conditions, which can serve as a baseline for understanding future
environmental change. There might be an effort to coordinate satellites to gather
consistent data on ice extent. Ecologists might mount a massive effort to conduct
a census of marine life so that we better understand population trends for important
fisheries. Other groups might drill into the ocean floor in search of sediment cores
with evidence of past environments. Multidisciplinary teams might document ecosystem changes in far northern communities where traditional subsistence foods are
important to the local lifestyle, and try to understand how changes are affecting the
people of those communities. The next year is very important to IPY planning, because it is time to sort through the many ideas that have been suggested and see
which are best to pursue.
Whos Involved in the IPY?
Enthusiasm for IPY 20072008 is strong and growing. In barely more than a year,
the science community has progressed from its earliest discussions of possibilities
for new international science endeavors to serious planning of what an IPY might
accomplish and what resources are needed. More than 25 nations have formally declared the intent to participate and many more have discussions in progress. Here
in the United States, scientists have been presenting talks and holding open forums
at professional meetings, and using an interactive website to brainstorm ideas
where U.S. leadership might ensure significant contributions. A call to the science
community for ideas about what science themes to pursue brought forward hundreds of ideas, and this input has been crucial in the IPY planning.
The U.S. Committee for the International Polar Year 20072008 was formed by
the Polar Research Board of the National Academies to articulate a vision for U.S.
participation in IPY 20072008, in coordination with and on behalf of our Nations
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scientific communities. The Committee has worked closely with the U.S. science
community using a variety of mechanisms. It has worked with our international colleagues, especially the International Council for Sciences IPY 20072008 Planning
Group, to identify the important science themes and develop the detailed information needed to implement its many contributing activities.
When IPY 20072008 gets underway, it will involve far more than scientists. The
hope is that many peoplescout leaders, teachers, museum directors, filmmakers,
journalists, parents, and students of all ageswill be involved. Some of the participation will be hands-on; other involvement will take full advantage of the tremendous opportunities for instantaneous communication offered by modern technologies.
What Should We Do To Make IPY a Success?
The Committee recommends the following actions for ensuring a successful IPY
20072008:
The U.S. scientific community and agencies should use the IPY to initiate a sustained effort aimed at assessing large-scale environmental change and variability in the polar regions.
The U.S. scientific community and agencies should include studies of coupled
human-natural systems critical to societal, economic, and strategic interests in
the IPY.
The U.S. IPY effort should explore new scientific frontiers from the molecular
to the planetary scale.
The International Polar Year should be used as an opportunity to design and
implement multi-disciplinary polar observing networks that will provide a longterm perspective.
The United States should invest in critical infrastructure (both physical and
human) and technology to guarantee that IPY 20072008 leaves enduring benefits for the Nation and for the residents of northern regions.
The U.S. IPY program should excite and engage the public, with the goal of increasing understanding of the importance of polar regions in the global system
and, at the same time, advance general science literacy in the Nation.
The U.S. scientific community and agencies should participate as leaders in
International Polar Year 20072008.
Scientific Challenges
IPY 20072008 is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the physical, biological, and chemical processes in the polar regions and their global linkages and
impacts, and to communicate these insights to the public. Five broad scientific challenges provide a framework for organizing IPY activities:
Assessing large-scale environmental change in the polar regions, with questions
looking at both the physical and human dimensions of change and its impacts.
Conducting scientific exploration of new frontiers, whether these are once inaccessible places such as the seafloor, or areas of inquiry that are now open because of advances in technology, such as how the tools of genomics now allow
exploration of previously unanswerable questions about biological adaptation.
Observing the polar regions in depth, with adequate coverage of the vast and
challenging landscape, to provide a description of current conditions, and allow
for better future understanding of variability and change.
Understanding human-environmental dynamics in a region where the connections are intimate, and where the impacts of change are clear.
Creating new connections between science and the public, using these regions
that are inherently intriguing.
Previous International Years
International Polar Year 20072008 is an ambitious program following in the footsteps of some past campaigns. There have been three similar programs over the last
125 years. During the first International Polar Year in 18821883, 12 countries
launched 15 expeditions (13 in the Arctic and 2 in the Antarctic). As part of its contribution, the United States established our northernmost scientific station at Point
Barrow, Alaska. The second International Polar Year in 19321933, even in the
midst of the Great Depression, included participants from 40 nations, and brought
advances in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, geomagnetism, and the mapping
of ionospheric phenomena that advanced radioscience and technology. The United
States established the first year-round research station inland from the Antarctic
coast.
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The International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 19571958, in which 67 nations participated, was conceived as an effort to use technology developed during World War
II, such as rockets and radar, for scientific research. IGY brought many firsts,
such as the launch of the worlds first satellites. IGY had a strong polar component,
especially in the Antarctic: research stations were established and the experience
in international collaboration, even in tense political times, led to ratification of the
Antarctic Treaty in 1961. Each of these campaigns produced unprecedented exploration of Earth and space and led to discoveries in many fields of science. IPY 2007
2008 is expected to leave a similar legacy of accomplishments.
U.S. National Committee for the International Polar Year: Mary Albert, (Chair)
ERDC Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory; Robert Bindschadler,
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationGoddard Space Flight Center;
Cecilia Bitz, University of Washington; Jerry Bowen, CBS News; David Bromwich,
The Ohio State University; Richard Glenn, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation; Jacqueline Grebmeier, University of Tennessee; John Kelley, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Igor Krupnik, Smithsonian Institution; Louis Lanzerotti, Bell LaboratoriesLucent Technologies; Peter Schlosser, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University; Philip Smith, McGeary & Smith; George Somero, Stanford University; Cristina Takacs-Vesbach, University of New Mexico; Gunter Weller, University
of Alaska Fairbanks; Douglas Wiens, Washington University; Mahlon Kennicutt,
(Ex-officio) Texas A&M University; Patrick Webber, (Ex-officio) Michigan State University; Terry Wilson, (Ex-officio) The Ohio State University; Sheldon Drobot, (Study
Director) Polar Research Board; Chris Elfring, (Board Director) Polar Research
Board; Kristen Averyt, (Christine Mirzayan Intern) Polar Research Board; and
Rachael Shiflett, (Program Assistant), Polar Research Board.
This brief was prepared by the National Research Council based on the Committees report. For more information, contact the Polar Research Board at 202334
3479. A Vision for International Polar Year 20072008 is available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 800624
6242 or 2023343313 (in the Washington area); www.nap.edu.
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you very much, and we thank you for
coming. I did not know that was an international chart. I thank
you for bringing that up. I will have some questions later. I do appreciate the charts and slides that you have brought with you.
Theyre very informative.
Our next witness is Dr. Buck Sharpton. Hes the Vice Chancellor
for Research of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
Doctor, its nice to have you with us.
STATEMENT OF DR. VIRGIL L. BUCK SHARPTON, VICE
CHANCELLOR FOR RESEARCH, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA (UA)
FAIRBANKS; UA PRESIDENTS PROFESSOR OF REMOTE
SENSING
Dr. SHARPTON. Thank you, Chairman Stevens and Senator Murkowski, for the opportunity to be here today.
Fifty years ago, the world embarked on the most ambitious scientific program in history, the International Geophysical Year. This
18-month-long series of internationally coordinated observations returned untold dividends in the form of new scientific knowledge:
discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts, sea-floor studies leading
to the revolutionary theory of plate tectonics, the Antarctic Treaty,
and many, many more. And our Nation derived other important
benefits from this investment, as well. IGY expanded national research funding significantly and permanently, leading to tremendous payoffs in intellectual property and societal benefits throughout the latter half of the 20th century. IGY was also a much-needed opportunity for the United States to exhibit, on the global stage,
its technological capabilities and political will to work equitably
and openly with the international scientific community. We in-
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vested heavily; and, as a result, the world has looked to the U.S.
for scientific leadership ever since.
The upcoming IPY is a much-needed opportunity to reaffirm our
place as world leaders in science and technology, to demonstrate
that we are still committed to open international programs that advance scientific knowledge, and to invest wisely in activities that
will inspire and train the next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers.
Often, when the term polar is used, people gravitate toward visions of Antarctica or the North Pole. Obviously, one does not need
to look that far. Polar, in United States terms, means Alaska and
its people.
Alaskans are in the midst of change. We are in immediate need
of IPY to more fully understand whats happening, and why, to be
able to reliably forecast events to come, to identify how to hold on
to our unique and valuable resources, such as indigenous languages and culture, and to make informed decisions to address the
multitude of challenges before us.
The University of Alaska has been involved in IPY planning and
implementation for the past 3 years. Over 75 percent of our research pertains to Alaska and the broader Arctic region, and over
25 percent of all the research and educational proposals endorsed
by the IPY International Programme Office involve our researchers. Ive attached a list of those to my written testimony.
Through our network of colleges across rural Alaska and ongoing
research programs, we have gained valuable experience working
with and for our Alaskan Native populations. This experience is essential in ensuring that the upcoming IPY addresses their issues,
involves them as research partners and astute observers, not just
subjects, and returns to them the results and rewards of these research activities.
Considerable financial resources will be needed if the United
States is to take a leading role in IPY. Other nations have committed far more than ours, at least thus far. But we, at the University of Alaska, are not waiting for outside funds before we move
forward. The Universitys president, Mark Hamilton, has committed $3.5 million to support 13 IPY postdoctoral fellows for 3
years. We look to these young scientists, five of whom come from
other countries, to broaden our research capabilities and expand
our connections around the world as we engage in IPY.
Eighteen months ago, we launched an IPY strategy that extends
the research and educational opportunities afforded by IPY across
all sectors of Alaskan society. Through awards from the State Department and NOAAs Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research,
we have the resources to initiate this plan, the components of
which are provided in my written testimony.
In conclusion, I would like to leave you with four recommendations for investments that would yield lasting returns to the Nation
in our Nations only Arctic State. Further details are included in
my written testimony.
First, approve the National Science Foundations budget to support IPY research and educational outreach.
Second, support the Arctic Observing Network.
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Third, expand network connectivity infrastructure within Alaska,
and from Alaska to the U.S. mainland, to acceptable national
standards to promote economic growth and ensure equal opportunities for all the residents of our State.
And, finally, please help us acquire high-resolution digital imagery and elevation data for Alaska that meet national standards
and are currently available for every State in our Nation except
Alaska.
Thank you, again, for the opportunity to present this testimony
today. And thank you very much for your interest in the International Polar Year.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Sharpton follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF DR. VIRGIL L. BUCK SHARPTON, VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
RESEARCH, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA (UA) FAIRBANKS; UA PRESIDENTS PROFESSOR
OF REMOTE SENSING
Thank you Chairman Stevens, Chairman Lugar, Senator Murkowski and Members of both Senate Committees for the opportunity to be here today. In my capacity
as Vice Chancellor for the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, I am responsible for
developing and implementing the Universitys strategy for participating in activities
of the upcoming 4th International Polar Year. As a researcher and educator, and
now the Chief Research Officer of Americas only Arctic University, I would like to
share my perspectives on why IPY is important to Alaska and our Nation, how we
have prepared ourselves to play key roles in these activities, and leave you with recommendations for valuable legacies that could result from IPY.
The upcoming IPY is staged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International
Geophysical Year, IGY, held in 19571958. IGY was modeled on the two previous
Polar Years, 18821883 and 19321933, where coordinated scientific studies were
conducted to understand our planets natural processes and cycles. IGY was originally planned to take place at the centennial celebration of the first Polar Year in
19821983, but instead was held 25 years earlier to take advantage of an unusually
intense period of sunspot activity. Thus IGY came at a most critical time for our
Nation and the world. During World War II and the early post-war era, technologies
had been developed with the potential for unimaginable devastation. Ideological differences between the two multi-national superpowers heightened concerns that
those technologies might some day be used as tools of aggression. IGY was an effort
to develop peaceful uses of these post-war technologies in order to improve knowledge about our planetparticularly its polar regionsthrough an international
campaign of coordinated scientific observations. IGY was a tremendous success; over
30,000 scientists from 67 countries took part in what was the largest and most ambitious scientific program ever attempted. Some of the scientific legacies left by this
effort include:
The discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts that ring the earth and affect
communication and spacecraft operations;
The charting of ocean depths and ocean currents;
A mapping of the magnetic characteristics of the ocean floor that soon led to
the revolutionary theory of plate tectonics;
The first rigorous study of the Antarctic continent and its ice sheets;
The Antarctic Treaty, making the whole continent a place of scientific research,
free of national claims and international rivalry.
But there were other important benefits that our Nation derived from the investment we made in this program. IGY expanded national research investments significantly and permanently, leading to tremendous payoffs in intellectual property and
societal benefits throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Furthermore, IGY
was a much needed opportunity for the United States to exhibit, on the global stage,
its technological capabilities and the political will to work equitably and openly with
the international scientific community. We invested heavily and, as a result, the
world has looked to the U.S. for scientific leadership ever since.
Now, on the eve of the 4th IPY, we face a different type of scientific challenge:
the challenge to understand how our circumpolar regions are changing, and to develop reliable strategies for mitigating the negative impacts and optimizing the opportunities that accompany this change. You have undoubtedly heard testimony
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from others on the various lines of evidence demonstrating that the Arctic is experiencing dramatic climate-induced changes: retreating sea ice, melting permafrost,
and the migration of the Arctic tree line to higher elevations and latitudes, to name
a few. And this is not just a regional issue affecting a relatively few Arctic inhabitants. The Polar Regions play key roles in the global climate system; therefore a
more complete understanding of the Arctic and Antarctic is imperative if we are to
improve global climate models.
In addition, many of the benefits our Nation derived from IGY, fifty years ago,
apply today. The upcoming IPY is a much needed opportunity to reaffirm to the
world our place as leaders in science and technology, to demonstrate that we are
committed to open, international research programs that advance scientific knowledge, and to invest wisely in activities that will inspire and train the next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers.
Often, when the term polar is used, people gravitate toward visions of Antarctica or the North Pole, or exotic uninhabited places. Obviously, one does not need
to look that far. Polar, in United States terms, means Alaska and its people.
Alaskans are in the midst of change; we are in immediate need of IPY to more
fully understand what is happening and why, to be able to reliably forecast events
to come, identify how to hold on to our unique and valuable resources such as indigenous languages and culture, and learn to make informed decisions so that we can
address the multitude of challenges before us.
As Alaskas Research University, the Fairbanks campus as well as the University
of Alaskas other campuses have been involved in IPY planning and implementation
for the past 3 years. We are well prepared to play key roles in the upcoming activities. Over 75 percent of our research pertains to Alaska and the broader Arctic region. This commitment is reflected in the fact that over 25 percent of all the research and educational proposals endorsed by the IPY International Programme Office involve Fairbanks campus researchers. A list of the endorsed research projects
is appended to this testimony.
Our field research stations, such as the Toolik Field Station on the North Slope,
have been systematically gathering ecological and biological data for nearly half a
century. Those sites will undoubtedly be important centers of IPY research. Through
our network of colleges across rural Alaska, and ongoing research programs such
as the Center for Alaska Native Health Research, we have gained valuable experience working with and for our Alaska Native populations. This experience is essential in ensuring that the upcoming IPY addresses their issues, involves them as research partners and astute observersnot just subjectsand returns to them the
results and rewards of these research activities.
Considerable financial resources will be needed if the United States is to take a
leading role in IPY. Other nations have committed far more than ours, at least thus
far. But we at the University of Alaska are not waiting for outside funds before we
move forward. The Universitys President Mark Hamilton has committed $3.5 million to support 13 IPY postdoctoral fellowships for 3 years. These young researchers
were chosen from 180 applicants from around the world to work on IPY-related research projects at the 3 main campuses across the UA system: 9 at Fairbanks, 3
at Anchorage, and 1 in Juneau. We look to these young scientistsfive of whom
come from other countriesto broaden our research capabilities, and expand our
connections around the world as we engage in the internationally coordinated research activities of IPY.
Eighteen months ago we launched an IPY strategy that included research coordination, educational outreach, community engagement, and public relations. We have
taken steps to ensure that the research and educational opportunities afforded by
IPY extend across all sectors of Alaska society. Through awards from the Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research, we have the resources to initiate this plan which
includes the following activities:
The IPY Education and Outreach Office in conjunction with the University of
the Arctic. UArctic is a cooperative network of educational institutions committed to higher education and research in the North. Its members share resources, facilities, and expertise to build post-secondary education programs
that are relevant and accessible to northern students.
Graduate and undergraduate research grants for student involvement in IPY
research projects across the University system.
A K12 engagement plan built around two contests targeted toward K12 students: the first is an IPY art contest where students from across Alaska submit
works of art that capture the spirit of IPY. The best from each age group will
be brought to Fairbanks for an awards ceremony and their art will be exhibited
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at our Museum of the North during IPY. The second is a writing contest for high
school students to submit their research papers on the benefits of past IPY activities to Alaska and the Arctic. Again, each age group will be judged and the
winners will give presentations at one of the public functions during IPY.
Implementation of the Think Tank of the North. This is a series of events that
seeks to address critical issues facing the Arctic such as climate change impacts,
development and mineral extraction issues, sustainable natural resource management, natural hazard mitigation, cultural impacts, and information technology infrastructure needs. The University will sponsor leading researchers,
educators, and policymakers from around the world for week-long visits to
brainstorm with our faculty and engage the public in open discussions.
Planning for the Ninth International Conference on Permafrost to be held late
Juneearly July 2008, in Fairbanks. Attendance at this event is expected to exceed 900 people.
The Helge Instad Memorial Symposium on Arctic Change held September 810,
2006. More than 170 scientists from Alaska, Norway, Russia, Canada, and the
lower 48 gathered at Fairbanks to commemorate the Norwegian explorer, scientist and author, who spent time with the Nunamiut (Eskimo) people of
Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, and discuss common research areas across the Arctic
countries. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Fairbanks campus and the
Royal Norwegian Embassy and included a celebration officially naming Ingstad
Mountain in Anaktuvuk Pass on September 10, 2006.
A series of public presentations extending through the end of IPY, beginning
with Jared Diamond (Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed) last
March, Peter Smith (The Martian Arctic) June 27, and Dava Sobel (Latitude)
March 19, 2007). Others will be selected during the next few months.
Support for the Arctic Institute of North America to advance the study of the
North American and circumpolar Arctic through the natural and social sciences,
the arts and humanities and to acquire, preserve and disseminate information
on the physical, environmental and social conditions in the North.
In conclusion, I would like to leave you with a few recommendations for legacy
investments that would yield lasting returns to the Nation and our Nations only
Arctic state:
Approve the National Science Foundations budget to support IPY research and
educational outreach. NSF is the ideal support organization to lead our Nations
IPY activities with its demonstrated commitment to polar research, and the development of a U.S. research community that is globally engaged. This is an investment that will pay huge scientific dividends, will strengthen our academic
institutions, and gain the worlds appreciation.
Support the Arctic Observing Network (AON). The tight linkages between the
physical, biological, and social systems in the Arctic, and the intensity of current and projected changes, call for a coordinated monitoring program that extends across the Arctic and provides long-term, multi-disciplinary observations.
Without such a program, it is very difficult to describe current conditions in
the Arctic, let alone understand the changes that are underway or their connections to the rest of the Earth system. 1 AON would include satellites, terrestrial
observatories, ocean buoys and moorings, weather stations, hydrologic monitoring stations, ecological sampling networks, Arctic residents, and other data
sources, many of which already exist or are being planned. IPY offers an immediate opportunity for major progress.
Expand network connectivity infrastructure within Alaska and from Alaska to
the U.S. mainland to acceptable national standards. Currently, our main academic network connection to the outside world is OC3. The current standard
for large Internet Service Providers in the rest of the Nation is OC192, which
is 64 times faster than our connection. But this is just part of the problem. Our
state is in desperate need of better high-speed connections between rural communities to ensure values that most U.S. citizens have grown accustomed to:
educational opportunities, employment opportunities, and access to other information that could enrich their lives.
Update high-resolution digital imagery and elevation data coverage for Alaska.
These fundamental datasets are critically important in emergency response,
1 Toward an Integrated Arctic Observing Network, Committee on Designing an Arctic Observing Network, National Research Council, ISBN: 0309100526, 128 pages, 812 x 11, paperback,
2006.
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wildfire behavior modeling, aviation safety, change detection, and making informed resource management decisions. Yet, the most recent program to acquire
imagery and elevation data for Alaska was over 50 years ago. Alaska has
changed and technologies have improved to the point that Alaskas maps are
significantly below national standards. This year, Alaskas Governor Frank
Murkowski and the State Legislature approved $2 million to initiate a Statewide Digital Mapping Initiative to put some skin in the game. Some Federal
assistance would assist us in bringing our maps up to national standards.
Thank you again for the opportunity to present this testimony today, and thank
you for your interest in the International Polar Year. Please feel free to contact me
if you have any additional questions.
Appendix: Endorsed IPY Projects With University of Alaska Participants
UA Faculty Member
VerDate Nov 24 2008
Title
Igor Polyakov, UAF
Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System
Hajo Eicken, Rolf Gradinger, Igor Dmitrenko, UAF
The Pan Arctic cluster for Climate forcing of the Arctic

Marine Ecosystem
Sarah Fowell, UAF
The Bering Strait, Rapid Change, and Land Bridge

Paleoecology
Katrin Iken, UAF
Impact of CLImate induced glacial melting on marine

and terrestric COastal communities on a gradient
along the Western Antarctic PENinsula (ClicOPEN)
JingFeng Wu, UAF
International Polar Year GEOTRACES: An international study of the biogeochemical cycles of Trace
Elements and Isotopes in the Arctic and Southern
Oceans
Matt Nolan, UAF
The dynamic response of Arctic glaciers to global

warming
Virgil L. (Buck) Sharpton, UAF
International Polar Year (IPY) Data and Information

Service (DIS) for Distributed Data Management
Vladimir Romanovsky, Larry Hinzman, Gary Kofinas,

Matt Nolan, Tom Osterkamp, Chien Lu Ping, Buck
Sharpton, Kenji Yoshikawa, Doug Kane, Donald
(Skip) Walker, UAF
Permafrost Observatory Project: A Contribution to the

Thermal State of Permafrost
Peter Schweitzer, Anne Sudkamp, UAF
International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences VI in

Nuuk, 20072008
Bernard Coakley, Sarah Fowell, Leonard Johnson,

UAF
Plate Tectonics and Polar Gateways in Earth History
Scott Bailey, UAF
Synchronized observations of Polar Mesospheric

Clouds (PMC), Aurora, and other large-scale polar
phenomena from the International Space Station
(ISS) and ground sites
David Atkinson, UAF
Arctic Circum-Polar Coastal Observatory Network
Hajo Eicken, Jennifer Hutchings, Rudiger Gens, Rolf

Gradinger, Mark Johnson, Virgil (Buck) Sharpton,
UAF
The state of the Arctic sea ice cover: Physical and biological properties and processes in a changing environment
Douglas Kane, UAF
The Arctic Hydrological Cycle Monitoring, Modelling

and Assessment Program
Jeffrey Welker, UA; Craig Lingle, UAF
The State and Fate of the Cryosphere
Martin Truffer, UAF
IPY in the Antarctic PeninsulaIce and Climate
Ray Barnhardt, Oscar Kawagley, UAF
Circumpolar Center for Learning and Indigenous

Knowledge Systems
Vladimir Romanovsky, UAF
Deep Permafrost Scientific Drilling
Gerd Wendler, Martha Shulski, UAF
Climate change in the Arctic with special emphasis on

Alaska
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Appendix: Endorsed IPY Projects With University of Alaska ParticipantsContinued
UA Faculty Member
Title
Russ R Hopcroft, UAF
Ecosystem West Greenland
Lawrence D. Kaplan, James Ruppert, Patrick Marlow,

UAF
GlocalizationLanguage, Literature and Media among

Inuit and Sami people
Matt Nolan, UAF
Bipolar Climate MachineryA study of the interplay

of northern and southern polar processes in driving
and amplifying global climate as recorded in
paleoclimate archives and their significance for the
generation of realistic estimates of future climate
and sea level development
Todd OHara, UAF
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) circumpolar health assessment in relation to toxicants and climate change
Larry
Hinzman,
Vladimir
Romanovsky,
Semiletov, Donald (Skip) Walker, UAF
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Igor
Cold Land Processes in the Northern Hemisphere continents and their Coastal Zone: Regional and Global
Climate and Societal-Ecosystem Linkages and Interactions
Donald (Skip) Walker, Andrew Balsar, Uma Bhatt,

Keith Boggs, Brian Barnes, Rick Caulfield, Terry
Chapin, Craig Dorman, Hajo Eicken, Brad Griffith,
Tom Heinrichs, Larry Hinzman, John Kelly, Gary
Kofinas, Hilmar Maier, Gary Michaelson, Corinne
Munger, Matt Nolan, Chien-Lu Ping, Anupma
Prakesh, Peter Prokein, Martha Raynolds, Vladimir
Romanovsky, Mike Sfraga, Buck Sharpton, John
Walsh, UAF
Greening of the Arctic: Circumpolar Biomass
Frank Willams, UAF
High Performance Computing and Mass Storage Resources for IPY Research Support
Gary Kofinas, Perry Barboza, Brad Griffith, Kris

Hundertmark, Robert White, Greg Finstad, UAF
Starting the clock for the CARMA Network: Impacts

on Human-Rangifer Systems in the Circumarctic
David Norton, Martin Robards, UAF
Sea Ice Knowledge and Use: Assessing Arctic Environmental and Social Change
Karen Perdue, UAF; Kathy Murray, Carl Hild, UAA
Arctic Human Health Initiative
Catherine F. Cahill, UAF
POLARAOD: a network to characterize the means,

variability, and trends of the climate-forcing properties of aerosols in polar regions
Roger Hansen, Jeff Freymueller, UAF
Polar Earth Observing Network
Syndonia Bret-Harte, UAF
International Tundra Experiment (ITEX): impacts of

long-term experimental warming and climate variability on tundra ecosystems
Martin Jeffries, UAF
The University of the Arctic: Providing Higher Education and Outreach Programs for the International
Polar Year
Richard Collins, UAF
International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere
Larry Hinzman, UAF
The hydrological cycle of the Canadian Polar Regions:

processes, parameterization, prediction and change
David Atkinson, UAF
Impacts of Surface Fluxes on Arctic Climate: Severe

Storms, Effects on Coastal Processes and Relationships to Changing Climate
Richard Boone, UAF
Biodiversity of soil meso- and macro-fauna and latitudinal gradient impact assessment along the proposed
Alaska gas pipeline
Richard Collins, UAF
The Structure and Evolution of the Polar Stratosphere

and Mesosphere and Links to the Troposphere during IPY
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Appendix: Endorsed IPY Projects With University of Alaska ParticipantsContinued
UA Faculty Member
Title
Shusun Li, Martin Jeffries, Kim Morris, UAF
Assessment of surface albedo feedback and the variability of surface radiation budget in the Arctic climate system using satellite and ground observations
Jack Kruse, UAA
The Political Economy of Northern Development
Dave McGuire, UAF
Arctic Biosphere-Atmosphere Coupling across multiple

Scales
Bering Sea Sub-Network of Community-Based Environmental Monitoring, Observation and Information

Stations
Chien-Lu Ping, UAF
Response of Arctic and Subarctic soils in a changing

Earth: dynamic and frontier studies
Martin Truffer, UAF
Remote sensing, monitoring, and forecast of surging

glaciers evolution with the investigation of modern
fluctuations of surging glaciers of the Alaska,
Svalbard and high elevated Asia glaciers
Stuart Chapin, UAF
Polar Disturbance and Ecosystem Services: Links between Climate and Human Well-being
Consortium for coordination of Observation and Monitoring of the Arctic for Assessment and Research
Maribeth Murray, UAF
The Impacts of Oil and Gas Activity on Peoples in the

Arctic Using a Multiple Securities Perspective
Integrated Communication, Education and Evaluation
Rolf Gradinger, Russ Hopcroft, Bodil Bluhm, Falk

Huettmann, Rob Cermak, John Kelley, Stephen
Jewett, UAF; Oliver Hedgepeth, UA
Arctic Ocean Diversity (ArcOD)
Martin Truffer, Roman Motyka, UAF
Measurement and Attribution of recent Greenland Ice

sheet chaNgeS (MARGINS)
Scott Goldsmith, UAA
The Economy of the North
Chien-Lu Ping, Vladimir Romanovsky, UAF
Carbon Pools in Permafrost Regions
Jack Kruse, UAA
Survey of Living Conditions in the Arctic, SLiCARemote Access Analysis System
Elena B. Sparrow, Donald A. (Skip) Walker, UAF
Biodiversity and Climate Induced Lifecycle Changes of

Arctic Spiders
Gary Kofinas, Patty Gray, UAF
ANTLER Network Secretariat and Workshop Series
Peter Schweitzer, UAF
Moved by the State: Perspectives on Relocation and

Resettlement in the Circumpolar North
Todd Sherman, Jean Flanagan Carlo, UAF
International Polar Year Arctic Nations Exhibition and

Activities including Symposia, Seminars, Workshops,
Residencies, Documentation and Event Coordination
Todd OHara, Alan Springer, UAF
MERSAM (MERcurySeabirdArticMonitoring)
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you very much, Doctor.

Our next witness is Dr. Alan Parkinson, the Deputy Director of
the Arctic Investigation Program, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, in Anchorage.
Doctor, nice to have you with us.
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STATEMENT OF ALAN J. PARKINSON, PH.D., DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, ARCTIC INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM, CENTERS
FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Dr. PARKINSON. Thank you very much, Chairman Stevens, Senator Murkowski. Im very pleased to be here today to describe to
you our national efforts to use the International Polar Year and the
Arctic Human Health Initiative to increase the visibility of human
health concerns of Arctic peoples.
Human health has not been a research theme of any previous
Polar Year, so we see this event as an opportunity for the United
States to take a leadership role in the International Polar Year by
supporting human health research, disease prevention, and control
activities that will improve the health and well-being of Arctic residents.
While much has been achieved since the last Polar Year, some
50 years ago, to improve the health of Arctic residents, life expectancy is shorter, and infant mortality rates are still higher among
the indigenous Arctic residents. These health disparities can be resolved with greater understanding of their causes through research
and by focused application of existing health strategies.
The rapid pace of change in the Arctic is presenting new challenges, as you heard earlier. Of particular concern are the potential
health impacts of climate change, environmental pollutants, and
economic development. The Arctic is unique in many aspects, but
one particularly important aspect is the spirit of cross-border cooperation. And on issues of human health, the international cooperation is facilitated through the working groups of the International Union for Circumpolar Health and the Arctic Council. Nationally, the U.S. interagency cooperation on Arctic research is
grounded in the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, which established the Arctic Research Commission, which has emphasized
human health as a special interagency focus area.
These international and national partnerships have led to the
creation of the Arctic Human Health Initiative, which is an Arctic
Council IPY Project which is being led by the U.S. Department of
State, the CDC, and other U.S. interagencies and international
partners. And the goal of this initiative is to use the Polar Year to
really increase the public and political awareness of the human
health concerns of Arctic peoples, and through international collaborative research, jointly develop strategies that willwhich will
improve the health and well-being of all Arctic residents.
The Arctic research programs of the CDC are focused on improving public health in Arctic communities. Programs currently are
conducted by the National Center for Infectious Disease, the National Center for Environmental Health, the National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. And these programs are conducted within collaboration with partnerships with
the State of Alaska Division of Public Health, the Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium, regional tribal health corporations, the
Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, University of Alaska, and other state and local agencies.
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The mission of the Arctic Investigations Program is prevention
and control of infectious diseases among the residents of the Arctic
and sub-Arctic. And we focus particularly on the elimination of the
health disparities caused by infectious diseases that exist among
indigenous populations of these regions. The National Center for
Environmental Health is concluding studies of the levels of human
exposure to environmental pollutants in the Arctic and the potential role of these contaminants as co-factors in breast cancer in
Alaskan Natives. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is actually just beginning a study to
generate new information on nicotine carcinogens in commercial
and homemade chewing tobacco. And, of course, the Alaska Field
Station of the National Institutes of Occupational Health and Safety is continuing studies aiming at decreasing the number ofand
rate of work-related injuries among industries that face the extreme hazards of the Arctic environment.
In summary, the IPY presents us with a unique opportunity to
focus political and public attention on the health concerns of Arctic
communities and to develop collaborative international programs,
research programs, that will address those concerns.
The improvements in the health status already achieved by Arctic peoples provide hope that, through concerted effort, clear vision,
existing health challenges and disparities can be overcome. We believe that the U.S. leadership and scientific contributions of the
International Polar Year and the Arctic Human Health Initiative
are an important step in this direction.
Thank you for your attention, and I am happy to answer any
questions.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Parkinson follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF ALAN J. PARKINSON, PH.D., DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ARCTIC
INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Good afternoon, Chairman Stevens, Chairman Lugar, and members of both Committees. I am Alan Parkinson Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Preventions, Arctic Investigations Program located in Anchorage, Alaska. I am
pleased to be here today to describe our national efforts to use the International
Polar Year (IPY) and the Arctic Human Health Initiative (AHHI) to increase the
visibility and awareness of human health concerns of Arctic peoples and to coordinate at the national and international level research programs that will improve the
health and well-being of Arctic residents. As you have heard from previous speakers, the IPY is an intensive one year multi-disciplinary program of collaborative
international science, research, education, and communication focusing on the Arctic
and Antarctic regions.
The years 20072008 will mark the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year, and the third IPY. This event has been designated the 4th IPY by
the National Academy of Science, International Council of Science, the World Meteorological Organization, the Arctic Council, and many other international organizations. This period of focused activity promises to further our understanding of the
physical and social process in polar regions, examine their globally-connected role
in the climate system and establish research infrastructure for the future, and serve
to attract and develop a new generation of scientists and engineers with the
versatility to tackle complex global issues. U.S. activities during the IPY will focus
on highlighting research, education, and public outreach efforts, and will be coordinated among Federal agencies and international partners that support research in
Polar Regions. Human health has not been a research theme for any previous Polar
Year and we see this event as an opportunity for the U.S. to take a leadership role
in the IPY by supporting research activities that will address the human health con-
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cerns of Arctic communities and set the stage for an integrated approach to Arctic
human health research beyond 2009.
Human Health Concerns of Arctic Communities
Life expectancy in Arctic populations has greatly improved over the last 50 years.
In 1950, the life expectancy for an Alaska Native, the indigenous people of Alaska,
at birth was 47 years compared with 66 years for the general U.S. population. By
2000, the life expectancy for Alaska Natives had increased to 69.5 years, a gain of
over 20 years. Much of this improvement can be attributed to health research and
public health programs that have resulted in a reduction in morbidity and mortality
from infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, and the vaccine-preventable diseases
of childhood. Reductions in infectious disease mortality for Alaska Natives have
been especially dramatic. In 1950, 47 percent of deaths among Alaska Natives were
due to infections, as compared with only 3 percent for non-Native Alaskans. By
1990, infectious diseases caused only 1.2 percent of the Alaska Native deaths, very
similar to the 1 percent seen for non-Natives. 1
Public health research has resulted in innovations such as the provision of safe
water supplies, sewage disposal, development of community-based medical providers, that have contributed to improved care and access to care for injuries and
illness. Research on the negative health effects of tobacco has lead to tobacco cessation and education programs. Mortality rates for heart disease and overall cancer
rates are similar in Arctic indigenous residents in relation to overall rates for the
U.S., Canada, and northern European countries, with some exceptions (i.e., higher
incidence of gastric, nasopharyngeal, renal cancers) not explained by known risk factors .
Despite improvements in these health indicators of Arctic residents, life expectancy is shorter and infant mortality rates are higher among indigenous Arctic residents in the U.S. Arctic, northern Canada, and Greenland when compared to Arctic
residents of Nordic countries. For example, life expectancy for Alaska Natives still
lags behind the general U.S. population which was 76.5 years in 2000. Similarly,
indigenous residents of U.S. Arctic and Greenland have higher mortality rates for
injury and suicide, and hospitalization rates for infants with pneumonia and respiratory infections; many of these health disparities can be eliminated through the
focused application of existing public health strategies.
A common theme across the Arctic is the rapid pace of change and its impact on
the health and well-being of Arctic peoples. Some of the major trends likely to affect
the health status of Arctic peoples include economic changes, improved transportation and communications, environmental pollutants, and climate change.
Living conditions have and continue to change from an economy based on subsistence hunting and gathering to a cash-based economy. Across the circumpolar north
there is increasing activity toward sustainable development via local resource development, and widening involvement in the global economy. The influence of such
changes on the physical health of Arctic residents on the one hand have been positive, resulting in improved housing conditions, a more stable supply of food, increased access to more western goods, and decreases in morbidity and mortality
from infectious diseases. But these changes in lifestyle brought on by the move away
from traditional subsistence hunting and gathering, and the societal changes
brought on by modernization, in general, have resulted in an increase in prevalence
of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it is well known that child abuse, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, domestic violence, suicide, unintentional injury is also connected to rapid cultural
change, loss of cultural identity and self esteem.
Globalization has meant improvements in the transportation infrastructure and
communications technologies such as the Internet and telemedicine innovations.
Many communities once isolated, are now linked to major cities by air transportation, and are only one airplane ride away from more densely populated urban centers. Consequently these communities are now vulnerable to the importation of new
and emerging infectious diseases (such as influenza, SARS or SARS-like infectious
diseases, antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as multi-drug resistant tuberculosis).
Environmental contaminants are a global problem. Contaminants such as mercury, other heavy metals, PCBs, DDT, dioxins and other organochlorines, mainly
originate in the mid-latitude industrial and agricultural areas of the globe, but have
migrated to the Arctic via atmospheric, river and ocean transport. Their subsequent
1 Estimates on the proportion of mortality accounted for, by infectious diseases, are based on
a catchment population size of 34,000 and 87,000 Alaska Natives, in 1950 and 1990, respectively. The estimated number of mortalities amongst Alaska Natives during these 2 years, was
575 and 565, respectively.
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bio-magnification in the Arctic food webs, and appearance in subsistence foods such
as fish, waterfowl, marine and land mammals, and the indigenous people who rely
on these foods is of great concern to Arctic residents. Potential human health effects
include damage to the developing brain, endocrine, and immune system. A new concern is the role of mercury on cardiovascular diseases. Ongoing research will identify the levels and human health effects of these contaminants in Arctic residents
and will provide public health guidance on both the risks and benefits of consuming
traditional foods.
The changing climate is affecting Arctic communities, and is bringing economic
and health threats, as well as possible opportunities. The impacts of climate change
on the health of Arctic residents will vary depending on factors such as age, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, culture, location, and capacity of the local health infrastructure systems to adapt. It is likely that the most vulnerable will be those living
close to the land, living a traditional subsistence lifestyle in remote communities,
those already facing health related changes. Direct health-related impacts, for example may include an increase in injuries, hypothermia, and frostbite related to
travel, unpredictable ice and weather conditions, and heat stress in summer. Indirect impacts include the potential changes in vector borne diseases such as West
Nile virus, zoonotic infectious diseases such as brucellosis, tularemia or
echinococcosis, changes in access to safe water supplies, failure of the permafrost
and damages to the sanitation infrastructure, and infrastructure in general (buildings, transportation, etc.) changes in the traditional food supply as the migration
patterns of subsistence species change in response to changing habitats. Ongoing research will identify climate sensitive indicators that will allow the prediction of
health impacts and the development of mitigation strategies.
The Arctic is unique in many aspects. It can be defined by population, a population that is sparsely scattered over a very large geographical area, by climate and
latitude, by seasonal extremes of temperature, light and dark, and by its spirit and
history of cross-border cooperation on issues of concern to Arctic communities.
International Cooperation on Arctic Human Health
There is a long history of international cooperation on many issues affecting Arctic communities including human health and human health research.
The International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) (www.iuch.org) is an organization comprised of the memberships of the American Society for Circumpolar
Health, the Canadian Society for Circumpolar Health, the Nordic Society for Arctic
Medicine, the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, and the
Danish/Greenlandic Society for Circumpolar Health. The IUCH promotes international cooperation, research, scientific information exchange, and education in the
areas of Arctic Health Policy, Birth Defects & Genetics, Cancer, Diet & Heart, Environmental Health & Subsistence Food Security, Family Health, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Health Surveys, HIV/AIDS, STDs, Indigenous Peoples Health, Infectious
Diseases, Injury Prevention, Occupational Safety & Health, Population-Based Planning, Tobacco & Health, and Womens Health.
The Arctic Council (www.arctic-council.org) is a ministerial forum for cooperation
between governments and indigenous peoples to address concerns and challenges
common to Arctic states. Members include: the U.S. (represented by the State Department), Canada, Greenland/Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and
the Russian Federation. Indigenous peoples are represented as Permanent Participants and include: Sami Council, Aleut International, Inuit Circumpolar Conference,
Russian Association Indigenous Peoples of the North, Arctic Athabaskan Council,
and Indigenous Peoples Association. Current Arctic Council human health activities
include monitoring the human health impact of anthropogenic pollutants, climate
variability, infectious diseases, and the expansion and assessment of tele-health innovations in Arctic regions.
National Cooperation on Arctic Human Health
The U.S. Congress passed the Arctic Research and Policy Act, in July 1984, finding that Arctic Research expands knowledge, which can enhance the lives of Arctic
residents, increase opportunities for international cooperation and can facilitate national policy on Arctic Research. The Act established the Arctic Research Commission to promote and recommend research priorities. The Commission recommended
an interagency program focusing on the health concerns of Arctic residents, and designated that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) lead this effort with assistance
from other agencies. We look forward to partnering with our sister agency on this
recommendation.
Arctic research programs of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
are focused on improving public health in Arctic communities. Programs are cur-
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rently conducted by the National Center for Infectious Disease (NCID), the National
Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These programs are conducted in collaboration
with the State of Alaska Division of Public Health, the Alaska Native Tribal Health
Consortium, regional tribal health organizations, the Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, and other state and local agencies and organizations.
The Arctic Investigations Program, located in Anchorage, Alaska, is one of three
U.S.-based field stations operated by the NCID. The mission of AIP is the prevention and control of infectious diseases among residents of the Arctic and sub-Arctic,
and in particular the elimination of health disparities caused by infectious disease
that exist among the indigenous populations of these regions. The AIP has led efforts to eliminate Hepatitis A&B, and invasive diseases such as meningitis caused
by Haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus
pneumoniae in the U.S. Arctic. The Division of Environmental Hazards and Health
Effects of the NCEH together with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and
the AIP are concluding studies of the level of human exposure to environmental pollutants in the Arctic, and the potential role of environmental contaminants as cofactors in breast cancer in Alaska Natives. The NCCDPHP is beginning a study to generate new information on nicotine and carcinogen exposure in users of commercial
and home-made chewing tobacco. The results will be used to generate public health
messages for local tobacco control programs. The Alaska Field Station of the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health was established to decrease the
number and rate of work-related injuries among industries that face extreme hazards due to the Arctic environment. Through research, outreach with industry and
community partners, and active prevention activities has resulted in a 60 percent
decrease in the number of occupational fatalities since 1990. These CDC Program
accomplishments and plans are reported biennially in the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee Report of U.S. Arctic Research published by the National
Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs.
The AHHI and the International Polar Year
The Arctic Human Health Initiative (AHHI) is an IPY Arctic Council project, led
by the U.S. Department of State, and the CDC. The aim of AHHI is to increase public and political awareness and visibility of human health concerns of Arctic peoples,
foster human health research, promote health strategies that will improve the
health and well-being of all Arctic residents. The AHHI will coordinate IPY projects
that focus on Arctic human health research and that will advance the joint circumpolar health research agendas of the Arctic Council and IUCH.
Priority IPY human health research needs of Arctic communities includes studies
that include the assessment and mitigation of human health effects of:
Anthropogenic pollution in Arctic regions.
Oil, gas, and other sustainable development activities.
Contaminants and zoonotic infectious diseases on subsistence species and the
traditional food supply.
Climate variability.
Infectious diseases including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, vaccine-preventable diseases, and emerging infectious diseases such as Avian influenza.
Chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes.
Behavioral health issues, such as suicide, interpersonal violence and substance
abuse, and unintentional injuries.
Human health surveillance, monitoring and research networks allow the monitoring of diseases of concern in Arctic communities through the development of
standardized study protocols, data collection, laboratory methods, and data analysis.
These networks allow the monitoring of disease prevalence over time, the determination of risk factors for disease and evaluation and implementation of disease
prevention and control strategies. For example, the CDCs AIP coordinates the
International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS) of infectious diseases, which links hospital clinical and public health laboratories and institutes in the U.S. Arctic, northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, and northern Sweden for the
purposes of monitoring invasive bacterial diseases that cause pneumonia, meningitis
and blood stream infections. During the IPY this system will be expanded to include
the monitoring of tuberculosis in Arctic countries, and include public health centers
in 14 regions of northern Russian Federation.
As of September 15, 2006, there have been more than 1,145 Expressions of Interest and 222 full proposals endorsed by the IPY Joint Committee to undertake re-
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search projects during the IPY. A full description of the AHHI (full proposal number
167) can be viewed at www.ipy.org. The proposal has been designated by the IPY
Joint Committee as a coordinating proposal under which other human health related research proposals will be managed. To date, 13 Expressions of Intent and 8
full proposals from five of the eight Arctic countries have been clustered within the
AHHI.
The AHHI will coordinate research projects through an International Steering
Committee led by the CDC with representation from the International Union for
Circumpolar Health, Arctic Council human health working groups, indigenous peoples organizations, World Health Organization, the Fogarty International Center of
the National Institutes of Health and other partners. The overall role of the Steering Committee will be to carry out the aim of AHHI, review and endorse proposals,
identify research gaps, evaluate progress, facilitate reporting of research findings to
the research community, communities at risk, policymakers and the general public,
and guide the direction of human health research beyond IPY.
The IPY presents a unique opportunity to focus public and political attention on
health concerns of Arctic communities and develop collaborative, international research programs that will address those concerns. The improvements in health status already achieved by Arctic peoples provide hope that through concerted effort
and clear vision, existing health challenges and disparities can also be overcome. We
believe that U.S. leadership and scientific contributions to the International Polar
Year Arctic Human Health Initiative are an important step.
Thank you for the opportunity to share this information with you. I am happy
to answer any questions.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, thank you very much, Dr. Parkinson.

We will have some questions. I think you have a very interesting
role in the Arctic right now.
Our last witness is Dr. Thomas Armstrong, Earth Surface Dynamics Program Coordinator for the USGS, in Reston, Virginia.
Doctor, its nice to have you with us, too.
STATEMENT OF DR. THOMAS R. ARMSTRONG,
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS,
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS),
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Dr. ARMSTRONG. Thank you, Senator Stevens and Senator Murkowski. Thank you for having me here today to talk to you about
the issue of the U.S. Geological Surveys and the Department of the
Interiors activities related to the International Polar Year.
My name is Thomas Armstrong, and I am the Program Coordinator for the Earth Surface Dynamics Program at USGS. I also
represent the USGS and the Department of the Interior on the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programs Climate Working Group
and activities related to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.
The USGS and other bureaus within DOI will participate in the
IPY through extension and enhancement of our existing programmatic activities and research assessment and long-term monitoring in the polar regions that support the missions of our organizations and address the themes and goals of the IPY. These activities span the biologic, geologic, hydrologic, geographic, and information sciences. And some of the specific activities include the development of a satellite image atlas of glaciers of Asia, Alaska, and
Iceland. Some of this work has already been completed. Some of
this work is in press now, including the Atlas for Alaska Glaciers.
The distribution of ice sheets in the Arctic, sub-Arctic, and Antarctic are critically linked to water availability for both human and
ecological needs, as well as changes in sea level worldwide, and,
therefore, have global-scale ecologic and socioeconomic impacts.
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These images, as part of this atlas, are part of a worldwide series
that will help in assessing the current distribution of glacial ice
and rates of glacial ice retreat, as well.
Another effort thats ongoing at USGS is the development of the
state of the Earths cryosphere at the beginning of the 21st century. This long-term monitoring program of the Earth has been a
cornerstone of USGS throughout its history. The USGS has been
monitoring many physical and biological parameters in the Arctic,
and these include three benchmark glaciers for climate change, the
monitoring of stream runoff, and several critical marine mammals
and their health. The results of these monitoring efforts will be examined, analyzed, and reported on during the course of the IPY.
Another effort that were conducting now, and is starting to gain
a lot of momentum, is the development of the Yukon River Basin
Project, which will address rates and effects of permafrost thawing
in the Arctic.
USGS scientists and managers are working with a consortium of
U.S. and Canadian Federal, State, and provincial agencies, university scientists, including those from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and tribal organizations along the Yukon River Basin to initiate a major project to understand and predict climate-induced
changes to the air, water, land, and biota within the Yukon Basin.
This effort will provide a benchmark for tracking and understanding changes to biological communities, stored carbon, the
water cycle, and human infrastructure as a consequence of climateinduced permafrost thawing and landscape change. And Id like to
point out, in a question Senator Stevens had to the first panel, we
are also pursuing the possibility of providing a science and education outreach person in one of the native communities that will
work with all the communities on the Yukon Basin to help establish an educational program and a streamor a river-monitoring
program for water quality with the native population.
Another effort thats ongoing at the USGS is the petroleum resource assessment of the Arctic. The USGS World Petroleum Assessment of 2000 estimated that a significant portion of the remaining oil and gas resources of the world reside in the Arctic.
This follow-on study will examine Arctic basins in more detail and
report on oil and gas resource potential of unexplored basins. The
initial results should be completed during the course of the IPY.
And, finally, one other effort Id like to talk about briefly with
you is the Landsat 7 Image Map of Antarctica, also known as
LIMA. The LIMA will create three high-quality, remotely sensed
mosaics of Antarctica from more than 1200 Landsat scenes, in cooperation with the British Antarctic Survey, the National Science
Foundation, and NASA.
Other agencies within the Department of the Interior are planning to carry out activities incorporating International Polar Year
components. Most notably, these include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service as the lead agency for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and
Fauna Working Group, also known as CAFF. This is part of the
Arctic Council and the international development of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, which will also serve to
guide and coordinate monitoring activities in the Arctic region, fa-
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cilitate methodologies, and address gaps in existing data on status
and trends.
The Circumpolar Seabird Information Network, another new initiative led by the Service, will greatly expand the international
knowledge base of the Arctic Region and its ability to address
issues regarding bird species of conservation concern.
And, finally, the Minerals Management Service will continue to
its environmental and sociocultural research in and around the
Beaufort/Chukchi Seas of the Arctic to support management of offshore gas and oil resources. Research planning activities include
collaboration with the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, individual agencies, and research scientists to incorporate
IPY components, when feasible.
This concludes my testimony. My intention was to leave you with
a brief portrayal of just some of the Department of the Interiors
many science, monitoring, and assessment studies, and related support infrastructure that are firmly within the scope and spirit of
the International Polar Year. I thank you for the opportunity to
speak with you today, and I look forward to answering any questions that you may have.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Armstrong follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF DR. THOMAS ARMSTRONG, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, EARTH
SURFACE DYNAMICS, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS), DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR
Thank you for the opportunity to address you, and the Committees, on the issue
of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) activities related to the International Polar Year
(IPY). My name is Thomas Armstrong, and I am the Program Coordinator for the
Earth Surface Dynamics Program at USGS. I also represent USGS and the Department of the Interior (DOI) on the Arctic Councils Arctic Monitoring and Assessment
Programs Climate Working Group, and activities related to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.
Background
The USGS serves the United States by providing reliable scientific information to
describe and understand the Earth, minimize loss of life and property from natural
disasters, manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and, enhance
and protect our quality of life. It is within the spirit of this mission that the USGS
has developed plans for participation in the International Polar Year, working with
partners in DOI, with other Federal and State agencies, and with scientific colleagues around the world.
The IPY will extend from March 2007 through March 2009. This period will commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the 19571958 International Geophysical Year.
The IGY, as it was called, was modelled on the International Polar Years of 1882
1883 and 19321933, and was intended to allow scientists from around the world
to take part in a series of coordinated observations of various geophysical phenomena. The work of scientists from over 60 countries literally spanned the globe
from the North to the South Poles. Although much work was carried out in the Arctic and equatorial regions, special attention was given to the Antarctic, where research on ice depths yielded radically new estimates of the earths total ice content.
In a similar spirit of discovery and understanding, IPY 20072009 is envisioned as
an intense scientific campaign to explore new frontiers in polar science, and to improve our understanding of the critical role of the polar regions in global processes.
Most significantly, IPY is envisioned as an opportunity to engage the public in polar
discovery and help attract the next generation of earth scientists.
Within current funding amounts, the USGS will participate in the IPY through
extension and enhancement of programmatic activities in research, assessment, and
monitoring in the Polar Regions that support the scientific mission of our organization, and address the themes and goals of the IPY. These activities span the biologic, geologic, hydrologic, geographic, and information sciences and will include but
not be limited to:
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Research and monitoring of the status and distribution of fish, wildlife and
vegetation; determination of species at risk; permafrost evaluation to include assessment of changes in the thermal regime and feedbacks with the changing climate, organic carbon characteristics and distribution; evaluation of hydrologic
inputs to the carbon budgetincluding the influence of large river deltas on
carbon flux to the marine system, snow and water-borne contaminants and
freshwater inputs; and the evaluation of surficial and geochemical processes in
understanding the changing polar environment.
Integrated monitoring for assessing the relationship between major stressors,
like climate change, and regional changes in the carbon cycle of Arctic watersheds; ground and satellite-based monitoring of glaciers and icecaps for volumetric changes, and monitoring of thermal changes in permafrost; reconstruction of past climate cycles and evaluation of current changes from sediment and
ice core records; monitoring and assessment of changes in rates of coastal erosion and surficial processes; evaluation of changes in status and distribution of
circumpolar vegetation, fish and wildlife, and freshwater discharges in the Arctic.
Evaluation of the nature of arctic/boreal hydrologic interactions and the relationships between climate and plant growth, productivity, permafrost depth,
and resulting effects on nutrient availability and atmospheric heat sources and
sinks.
Establishment or extension of permanent monitoring infrastructure for permafrost, global seismicity, and geomagnetic activity. Assessment of energy resources in the circum-arctic area including oil, gas, coalbed methane and methane hydrates.
While the USGS will not conduct specific social science research as a part of
IPY, several of our studies will have implications for populations living in the
Polar Regions. These include our energy and mineral assessments, especially
studies of coalbed methane potential for providing energy to isolated communities; natural hazards monitoring; studies of scour modelling due to changes
in hydrology and their impacts on manmade structures; and 3-dimensional assessments of changes in permafrost that may have serious impacts on Arctic
road networks and other forms of infrastructure.
An additional element will include the production of geospatial information related to high-resolution elevation data and digital ortho-imagery for Polar Regions of Alaska, and the development of an IPY portal on the USGS public
website. The portal will provide one-stop access to USGS science datasets; information products (e.g., maps and reports); educational resources for teachers;
and tools and applications (e.g., geospatially referenced index of pertinent data,
bibliography of key references, scientific collaboration tools). The USGS IPY
portal will be linked to Geospatial One-Stop (www.geodata.gov), in order to leverage geospatial data and tools available from other agencies and organizations.
Beginning with the very first geophysical and geological surveys carried out in
Antarctica over a half-century ago, the USGS has maintained a long tradition of scientific monitoring, assessment, and research in the Polar Regions. The USGS has
an extensive history of activities including topographic mapping and geodetic control
in Antarctica, satellite and ground-based monitoring of glaciers and ice caps, research on movements, distribution patterns and adaptation of polar wildlife, operation of a seismic array at the South Pole, estimations of energy resources of the
circum-Arctic, mapping of the distribution of circum-arctic vegetation, and the development of paleoclimate records from Alaskan sediments and polar ice cores.
USGS participation in the International Polar Year allows the Agency to celebrate
this enduring tradition with the global polar research community and to renew our
commitment to polar science at a time when the eyes of the world are focused on
these fragile regions.
Numerous USGS programs are involved in research, assessment, and monitoring
in the Polar Regions that support the scientific mission of the USGS and the Department of the Interior, and address the themes and goals of the IPY. Some of
these specific activities and related products are listed below.
1. Research and Long-Term Monitoring of the Polar Regions
Products and activities include:
Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of Asia, Alaska, and Iceland http://
www.glaciers.er.usgs.gov/html/chapters.html
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Glacial ice distribution, including major ice sheets in the arctic, subarctic, and
Antarctic, are critically linked to water availability for both human and ecological needs, as well as changes in sea level worldwide. Changes in these ice
masses therefore have global-scale ecological and socio-economic impacts. Over
the last several decades, the majority of the worlds glaciers have decreased in
size and volume. These images, part of a worldwide series, will help in assessing the current distribution of glacial ice and rates of glacial ice retreat worldwide.
State of the Earths Cryosphere at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Glaciers,
Snow Cover, Floating Ice, Permafrost and Their Impacts on Indigenous Marine
Mammals
The USGS has been monitoring permafrost temperature in the Arctic; three
Benchmark Glaciers for climate change, glacier geometry, glacier mass balance,
glacier motion, and stream runoff; and marine mammals for many decades. The
results of those monitoring efforts will be examined, analyzed and reported on
during the IPY.
Yukon River BasinRates and Effects of Permafrost Thawing in the Arctic
USGS scientists and managers are working with a consortium of U.S. and Canadian Federal, state, and provincial agencies, university scientists, and tribal
organizations to initiate a major project to understand and predict climate-induced changes to the air, water, land, and biota within the Yukon River Basin.
This collaborative scientific effort will provide a benchmark for tracking and understanding changes occurring throughout the Arctic and Sub-arctic region to
biological communities, stored carbon, the water cycle, and human infrastructure as a consequence of climate-induced permafrost thawing and landscape
change.
Petroleum Resource Assessment of the Arctic
The USGS World Petroleum Assessment of 2000, estimated that a significant
portion of the remaining oil and gas resources of the world reside in the Arctic.
This follow-on study will examine Arctic basins in more detail and report on oil
and gas resource potential of unexplored basins. The initial results should be
completed during the IPY.
Landsat 7 Image Map of Antarctica (LIMA)
The LIMA will create three high-quality remotely-sensed mosaics of Antarctica
from more than 1,200 Landsat scenes in cooperation with the British Antarctic
Survey. This work is also funded by the National Science Foundation.
2. USGS Facilities and Resources for Arctic and Antarctic Research

The USGS includes numerous facilities throughout the United States and Antarctica that are focused on activities that directly link to the International Polar Year.
These facilities include:
U.S. National Ice Core Laboratory, USGS, Denver, CO
The U.S. National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL) stores, curates, and facilitates
study of ice cores recovered from the polar regions of the world. It provides scientists with the capability to conduct examinations and measurements on ice
cores, and it preserves the integrity of these ice cores in a long-term repository
for current and future investigations. Ice cores contain an abundance of climate
information, more so than any other natural source of climate information such
as tree rings or sediment layers. http://nicl.usgs.gov/.
U.S. Antarctic Resource Center, USGS, Reston, VA
The U.S. Antarctic Resource Center (USARC) is the Nations depository for Antarctic maps, charts, geodetic ground control, satellite images, aerial photographs, publications, slides, and video tapes. These resources are items produced by Antarctic Treaty parties in support of their activities in Antarctica and
provided to the USARC in connection with a resolution of the treaty providing
for exchange of information. http://usarc.usgs.gov.
USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
The USGS Alaska Science Center is a Center of Excellence for the Department
of the Interior to address important natural resources issues and natural hazards assessments in Alaska and circumpolar regions through long-term data
collection and monitoring, research and development, and assessments and applications. Their mission is to provide scientific leadership and accurate, objective, and timely data, information, and research findings about the earth and
its flora and fauna to Federal and State resource managers and policymakers,
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local government, and the public to support sound decisionmaking regarding
natural resources, natural hazards, and ecosystems in Alaska and circumpolar
regions. http://alaska.usgs.gov/index.php.
McMurdo Long-Term Research (LTER) Program
The USGS provides cooperative support to the McMurdo Long-Term Research
program for water resources data collection and related activities. The support
provided is in the form of field assistance, guidance, and review of surface-water
data collection by INSTAAR and University of Colorado researchers in the
McMurdo Dry Valleys (Taylor Valley and Wright Valley) of Antarctica. Cooperation is also provided in the form of guidance and support for, and access to,
USGS databases and streamflow-records processing applications.
Antarctic Seismic Data Library System (SDLS)
The SDLS is an Antarctic Treaty effort under the auspices of the Scientific
Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to collate and make openly available
for research purposes all marine multichannel seismic reflection data (MCS) acquired in Antarctic regions (i.e., south of 60 degrees South). The SDLS was implemented in 1991 under USGS sponsorship, but since about 1996, the SDLS
has been run jointly by USGS (with National Science FoundationOffice of
Polar Programs and USGS funding) and Osservatorio Geofisico Sperimentale
(OGS, Trieste, Italy). The seismic library has branches in 10 countries, with two
branches in the United States. The MCS data are sent to the SDLS by data
collectors, put onto CDROM and distributed to SDLS branches where they can
be viewed and used under the SDLS guidelines specified in SCAR Report #9
(and addendums). To date, 60 CDROMs holding more than 120,000 km of
stacked MCS data have been produced for SDLS branches.
Web-Enabling the U.S. Antarctic Photography Collection From the USGS Earth
Resources Observation Science (EROS) Center
For more the 30 years, it has been USGSs privilege to archive and serve the
U.S. Antarctic Program, the international Antarctic research community, and
the public with access to the U.S. Antarctic aerial photography collection held
at the USGS Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS). This
collection consists of an estimated 400,000 frames of historical aerial photography dating back to the 1940s. This collection is the best collection of Antarctic
aerial photography held by any country, and its value to the Antarctic research
community will only increase with time as work and research continues in Antarctica.
However, neither online metadata, browser images, photographs, nor film products are available via the Internet for the U.S. Antarctic Program Antarctic aerial photography collection. New technology and improved digitizing methods
have made it possible to digitize the original aerial film rolls creating browse
and medium resolution images of each frame. We propose to link the digitized
USAP aerial photography browse and medium resolution image files to the
USARC paper map-line plots, and web-enable the digitized collection in such a
way that users could download images over the Internet at no cost to the user.
Implementation of the proposal will result in an integrated on-line query,
browsing and delivery capability for all historical USARC photography in the
USGS EROS Center.
Antarctic Geographic Place Names
The USGS operates the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) conjointly
with other Federal agencies. In accordance with recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (ACAN), the USBGN approves all new
names to be used in Antarctica by the U.S. Government.
In addition to work being done by the USGS, other agencies within the Department of the Interior are planning to carry out activities incorporating International
Polar Year components. Most notably:
Fish and Wildlife Service Initiatives With the Arctic Council
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the lead agency for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group (CAFF) of the Arctic Council. As a contribution to the International Polar Year, the Service has taken a
lead role in the international development and implementation of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, which will serve to guide and coordinate
monitoring activities in the Arctic region, facilitate common methodologies, and
address gaps in existing data on status and trends. In addition, the Service, in
cooperation with representatives from other Arctic countries, will convene an
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international group of experts to develop an action plan for mapping the boreal
forest, a northern ecosystem critical to migratory birds and other trust species.
The Circumpolar Seabird Information Network, another new initiative led by
Service (and approved as well as jointly funded by the Arctic Council countries),
will greatly expand the international knowledge base of the Arctic region, and
it ability to address issues regarding bird species of conservation concern.
Minerals Management Service Research
The Minerals Management Service will continue its innovative mission-focused
environmental and sociocultural research in and around the Beaufort-Chukchi
Seas area of the Arctic to support management and development of offshore gas
and oil resources. Research planning activities for Fiscal Year 20072009 include collaboration with the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, individual agencies and research scientists to incorporate IPY components when
feasible. Plans include studies of marine mammals and birds and their ecosystems, mesoscale meteorology, river plume transport processes, ocean circulation, sea-ice modeling and potential collaboration with the developing Arctic
component of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).
This concludes my testimony. My intention was to leave you with an accurate portrayal of just some of the Department of the Interiors many science, monitoring,
and assessment studies and related support infrastructure that are firmly within
the scope and spirit of the International Polar Year. I thank you for the opportunity
to speak with you today, and I look forward to answering any questions that you
may have.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, thank you very much, Doctor. I remember so well when there were forces that tried to move USGS
out of Alaska. Im delighted to know that youre coming back and
have a more robust program in our State. I think its a very important function for us to maintain.
Im going to let Senator Murkowski start the questioning off on
this panel, please.
Dr. Armstrong, Ill just begin with you, since we just finished up,
there. You have detailed just a few of the ongoing programs within
not only USGS, but within Interior, as a whole. So, we know that
there are a lot of good things going on now. We will assume that
after IPY comes and goes, there will continue to be good things.
Do youis it the expectation that the level of collaboration and
sharing of the data that will be collected during these years of IPY
will continue so that you, within USGS, can be working with
whether its other agencies or other countries, in the data that they
have collected and, through various programs, will continue to collect? Is that, kind of, where you see this going?
Dr. ARMSTRONG. Yes, Senator. I think one of the real beauties of
our participation in IPY is the fact that this is all part of our current core program. And what IPY has been able to provide us is
a focus mechanism to really focus on addressing some of the critical
Arctic and polar issues, both in Antarctica and the Arctic itself.
The work that were talking about is long-term basic science, applied science, long-term monitoring and assessment, including
adaptive assessment. I see this work going on well beyond the end
of IPY. I think, frankly, this is not even the beginning. Weve been
doing a lot of this work for many years, and well continue to promote this work for a long time to come.
Senator MURKOWSKI. That was exactly the answer I wanted to
hear.
Dr. Bell, I want to understandrecognizing your position on the
International Planning Committeeif youve got some 63 different
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countries, each country perhaps having aperhaps a little bit different perspective, or looking for something a little bit different,
you have all of the programs that we are hopeful will advance
in terms of how you coordinate all of this to make sure that you
dont have a multitude of different projects all going after the same
thing, everybody spending their dollars, how do you make sure that
we are collaborating to the fullest extent possible so that we get
the maximum for the dollars that will be spent?
Dr. BELL. I think thats an excellent question. And one of the tremendous differences between this International Polar Year and
IGY in 1958, and the earlier two, is thatthe way in which we do
science. The earlier three were allcame directly out of the military and were all very top-down. And it would have been a lot easierany one of us could have sat down and written a science plan
and come up with priorities, and then shared it with peoplesimilar people in other nations, and just decided. But the process was
very different. It was much more of a grassroots process based on
very much the way we run science here in the U.S. And one of the
nice things is, is that the U.S. was actually ahead in the planning,
and much of the framework you see was set up by the U.S. science
community. Its important to remember, each of these little honeycombs is a group of scientists somewhere between, say, 20 and a
couple of hundredwho have gotten together and recognized that
this is an unique opportunity for them to work together. And they
are working very hard to do exactly what youre asking, is to leverage the resources, and to be able to go places and ask questions
and install monitoring systems that, without the IPY, we wouldnt
have the motivation to do.
Senator MURKOWSKI. But who is coordinating so that the 20some-odd scientists that are at the top of the honeycomb over
herewhos telling them, Look, the same guys area different
group of guys are doing the same project down here. Get together
with them? Is there that level of coordination and collaboration?
Dr. BELL. Theres no one sitting thereas much fun as it would
be to be the one sitting there telling everybody they must work together, theres no one actually saying that groups must work together. These were groupedall the ideas were put forward internationally. It was very much a sort of web-based approach to this,
almost like an international dating service for scientists, in that all
the ideas were put forward first, scientists were able to search the
database, look for people who had similar ideas, and then out of
that grew this honeycomb. So, all along there has been an encouragement of the community to work together, butscientists dont
always work together, but all of these are having to go through
their national programs, and its through the national programs,
its through the NSFs, the NOAAs, the NASAs, who arethe agencies are talking between nations. Thats where much of the coordination is actually happening. The ideas are coming out of the scientists, and the coordination is happening at the agency level.
Senator MURKOWSKI. In your, kind of, summary, youve indicated
if theres something that needs to be done, we need to have the
participation, basically a buy-in by the agencies. But your second
point was, weve got to increase the coordination between the
projects and the countries. So, is the coordination and the commu-
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nication adequate, at this point? If not, what more do we need to
do?
Dr. BELL. I think its barely adequate. It think it could be better
if there was, in essence, a little bit more infrastructure working to
encourage what youre asking.
Senator MURKOWSKI. On the U.S., international
Dr. BELL. I think both U.S. and international. I think both of
them are really being done on a shoestring, at this point.
Senator MURKOWSKI. And does that go through NSF?
Dr. BELL. The international coordination is currently housed at
the British Antarctic Survey, some funding from the British Government, a little bit from the Chinese, and the National Academies
just put forward some funds to encourage that coordination office
to move forward. Within the U.S., its really being spearheaded by
NSF and through their interagency coordination.
Senator MURKOWSKI. And do you think that thats adequate?
Dr. BELL. Oh, I think there could be some more coordination
happening. And I think it really requires more funding. I mean,
they need a more dedicated effort.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Dr. Parkinson, did you want to chime in
here?
Dr. PARKINSON. Yes. Just, perhaps, as an example to help clarify
the coordination issue. If you look at the honeycomb there, and
project number 167 is the Arctic Human Health Initiative, and that
is thethat is a cluster project which is the result of some 13 Letters of Intent and 8 full proposals from researchers who want to
do health in the Arctic. They have submitted their proposals to the
International Polar Year Joint Committee, and they are now clustered under the Arctic Human Health Initiative. And that is a coordinatingwe are a coordinating body for those projects, and we
can help coordinate the research and the results, and make sure
the results are distributed, as well.
Senator MURKOWSKI. So, you didnt all come together with the
same idea. It was a group that was focused on similar issues, and
you were brought together, this dating service, as Dr. Bell
Dr. PARKINSON. Yes, correct. We had some international meetings. We had meetings in Alaska, weve been involved with the native communities across the circumpolar north, to find out what
their vision was, what their ideas were for health and health research in the IPY. And so, we came back with this laundry list of
concerns. You know, climate change is certainly one; environmental
contaminants, so on and so forth. And then, individual researchers
in various countries came forward with proposals. And one of the
requirements for the International Polar Year, of course, is that its
international. And so, we would link them up with other investigators in other countries, so theyre all working on the same project.
And so, well have a international collaborative project on pneumococcal disease or environmental contaminants.
Senator MURKOWSKI. So, for instance, in your comments youve
mentioned a few health concerns for Arctic people. You mentioned
the infectious diseases, breast cancer, work-related injuries. Are
these all areas that we are seeing proposals that have been submitted forto be approved for IPY projects, then, through your
cluster of scientists?
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Dr. PARKINSON. Not all of those are addressed. Those werethat
was just the list of concerns, and investigators with interests in
those areas can submit proposals
Senator MURKOWSKI. OK.
Dr. PARKINSON.apply for funding through their specific funding
sources in their particular country, and then undertake collaborative research to answer questions in that health arena.
Senator MURKOWSKI. Well, that helps me understand, a little bit
better, how they come together.
Dr. Sharpton, I dont really have a question for you, but I do just
want to thank you for your statement about how you envision that
Alaskans and Alaska Natives will be involved, not as subjects, you
said, but as research partners. And I think we view this as a real
opportunity. We dont want to just welcome the scientists to come
up and use the hotels and charter the air services, we want to help.
And I hope that we will be viewed as just exactly that: research
partners. And I would certainly encourage, in as many efforts as
possible, if we can get the kids involved in the research projects,
if its as simple as going out and collecting bird feathers or whatever it might be, or making observations in their scientific notebooks in sixth grade, what we not only gain is the data that they
help us with, but you instill a lifetime of scientific exploration in
these kids, and you can help them make this real, as I mentioned
in the earlier panel. So, thank you for including them as research
partners, and we look forward to working with you on that.
I commend the University of Alaska for their, just, great efforts
in moving this forward. There were a couple of different issues that
you had mentioned: the network connectivity, needing to upgrade
that. I think we recognize that is something that weve got to do.
The mapping is just so obvious, II think it still stuns us to recognize how woefully behind we are in our mapping. But we look forward to working with you on those projects, as well.
Dr. SHARPTON. Thank you.
Chairman STEVENS. Thank you very much, Senator.
Running through the comments today, there has been this reference to maps. Now, Ive been around for a little while, and Ive
known some of the things the Navy did there induring the days
of our standoff with the Soviet Union, and particularly the submarines. Has anyone checked to see whether the Navy has any
specific maps that have been made of the areas that were concerned with, particularly around our State?
Dr. SHARPTON. Are you addressing me, Senator?
Chairman STEVENS. Whoever.
Dr. SHARPTON. Well, actually, I think probably one of the previous panelists would probably be more appropriate to answer that.
My interest in maps really extends only to the land areas that
we have. I think thatsyou know, you use an entirely different
type of technology for that.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, I will ask the Coast Guard again,
but
Dr. SHARPTON. Yes.
Chairman STEVENS.it does seem to me that very clearly there
has been less of a demand for maps in the polar area of the world,
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in terms of population demands. And theres a great many people
visitingmore people visiting Florida than there are the beaches
around Barrow, so we understand the lack of maps. But Im going
to try to get a handle on, how important are these maps to the proceedings under the IPY? Dr. Bell, do you have any feeling about
how important are maps to us before we complete this IPY?
Dr. BELL. Well, youre talking to somebody who, you know, lives
for understanding whats underneath ice sheets. Soand maps are
how I do it, so Im terribly prejudiced on this front. But one of
there a couple of issues, in terms of the North. There is the mapping offshore, which is certainly something you alluded to before.
And there have been efforts to release some of the Navy data. And
there are a number of people who could update you on exactly how
much the Navy submarine data, at this point, has been released.
Certainly, moving to where we better understand both poles, in
terms of whats underneath the ice, whether its the floating ice or
the ice thats fixed, is one of those goals, I think, that the science
community has put forward as something that would be wonderful
to come out of the IPY. Itsin the southern regions, there are actually features the size of the Alps that we dont know about, because we only have one profile. Its actually worse than Alaska, in
Antarctica, in terms of understanding what the basic topography of
our planet looks like. We understand Mars much better. So, it is
one of those tremendous outstanding needs of our planet, to know
what the fundamental shape of it is beneath both poles, because
its what underneath thats going to control how ice is going to
move in the long run.
Chairman STEVENS. And are you privy to the type of technology
base we have now for that mapping? Is it adequate to do the mapping you want?
Dr. BELL. Oh, do we have thethe technology exists to do it, its
really whether or not there are the focus programs that are going
to go outwell, Im notIve been primarilyI have not talked
about on-land mapping in Alaska.
Chairman STEVENS. No, Im not talking on
Dr. BELL. OK.
Chairman STEVENS. I
Dr. BELL. Youre talking
Chairman STEVENS. We are
Dr. BELL.underneath
Chairman STEVENS.proceeding with the on-land mapping
through Interior on an annual
Dr. BELL. Right.
Chairman STEVENS.basis. Its
Dr. BELL. Right.
Chairman STEVENS.coming along pretty well.
Dr. BELL. Right.
Chairman STEVENS. But the offshore, I dont think we have ever
had a request for any.
Dr. BELL. For mapping all of the offshore.
Chairman STEVENS. Yes.
Dr. BELL. I dont think we have. I think youre right.
Chairman STEVENS. Youre
Dr. BELL. Its been very much
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Chairman STEVENS.really interested in the characteristics of
the ocean floor
Dr. BELL. Right.
Chairman STEVENS.right?
Dr. BELL. Right. Ocean floor and sub-ice. Im continuing to wear
my hat of looking at both poles, and sub-ice in both poles is a key
unknown on our planet.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, I shall ask the staff to prepare a request from me from theto the Department of the Navy to find out
precisely what they have and how classified it is.
Dr. BELL. Yes.
Chairman STEVENS. I think that ought to be a starting point.
Now, with regard to this IPYagain, running through the testimony weve had is the question about a little bit more urgency, in
terms of funding. Each of your agencies that areeach entity you
havenot just entities, buthas some funding. Is this something
I should have asked Mead Treadwellswho is going to put together the proposal for the money that wethat you all would like
to have, as opposed to what youve got?
Dr. Armstrong?
Dr. ARMSTRONG. Yes, youagain, going back to the USGS IPY
activities, these are part of our core program. This is work that is
either being conducted or will be conducted from our appropriated
funds. We typicallylike with the Yukon Basin study, we will be
pursuing additional funding for that activity as part of my Earth
Surface Dynamics Program, but its on a program-by-program
basis. But the activities that I outlined today are activities that are
currently funded within our core program.
Chairman STEVENS. Well, if I were to seek to add some money
to one of these appropriations bills, there would be another scream
about pork. Frozen pork, I guess would be this one.
[Laughter.]
Chairman STEVENS. But are we toare we going to see some
sort of collaboration with regard to how much money is needed to
make IPY areally, the kind of function we want it to be, and how
those moneys would be allocated? Is that, again, a question I
should have asked the previous panel?
Dr. BELL. I think it would have been good to ask the previous
panel. And I can offer you the little bit of work we did on this
through the National Academies. We did two parts of planning. We
put together the Vision Report that very much reflects the frontiers
and the environmental change, themes I put on the table today,
plus involving the humans in the polar regions. That came out of
the Vision Report. But, following that, we held an interagency
workshop where we brought together the agencies and had them
discuss about what they do, and made a wish list, you know, because, at that point, people were being very conservative. And so,
at that point there was a wish list made, and an order-of-magnitude number put on the table, but nobodys gone back and systematically looked through whats possible to do now and what sort
of numbers would be necessary.
Chairman STEVENS. Do you need ships, surface ships, for your
type ofdeveloping the kind of information you need?
Dr. BELL. Me, personally? I use
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Chairman STEVENS. No
Dr. BELL.airplanes.
Chairman STEVENS.your part of this basic research.
Dr. BELL. Oh, onthe basic research will involve ships, airplanes, and satellites. It will involve every toolas well as, you
know, autonomous vehicles, whether they fly or swim. I mean, the
goal is to use all the technology that we have in our toolbox today.
Chairman STEVENS. Dr. Bement, youre still here, arent you,
somewhere? He left? All right. Well, Ill send him a letter and ask
him about it. We just have a provision in a bill that just is ready
to pass, that the NSF must pay the Coast Guard for the use of the
vessels that they want to use in their basic research projects.
Theres a problem there of one agency assuming that the other
agency is going to put up the money for their functions. But Im
trying to get a grasp on the concepts of what we need to make sure
weyou go forward. How much doeslet me back up and sayI
tried to build a new Arctic Research Institute building in Barrow.
Im sure you all know that. But we have not succeeded yet. Is that
going to be needed for this function? Is it necessary to have any
more facilities in Alaska to carry out the work that you would all
like to see being done?
Dr. Sharpton, what do you think?
Dr. SHARPTON. Well, I think, with the new facility thats being
constructed, now, Senator Stevens, we probably have ample, but
not excessive, infrastructure for Barrow. The real issue for Barrow,
in my estimation, is providing the connectivity with the rest of the
world. I mean, you know, it is going to be a site of tremendous scientific activity, and weve got to be able to get that information
from Barrow to the rest of the world in an effective way. And so,
having some means of telecommunications that is reliable and
broadband is going to be absolutely essential.
Chairman STEVENS. That would be simple to do if we could get
the communications bill thats currently stalled on the floor of the
Senate. But I will look into that, yes.
Are thereis there anything else that you all think that is necessary to pursue this IPY that we do not have currently scheduled
forin terms of funding?
[No response.]
Chairman STEVENS. Any activities? Let me just go to Dr. Bell.
Dr. BELL. Well, I think, in essence, what the science community
has been concerned about is whether or notand this is why I
dont think you canit would be called polar porkis because
what the science community is looking for is funds to compete for
you know, funds that will go through the peer-review process. And
the science community is concerned whether or not there will be
any incremental new funds, and how much new funds. The orderof-magnitude number that was talked about at that workshop was
on the order or $500 million new funds across the agency.
Chairman STEVENS. In what period of time?
Dr. BELL. Over the course of 4 years.
Chairman STEVENS. All right. Thats
Dr. BELL. And
Chairman STEVENS.a good figure. Dr.
Dr. BELL. Right.
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Chairman STEVENS.Sharpton, what do you think?
Dr. SHARPTON. Well, as far as additional funding, we certainly
need to have the Arctic Region Research Vessel funded. I think
thats going to be an important element. Its probably not going to
come onlineobviously, it wont come online for IPY, but it can be
considered one of thoseone of those legacies that fall out of global
attention to polar activity, polar issues during IPY.
Chairman STEVENS. How would youwell, let me finish this
question first. What do you think, Dr. Parkinson?
Dr. PARKINSON. In terms of funding, Senator?
Chairman STEVENS. Yes.
Dr. PARKINSON. Im
Chairman STEVENS. What funding do you think we need that we
dont have?
Dr. PARKINSON. Im not aware of any specific funding for health,
so to speak. A number of agencies are involved in the Arctic
Human Health Initiative. Whatthe way we have been looking at
it up until now is that its somelike a potluck, where each agency
brings something to the table, and we are hoping that theres
enough to go around.
Chairman STEVENS. And you, Dr. Armstrong?
Dr. ARMSTRONG. As I said, we have a substantial amount of core
funding in Arctic and Antarctic research, about $25 million, at
USGS. We are trying to promote the establishment of larger programs in the Arctic, in Alaska, in the sub-Arctic. Ifrom a programmatic perspective, more money for monitoringwe can, in
Alaska, a State thats so important to understanding climate
change in sensitive areas, the need for more stream gauges for carbon flex monitoring, those are examples of things that we certainly
need more of. Andbut its not just for USGS or the Department
of the Interior, its in cooperation with our partners at the universitiesNASA, NOAA, NSF. And these are discussions that are
we have at the Climate Change Science Program, where we all get
together and talk about priorities in the Arctic and the Antarctic.
So, itstheres always a need for more work to enhance what
were doing, and more funding for that. But those are just a couple
of examples of things that are really needed in a place like Alaska,
where, you know, for the issues that were talking about, there is
a need for substantial infrastructure.
Chairman STEVENS. How do you think our contribution as a nation to this IPY compares to other countries that are involved?
Haveanybody got any judgment on that? Do you, Dr. Bell?
Dr. BELL. I think, intellectually, so far, weve been playing a
leading role. Many of the programs youre familiar withthe
SEARCH program, for example, the study of environmental change
in the Arcticare an integral part of the fabric andof that overwhelming honeycomb diagram. That really captures much of the
planning that came out of the U.S. science community.
I thinkrelative to putting the resources on the table, I think we
have notthe Canadians have put $125 million, the Chinese have
put $65 million, and a number of places are building new ships or
new stations. So, I dont think weve quite stepped up to the plate
as much as we can, as a nation, or as much as we need to, financially, to assure the leadership that were, sort of, posed to grab.
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Chairman STEVENS. Mead, how long before that wish list of
yours will be ready?
Mr. TREADWELL. We can give you an analysis of whats in the
Arctic plan and whats not in the budget soon. Ive got an analysis
of what was appropriated in NOAA last year and not requested
this year, and we can get you those things.
Chairman STEVENS. How long will that take to get together?
Mr. TREADWELL. We can get you some numbers today, Senator.
Chairman STEVENS. I dont need it today. I meanin time.
Mr. TREADWELL. The Commission will be meeting the 9th and
10th of October, and we could resolve something by that time.
Chairman STEVENS. All right. My feeling is, we ought to have,
maybe, a teleconference session to really examinewhen Mead
gets that togetherto see whether you all agree, and then we
ought to try to see if we can get an appointment with OMB and
Josh Bolten to see how we can get some energy behind this movement. I think we ought to be in the forefront of it. If were not,
were going to be left behind. Im thinking about the study that
shows how were far behind in educating our people now. I dont
think we can afford to get behind in this, now. This is something
we should stay ahead of. And it might be a stimulus to help us play
catch-up, in terms of some of the education we need for science,
math, and technology.
So, Im going toyou deal with the substance, milady, Ill try to
deal with the money.
Senator MURKOWSKI. That works for me, Senator.
[Laughter.]
Chairman STEVENS. We thank you very much and appreciate
your courtesy of being with us. We look forward to working with
you. I think that this is a stimulating thing, as far as Alaska is
concerned, and we want to try and stay on top of it. But it cannot
turn into being just an Alaska item or itll just be knocked aside
as another one of those, you know, things that have four legs and
a swirly tail. So
Dr. BELL. Thats why its so important to consider both poles as
we move forward.
Chairman STEVENS. Ive been down to Antarctica.
Dr. BELL. Yes?
Chairman STEVENS. Weve got another scheduled trip down
there.
Dr. BELL. Good.
Chairman STEVENS. We should go down again, and
Dr. BELL. Good.
Chairman STEVENS.maybe some of you could go along with us.
[Whereupon, at 5:20 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
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A P P E N D I X
PREPARED STATEMENT
OF
HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE, U.S. SENATOR
FROM
HAWAII
Chairman Stevens, Senator Murkowski, thank you for calling attention to the upcoming International Polar Year (IPY). I look forward to celebrating 125 years of
scientific achievement and international collaboration and expanding on this legacy
of polar research in 2007 and 2008.
I am excited by the prospect that this upcoming burst in scientific research will
lead to a greater understanding of the unprecedented environmental change currently underway at the polar regions.
Today we face many environmental issues, but one of the greatest is global climate change. The indigenous people of the Arctic already see the effect of climate
change on their lives, but it is only a matter of time before the impact of these
changes will be felt around the globe.
For example, as the Earths temperature has increased, the melting of icecaps and
glaciers has become evident.
By 2100, sea levels could be several feet higher than they are now, which would
have devastating effects on coastal areas, including my home State of Hawaii and
the other Pacific Island nations.
We have already seen the powerful destruction a tsunami or severe weather can
have on our low-lying islands, and this damage will be magnified under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) projections of a one to
three foot rise in sea level.
The polar regions are important places for the United States to research and I
am pleased that the Committees will hear about the United States current plans
to participate in the upcoming IPY, as well as actions we still must take to ensure
the United States continues to support this significant research.
This effort also should attract a new generation of scientists to the study of our
Earth systemsand the oceanic and atmospheric forces that drive the system.
However, I am concerned that the Administration has not provided sufficient support to NOAA and the Coast Guard to make this IPY a true success, and I hope
our witnesses speak to that issue.
Adequate U.S. support for IPY is vital, not only because the scientific findings
from this IPY will encourage us to be better stewards of the health of this planet,
but because its true and lasting legacy will be a new generation of Earth scientistsa generation that will be tapped to reverse the awful trajectory of global
warming.
PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG,

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY
Let me thank both Chairs for todays hearing. I strongly support Americas participation in the upcoming International Polar Year. In 1882, twelve countries set
out on fifteen expeditions in the First International Polar Year. That expedition
taught us lessons about Earths science and geography we still rely on. It also
taught us the value of international science cooperationa legacy I hope we will
continue.
I have been to Antarctica and to the Arctic. I know that changes are underway
that can alter the marine life at both poles, raise each regions temperatures, and
increase the sea level across our planet. Many of these changes are the result of
global warming, and I hope the coming International Polar Year will deepen our
knowledge into the harm global warming causes to our polar regions and globe.
Several Federal agencies will help contribute to the success of the International
Polar Year, including the NSF, the Coast Guard, and NOAA. I hope the impacts
of global warming, including its role in changing the ocean food chain, will be a
major part of our Nations research agenda for the International Polar Year.
(75)
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I also want to talk about the condition of the Coast Guards icebreakers. We have
three vessels which break polar ice and serve as research platforms for our scientists. Two of these icebreakers are thirty years old and rife with maintenance
trouble. Congress has provided insufficient funding for the Coast Guard in the past
and I hope we will not repeat that mistake. Let us give the Coast Guard the money
it needs, both for the Arctic and Antarctica, and for protection of Americas seas.
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION (NOAA), DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
This statement for the record will provide a brief background on International
Polar Year (IPY), and discuss how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supports this important research opportunity. IPY is an excellent
opportunity to advance science and Earth observations in the polar regions. Our
statement summarizes our initial plans and provides an update to expected IPY activities during Fiscal Year 2007 to Fiscal Year 2009.
IPY has been declared by the International Council of Science (ICSU) and the
U.S. National Academies to extend from March 2007 through March 2009. The objectives of IPY are to explore new frontiers in polar sciences; improve our understanding of the critical role of the Earths polar regions in global processes; create
a legacy of infrastructure and data for future generations of scientists; expand international cooperation; engage the public in polar discovery; and help attract and educate the next generation of scientists and engineers.
NOAA began planning for IPY activities in the Fall of 2004. NOAAs Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and programs across NOAA are using existing resources to conduct IPY-related activities. Our statement highlights work on 11
NOAA IPY-related projects. Each of these projects is associated with a formal International Council for Science-World Meteorological Organization (ICSUWMO) IPYendorsed project. These projects will contribute new data to Earth observing efforts,
such as the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), and will advance understanding and predictability of the polar environment in NOAAs mission
areas.
IPY Activities
Ocean Exploration in Polar Regions
NOAAs Office of Ocean Exploration (OE) solicited specific projects for IPY via
Federal Register announcements in calendar years 2005 and 2006. OE also expects
to solicit IPY-related projects during the calendar year 2007 Federal Register notice.
OE, together with the NOAA Arctic Research Program and the Russian Academy
of Sciences, plans to facilitate an expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 2008, as part
of the ongoing RUSALCA (Russian American Long-term Census of the Arctic) program. The expedition will carry out a census of life in the unknown waters of the
Arctic north of the United States and Russia, from the sea ice to the seafloor below.
This information provides background observations necessary for the monitoring of
changing ecosystems in the Pacific Region of the Arctic.
Causes and Impacts of Recent Changes in the Arctic Ocean
Unprecedented minima of sea ice area have occurred in the Arctic Ocean during
the four most recent summers. Summer 2003 and 2004 brought record forest fires
and drought to eastern Siberia and Alaska after a decade of warm springtime temperature anomalies. In surrounding seas there has been a northward shift of icedependent marine animals. Changes in the Arctic Ocean are continuing, despite the
observation that climate indices such as the Arctic Oscillation were negative or neutral for six of the last 9 years. The Arctic Ocean may have a larger role in shaping
the persistence of Arctic change than has been previously recognized. We will work
with our partners to carry out observations in this area to measure movement of
water through the Bering Strait, gather observations about physical change in the
state of the ocean in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and study impacts of physical
change on marine ecosystems in this region. Bering Strait mooring programs will
be conducted, as well as mooring and ship-board studies in the eastern Bering Sea.
Limited ship-board studies will be made in ice-free areas in the vicinity of Bering
Strait and Chukchi Sea in association with mooring cruises. (For more information,
see www.arctic.noaa.gov.)
Polar Atmospheric Observatories and Field Campaigns
As part of the IPY project International Arctic System for Observing the Atmosphere, a system of strategically located, long-term atmospheric observatories will
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be developed around the Arctic to carry out both routine measurements made at meteorological stations and intensive measurements at the surface and through the
depth of the atmosphere. Measured quantities can include solar radiation, aerosols,
air chemistry, trace gases, cloud properties, water vapor, ozone, temperatures,
winds, precipitation, surface albedo, and stratospheric properties. These measurements are essential to calibrate and validate satellite sensors and to improve the
reliability of climate models. The atmospheric observatory partnership includes the
United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland, and China. NOAAs existing baseline observatories at Barrow Alaska and South Pole will continue to focus on measurements of trace gases and aerosols.
Polar Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Observations
As a part of the International Geophysical Year in 1957, column ozone measurements were initiated at South Pole, Antarctica, using Dobson spectrometers. NOAA
scientist, Susan Solomon, was the leading scientist in identifying the cause of the
annual stratospheric ozone depletion over Antarctic known as the ozone hole, first
observed in the early 1980s. Solomon and her colleagues suggested that chemical
reactions involving man-made chlorine from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) interacting
with icy clouds in the cold polar stratosphere could be responsible for the unprecedented losses of ozone during the Antarctic springtime. She then led two U.S. scientific expeditions to Antarctica in 1986 and 1987 that succeeded in providing key
observations confirming the theory. The Arctic stratospheric ozone changes, though
lesser in magnitude than the Antarctic ozone hole, are by no means of lesser importance. Key studies will be undertaken in the Arctic to monitor these changes. Routine observations of ozone will continue at Barrow and South Pole during IPY.
These projects are continuations of NOAAs ongoing stratospheric ozone depletion
measurement programs.
Antarctic Living Marine Resource Survey
The principal objective of the NOAA Antarctic Living Marine Resource research
program is to collect the scientific information needed to detect, monitor, and predict
the effects of harvesting and associated activities on target, dependent, and related
species and populations of the Antarctic marine living resources and the ecosystem(s) of which they are a part. A 35-day ship-based research program is
planned for Fiscal Year 2007.
Short-Term Arctic Predictability
A scientific study in short-term Arctic predictability will explore the variability,
and associated predictability of weather, sea ice, ocean wave, and land surface processes in the Arctic Region in the 390 days time range, with special emphasis on
improving forecast guidance for high impact events in the 314 day lead time range.
NOAA will complete a study of northwest Alaskan coastal waves during the IPY.
NOAA will also participate in sea ice studies at both poles aimed at improving
measurement of ice thickness and forecasting. The NOAA THORPEX program will
make observations and introduce forecast products to improve weather and
intraseasonal forecasts for the Arctic.
Advances in Satellite Products and Their Use in Numerical Weather Prediction
Spatially comprehensive observations of the atmosphere in the data-sparse polar
regions significantly and positively impact high latitude numerical weather predictions. In addition, errors in model forecasts for the high latitudes often propagate
to the mid-latitudes, implying that improvements to high latitude forecasts will result in better mid-latitude forecasts. These findings provide the motivation to improve our ability to measure the state of the polar regions with satellites and to expand the use of these data in numerical weather prediction systems. NOAA will participate in IPY projects to improve the application of satellite sensors to environmental problems in the polar regions.
Arctic Climate Modeling
The general goal of the Arctic climate modeling project is to improve predictions
of the Arctic environment on timescales ranging from seasonal to decadal. Thus, our
research will focus on analyzing and modeling the physical processes and connections between the Arctic and the rest of the globe. NOAA will continue to improve
global climate models that include polar processes.
Arctic System Reanalysis
A concerted effort during IPY to construct pan-Arctic atmosphere-ocean-ice-land
datasets, and to assimilate and enhance these with a high-resolution (coupled) reanalysis system optimized for the Arctic region, will provide researchers with an un-
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precedented description of the Arctic environment over the past several decades.
The operational analysis system (post 2008), expected to be a legacy of this activity
should provide constantly updated depictions of the Arctic environment, and foster
improved short- and medium-range weather forecasts as well as seasonal climate
outlooks. Improved understanding of Arctic climate processes resulting from development of the Arctic System Reanalysis (ASR) will lead to better global climate
models, in turn reducing uncertainty in projected future climate states of the Arctic.
The ASR will also serve as a vehicle for diagnostic evaluation of ongoing changes
in the Arctic system.
NOAAs Data, Information, and Change Detection Strategy for IPY
NOAAs fundamental data management responsibilities will be to securely archive
IPY datasets and ensure that these and relevant polar data are easily accessible for
current and future users. NOAA will utilize the existing World Data Center (WDC)
System and NOAAs National Data Centers in order to serve as a clearinghouse and
facilitator for data-management issues, and will work with IPY participants to ensure that International Council of Scientific Unions-World Meteorological Organization (ICSUWMO) IPY Data Committee guidelines are followed. NOAA will also ensure that international standards such as the Open Archival Information System
Reference Model and the ISO19115 metadata standards are met.
NOAA intends to build and maintain a pan-Arctic view of climate variability and
change that will serve decisionmakers with information products. These range from
baseline atlases against which future assessments can be carried out, to the Near
Real-time Arctic Change Indicator website (http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/detect/),
where information on the present state of Arctic ecosystems and climate is given
in historical context. NOAA Data Centers will assist NOAA scientists to archive
their IPY data. NOAA will continue to acquire historical data and present it on the
Arctic Change Indicator website to describe the state of the Arctic climate over the
past 150 years, allowing a better context for new data collected during IPY.
Decision Support for Increasing Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change and Variability in Alaska and the Arctic
The cornerstone of NOAAs Regional Climate Decision Support program for Alaska and the Arctic is to establish an integrated program spanning stakeholder-influenced research and development of decision-support tools for the sustained delivery
of customer services. This includes establishing in Alaska a Regional Integrated
Sciences & Assessments (RISA) to foster growth of climate services. NOAA plans to
initiate the Alaska RISA, in 2006, through the University of Alaska. The Alaska
RISA is a 5-year program designed to address regionally important climate issues
to aid policy and decisionmaking. The Alaska RISA program could contribute significant results to our understanding of key climate related challenges facing the state,
and would allow for innovative partnerships with neighboring countries.
NOAA is part of the U.S. presence in the Arctic Council. The Arctic Council plans
to conduct several assessments during the IPY period, including the Arctic Marine
Shipping Assessment, an assessment of the Arctic carbon cycle, and others. NOAA
will provide expertise and financial support within available resources. NOAA expects to contribute to the Arctic Council climate-related assessment tasks during
IPY.
Other Activities
Ice Services
The National Ice Center (NIC) is a U.S. Government agency that brings together
elements from NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard to support coastal
and marine sea ice operations and research globally. The mission of the NIC is to
provide the highest quality strategic and tactical ice services tailored to meet operational requirements of U.S. national interests. Over the Arctic, particularly, the
NIC provides operational strategic basin-scale sea ice charting. The NIC products
include a hemispheric and over 30 individual regional charts, sea ice tactical ice
navigation support, Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea ice seasonal forecasts. In addition, the NIC supports the development of sea ice climatology for the Arctic, and
manages the U.S. Interagency Arctic Buoy Program (USIABP). The NIC is participating directly or indirectly in an increased number of research and application cooperative projects with other national and international groups as part of IPY activities throughout 2007 and 2008.
Snow and Ice Data
NOAAs National Data Centers handle a wide variety of Arctic data. An affiliated
data center, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), part of the Coopera-
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tive Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of
Colorado, Boulder, has a NOAA NESDIS supported program (http://nsidc.org/
noaa/) to produce and manage selected datasets. Significant datasets are the Online
Glacier Photograph Collection of over 3,000 photographs dating to the late 1800s;
upward looking sonar data from submarines, providing estimates of sea ice thickness; and the Sea Ice Index, a site that shows, with graphical products, trends and
anomalies in sea ice cover. Overall, the NOAA team at the NSIDC emphasizes data
rescue and in situ data. This emphasis helps collect and maintain the long-time series with broad spatial coverage that is necessary to track and attribute Arctic
change. The program complements the activities of the Distributed Active Archive
Center, a NASA funded center at NSIDC that supports the bulk of NSIDCs activities.
Education
NOAAs Climate Program Office is leading a NOAA-wide effort with respect to the
IPY. The Climate Literacy Working Group, based at the Climate Program Office,
is coordinating NOAA-wide IPY education and outreach activities with the NOAA
Office of Education. The NOAA IPY effort is part of the NSF-led interagency IPY
education effort, and will collaborate and coordinate their efforts with agencies participating in the IPY. Several formal and informal education initiatives are focusing
primarily on teacher professional and science center or museum exhibitions. In addition, several formal lesson plans will be developed as part of our IPY efforts.
RESPONSE
TO
WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE

VICE ADMIRAL ROBERT PAPP
TO
Question 1. How much would it cost and how long would it take to replace the
POLAR STAR and POLAR SEA?
Answer. Initial estimates to replace the POLAR STAR and POLAR SEA are $600
to $700 million per vessel (2006 dollars). A more accurate assessment of resource
needs will be required after the capability and initial design requirements are completed during the major acquisition process.
Once funds are appropriated for a polar icebreaker major acquisition, it will take
approximately 8 to 10 years to complete construction of the polar icebreakers and
have them ready to support polar operations.
Question 2. Can we expect funding in the Fiscal Year 2008 budget request to
begin the process of replacing these two icebreakers? If not, why not?
Answer. No. Although the recently released National Research Councils (NRC)
report Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World: An Assessment of U.S. Needs recommended the United States immediately program, budget, design, and construct
two new polar icebreakers to be operated by the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard is
seeking an updated national policy on icebreaking before the service begins the acquisition. The Coast Guard is in the process of requesting a revised national policy
from the National Security Council (NSC), and will be poised to start the acquisition
if the Administration identifies the Coast Guard as the best Agency to continue providing national icebreaking services.
Question 3. Does the Administration and Coast Guard have a plan for how the
United States is going to meet our immediate icebreaker needs until the POLAR
STAR and POLAR SEA can be replaced?
Answer. Provided a national policy decision is made that identifies the Coast
Guard as the lead agency for icebreaking operations, it will take approximately 8
10 years to complete a major acquisition to replace POLAR SEA and POLAR STAR.
In the interim, provided NSF will adequately fund, the Coast Guard will:
1. Continue sustainment maintenance work on POLAR SEA to gain additional
years of service-life.
2. Recommend completing sustainment maintenance on POLAR STAR similar
to what has been completed on POLAR SEA. Over a 2 to 3 year period, this
would likely require $25 to $30 million additional funds but would extend the
life of POLAR STAR by 48 years, and effectively restore the U.S. polar icebreaker fleet to three vessels. This would reduce operational risk to the U.S.
Antarctic Program and would eliminate NSFs need to rely on foreign icebreakers.
3. Investigate increasing HEALYs annual operating days. HEALY currently operates at a Coast Guard standard 185 days away from homeport each year with
one crew. The Coast Guard is investigating crewing options and resource requirements to increase the annual use of HEALY in the Arctic.
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Question 4. What does the Coast Guard recommend as a strategy to fill our gaps
in capacity during this transition period?
Answer. If a national policy decision were to be made that identifies the Coast
Guard as the lead agency for icebreaking operations, it will take approximately 8
10 years to complete a major acquisition to replace POLAR SEA and POLAR STAR.
If the Coast Guard is identified as the lead agency, then along with continuing
sustainment maintenance work on POLAR SEA, the Coast Guard would also recommend:
1. Completing sustainment maintenance on POLAR STAR similar to what has
been completed on POLAR SEA. Over a 2 to 3 year period, this would likely
require $25 to $30 million additional funds, but would extend the life of POLAR
STAR by 48 years, and effectively restore the U.S. polar icebreaker fleet to
three vessels. This would reduce operational risk to the U.S. Antarctic Program
and would eliminate NSFs need to rely on foreign icebreakers.
2. Increasing HEALYs annual operating days. HEALY currently operates at a
Coast Guard standard 185 days away from homeport each year with one crew.
The Coast Guard is investigating crewing options and resource requirements to
increase the annual use of HEALY in the Arctic.
3. Restoring budget authority for polar icebreakers to the Coast Guard and
funding the program to sufficiently support three polar icebreakers.
RESPONSE
TO
WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG

TO
Question 1. Has funding been adequate to maintain all three of the Coast Guards
icebreakers?
Answer. No. In order to fully support the HEALY and POLAR SEAs operations
and maintenance needs, the National Science Foundation (NSF) decided to place
POLAR STAR In Commission, Special caretaker status.
Question 2. How is the Coast Guard going to carry out its polar icebreaking mission now and in the future, given the state of the two polar icebreakers?
Answer. Given that appropriations for polar icebreaking operations were transferred to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY06, and the NSF now pays
the Coast Guard to operate and maintain the polar icebreaking fleet, all missions
are executed only after close coordination between the NSF and Coast Guard.
To help preserve the Coast Guards ability to be the sole U.S. provider of polar
icebreaking services, POLAR SEA recently completed nearly 2 years of sustainment
maintenance which should extend its service life by approximately 48 years, depending on ice conditions and annual use.
Historically, POLAR SEA and POLAR STAR would alternate Deep Freeze missions due to the arduous nature of the ice conditions encountered, and to allow a
backup in case the primary vessel broke down. This practice aligns with the 1990
Presidential Determination on polar icebreakers, which the Coast Guard still considers to be sound policy.
With the POLAR STAR in caretaker status, the National Science Foundation
(NSF) plans to use foreign icebreakers to provide contingency capability in the Antarctic, and therefore is willing to accept a higher level of risk to the mission. To
reengage POLAR STAR for an extended period of time, it would require approximately 2 years of sustainment maintenance similar to what POLAR SEA recently
completed.
HEALY was commissioned in 1999, and is operating well. The Coast Guard is
studying options to increase HEALYs annual Days Away from Homeport (DAFHP)
from the service-standard 185 to up to 300 days per year to accommodate national
polar research demands.
RESPONSE
TO
WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. MARIA CANTWELL

TO
Question 1. In their recent report Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World: An Assessment of U.S. Needs, The National Academy of Sciences concludes that with repair work deferred due to inadequate funding U.S. icebreaking capability is now
at risk of being unable to support national interests in the north and south. Does
this assessment fit with the Coast Guards view of current icebreaking operations?
If so, what is the level of resources necessary in order to ensure adequate
icebreaking capacity?
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Answer. Yes. By putting the POLAR STAR in caretaker status, the National
Science Foundation (NSF) has accepted a higher level of risk to the U.S. Antarctic
Program resupply effort.
To maintain an acceptable level of risk, two heavy icebreakers are needed for the
McMurdo icebreaker mission. Rather than keep POLAR STAR in service, NSF has
opted to contract with foreign icebreakers to backup POLAR SEA. In 2005 and 2006,
NSF contracted the Russian icebreaker KRASIN, and NSF has contracted the Swedish icebreaker ODEN for 2007. Not only are these icebreakers less capable than
POLAR STAR, they are also subject to being reprioritized by their company or country to support non-U.S. missions.
In the long-term, three properly configured U.S. polar icebreakers would be sufficient to support the annual U.S. Antarctic Program resupply effort and maintain a
continuous presence in the Arctic. To further meet the needs of the polar research
community the Coast Guard is investigating options to increase HEALY operational
days from 185 to 300 days per year. A fleet mix analysis is necessary, but additional
ice-strengthened vessels may also be required to preserve future national interests
in the Arctic.
Question 2. The POLAR SEA and the POLAR STAR are nearing the end of their
thirty-year design lives. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that the
Coast Guard immediately program, budget, design, and construct two new polar
icebreakers to be operated by the U.S. Coast Guard to replace these aging assets.
Do you agree with this recommendation?
Answer. A national policy decision by the Administration would have to identify
the Coast Guard as the primary national service provider for icebreaking before the
service would commence a major acquisition project to replace POLAR SEA and
POLAR STAR.
Question 3. Has the Coast Guard begun to take steps to plan for the long-term
replacement or recapitalization of these unique assets, and if so, could you please
describe these steps for me?
Answer. Yes, to prepare for the Administrations revised national policy decision,
the Coast Guard has completed some preliminary steps to support long-term replacement or recapitalization. In 2005, the Coast Guard completed a mission analysis study and funded the National Research Councils assessment of polar icebreaker needs in 2006. In addition, the Coast Guard has completed some preliminary analysis on Service Life Extension Project (SLEP) options for the POLAR SEA
and POLAR STAR. However, a national policy decision by the Administration would
have to identify the Coast Guard as the primary national service provider for
icebreaking before the service would commence a major acquisition project to replace POLAR SEA and POLAR STAR.
Question 4. As you know, the Administration is again proposing that funding for
the Coast Guards polar icebreaker fleet be routed through the National Science
Foundation (NSF), despite recommendations by the National Research Council
(NRC) that the Coast Guard should be budgeted funds to maintain the fleet. Admiral, has this arrangement worked to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard?
What steps will the Coast Guard take this year to ensure transfer of funds from
NSF in a timely fashion?
Answer. In the short-term, this arrangement has worked, since it has isolated the
polar icebreaker budget from other Coast Guard programs.
In the long-term, NSF and several of their Congressional staffs have stated that
if the polar icebreaker budget authority remains with NSF, then NSF should only
be required to support NSFs mandates; not all USCG mandates that pertain to use
of the polar icebreakers (i.e. Enforcement of Laws & Treaties, Search & Rescue, or
Pollution response). Since the frequency and importance of other USCG missions are
expected to expand in the Arctic and Antarctic, continued funding through NSF
could become more problematic. In addition, NSF has stated that they prefer to contract polar icebreaker services. The Coast Guard has already seen NSF reprioritize
polar icebreaker funds to contract for foreign icebreakers to support the U.S. Antarctic Program. Use of foreign icebreakers weakens the U.S. polar icebreaker program and diminishes our ability to project power and influence into the polar regions at a time of growing interest, especially in the Arctic. The NRC report, and
the 1990 Presidential Determination on U.S. polar icebreaker requirements, state
that national sovereignty and projection of power and influence are key aspects of
the U.S. polar icebreaker program.
For Fiscal Year 2007, the Coast Guard has submitted a spend plan to NSF requesting $57 million. NSF is currently reviewing the spend plan. Even though the
spend plan is still being negotiated, NSF has given the Coast Guard authority to
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spend $20 million during the first quarter of FY07 while NSF operates under a continuing resolution.
RESPONSE
TO
WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE

DR. ARDEN L. BEMENT, JR.
TO
Question 1. The IPY envisions establishment of polar observing equipment and

monitoring systems that will eventually need to be taken over and maintained after
the close of the IPY, beginning in 2009.
What kind of fiscal burden will taking over these systems place on NOAA?
Answer. NSF is aware that NOAA received the same question and they are the
lead agency to address this issue.
Question 2. To the best of your knowledge, what other Federal agencies will be
responsible for maintaining post-IPY observing and monitoring activities?
Answer. NOAA is already supporting important components of the system, particularly in establishing climate reference stations working with Canadian and Russian counterparts. NOAA is also supporting key observations in the Bering Strait.
It is critically important that NOAA support these activities beyond IPY. NASA will
provide access to critical remote sensing synoptic observations from satellites (also
with NOAA) during and beyond IPY. Continued support of DOE measurement programs in Alaska is also important, as is a continuation of important DOI (USGS)
river discharge measurements. The U.S. Coast Guard, which operates the Nations
fleet of polar icebreaking ships, has requested that NOAA identify the polar icebreaker support required for maintaining polar observing systems.
Question 3. What will happen to the scientific knowledge gained through polar
monitoring and research if we do not have resources to continue monitoring during
and after IPY?
Answer. Science results will be published and basic data will be archived in National Data Centers. However, the core issues and questions related to the changing
Arctic cannot be resolved in such a short time window as the IPY. Fundamentally,
the rationale for an Arctic Observing Network (AON) is for observations on decadal
time scales.
Question 4. The U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) program, managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), supports international efforts to protect the Antarctic and its marine life through the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). CCAMLR has planned
a Southern Ocean synoptic predator-prey study, formally recognized and designated
as IPYs lead project for the topic Natural Resources, Antarctic. At one point,
AMLR was prepared to offer ship time to the project.
At this time, what resources does the AMLR Program plan on dedicating to IPYrelated activities?
Question 5. Is that level sufficient to fulfill U.S. commitments in support of
CCAMLR?
Question 6. Is the level of participation the U.S. is currently envisioning to dedicate through AMLR to this project likely to compromise CCAMLRs ability to participate meaningfully in the IPY?
Answer to Questions 46. NSF is aware that NOAA received the same three questions about its programs. They are the lead agency to address these issues.
RESPONSE
TO
WRITTEN QUESTION SUBMITTED BY HON. MARIA CANTWELL

TO
Question. What steps will NSF take to ensure that funds for the polar icebreaker
fleet are transferred to the Coast Guard in a timely fashion so that maintenance
will not be delayed or compromised?
Answer. As outlined in the MOA between NSF and USCG, NSF annually tasks
the USCG polar icebreakers. USCG submits a corresponding budget. NSF and
USCG negotiate the budget and, once agreement is reached, NSF approves the
budget. NSF issues a Letter of Intent to USCG for the approved budget, and reimburses USCG as expenses are incurred for approved tasking. In cases where NSF
is operating under a Continuing Resolution, and, therefore, funds are limited (as
has been the case for the two years that NSF has had fiscal responsibility for the
polar icebreaker program), USCG submits its cash-flow requirements to NSF. This
document outlines the funds required on a monthly basis for personnel, operations,
and maintenance contracts. Provided NSF has sufficient spending authority under
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the Continuing Resolution, NSF reimburses USCG on a monthly basis. The working
relationship between USCG and NSF officials responsible for managing the MOA
appears to be effective.
RESPONSE
TO

TO
Question 1. Why has the NSF spent appropriated funds for chartering foreign vessels, rather than for operations and maintenance of the Coast Guards fleet of icebreakers?
Answer. Resupply of the McMurdo and South Pole Stations, as well as temporary
remote field stations in Antarctica, is necessary to meet both research and longstanding U.S. geopolitical policy goals. It depends on gaining access to the McMurdo
pier through the sea ice in McMurdo Sound. In most previous years, the channel
was opened by one U.S. Coast Guard Polar Class vessel (either the POLAR STAR
or the POLAR SEA), but more recently two icebreaking vessels have been needed
due to extreme ice conditions and concerns about the reliability of the aging polar
icebreakers.
NSF has made significant investments in maintenance of the USCG polar icebreakers. Thus, the POLAR SEA is ready for duty and will be used for the upcoming
Antarctic break-in. However, USCG has recommended that a backup vessel be
available, and there is no U.S. icebreaker capable of providing this assistance. NSF
has therefore concluded a charter for the Swedish icebreaker ODEN as back-up for
the POLAR SEA this December and January.
In addition, Presidential Memorandum 6646, as well as guidance from Congressional appropriations committees, directs NSF to find the most cost-effective, reliable means of achieving the national goals of the U.S. Antarctic Program.
Question 2. The Bush Administration has already established a record of censoring scientists with whom it disagrees on global warming. How will you both ensure that the research for the International Polar Year is selected, and conducted,
without interference from the White House?
Answer. The Administration values science as a basis for effective action in its
service to the public, and regards the timely, complete, and accurate communication
of scientific information an important part of that service. Administration guidance
has required Federal agencies to develop, revise, or re-emphasize policies related to
scientific openness, and to ensure that employees and management understand
their rights and obligations under these policies.
Specific to NSF, the Foundation will determine which proposals to fund by asking
expert independent scientists, identified by cognizant NSF staff, to assess the proposals merits against the standard NSF merit review criteria (intellectual merit;
broader impacts) and the guidelines established by the National Academies of
Science National Research Council. The latter guidelines were published in the
NAS/NRC document, A Vision for the International Polar Year 20072008.
As with all other projects selected and supported by NSF, NSF does not interfere
with grantees conduct of their research, other than to monitor it to insure that it
is being conducted as proposed. NSF does not have its own research laboratories;
and, therefore, the proposed projects will come from independent scientists and engineers who are not government scientists: but are from academic institutions.
Question 3. What assurances can you give us that the results of the U.S. research
will be communicated freely and clearly by U.S. scientists, even if they conflict with
the views of the White House and the oil and automobile industries?
Answer. Since NSF does not have its own research laboratories, the scientists and
engineers we support are typicay members of universities, colleges, and independent
laboratories, not government employees. NSF expects all grantees to publish their
research results in the open literature so that all research and education communities have access to the data. NSF does not involve itself in the preparation of the
manuscripts. Scientists seeking support from NSF are evaluated by their peers on
the quality of the publications from prior support. Therefore. to a large degree, the
scientific community enforces open publication of NSF-funded research.
RESPONSE
TO

ROBIN E. BELL, PH.D.
TO
Question 1. I am concerned about the recent reports that global warming is rapidly affecting the oceans chemistrymaking it more acidic. Will our U.S. research
effort include monitoring ocean chemistry and its potential impacts on the food
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chain? Do we have any sense of how bad things are already, or when we are likely
to see the impacts of acidification?
Answer. The topic of how global warming may affect the oceans chemistry, making it more acidic, is an important one. Among the projects being proposed as part
of International Polar Year are activities that would include collection of sea water
and measurement of sea water carbon parameters. At this time, it is not yet known
which actual projects will be funded, either here or by other nations.
It is known that CO2 from the atmosphere dissolves and forms an acid in seawater. In the past 200 years, the oceans have absorbed about half of the CO2 produced by humans. As seawater becomes more acidic, the capacity of the ocean to
absorb CO2 will decrease. One program, called the SEARCH program (Study of ARctic Environmental CHange), intends to make these kinds of measurements as part
of the planned Arctic Observatory Network. Until relatively recently, although studied by a small number of oceanographers, ocean acidification has not been a critical
national concern, but the topic is moving onto the national agenda (e.g., it is the
subject of an article in November, in New Yorker magazine, as well as recent
Science and Nature papers and recent national and international conferences).
Oceans have a high capacity to buffer the effects of additional carbon, but current
research is suggesting that the levels of anthropogenic CO2 input are so high that
the ocean has already become measurably more acidic. A more acidic ocean inhibits
the formation of calcium carbonate skeletons which form the shells of many marine
organisms, including corals and several key planktonic species, including
coccolithophores, a microcellular marine algae common in subpolar regions.
Question 2. How does climate change or ocean warming affect the ability of krill
to resist over-harvesting? How much more vulnerable does it make them? How
much would a sharp decline in krill populations affect other species and the food
chain?
Answer. More than acidity, krill will be impacted by warming ocean temperatures.
Studies along the Western Antarctic Peninsula have discovered that during low winter sea-ice years the plankton is dominated by salps instead of krill. This is because
krill heavily depend on sea-algae as their food source. Krill, similar to other marine
organisms, are adapted to live in a limited range of pH, so any extreme change in
ocean acidity will affect these organisms. Krill and copepods are key members of the
marine food chain, so changes in their populations can be expected to have potentially large impacts through the ecosystems. Along the Antarctic coast, krill is the
primary food source for penguins, and many marine mammal species and a sharp
decline in krills abundance would severely impact their populations. Potential impacts on marine organisms directly relying on calcification, such as those that make
up commercial crustacean fisheries (shrimp, crab) and mollusk fisheries (bivalves,
gastropods) may be of economic concern in the future.
The concern about increasing ocean acidity is one of the research areas mentioned
in the draft Ocean Research Priorities Plan prepared by the Joint Subcommittee on
Ocean Science and Technology under the National Science and Technology Council.
Generally, this is an emerging area of concern that has yet to be thoroughly studied.
The National Academies is currently considering developing a study on this topic.
RESPONSE
TO
WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED

NOAA
BY
HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE
TO
Question 1. The IPY envisions establishment of polar observing equipment and

monitoring systems which will eventually need to be taken over and maintained
after the close of the IPY, beginning in 2009.
What kind of fiscal burden will taking over these systems place on NOAA?
Answer. NOAA is making use of existing resources to conduct IPY work, so continuing support for polar observations would be provided through the Presidents
budget without any additional fiscal burden.
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In addition to other NOAA exploration, prediction, modeling, data, outreach, and
decision support IPY projects, the Presidents Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Request includes funding for the following four polar observation-specific projects:
Pres Bud Fiscal
Year 2007
Project
Causes and Impacts of Recent Changes in Pacific Arctic

Polar Atmospheric Observatories and Field Campaigns
Polar Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Observations
Antarctic Living Marine Resource Survey
$3,650,000
$2,675,000
included above
$1,467,000
Total
$7,792,000
Question 1a. To the best of your knowledge, what other Federal agencies will be
responsible for maintaining post-IPY observing and monitoring activities?
Answer. The Office of Science and Technology Policy assigned the National
Science Foundation the leadership role for coordinating interagency IPY activities.
In Fiscal Year 2007, a new Arctic observatory in Eureka, Canada, will operate
during the IPY, and the observatory in Tiksi, Russia, will be partially operational.
Post-IPY, Canada will maintain and operate the Eureka Observatory and NOAA
will conduct measurements. At the site in Tiksi, the National Science Foundation
is contributing substantially to the development of the infrastructure, and NOAA
will assist in providing instrumentation. Post-IPY, NOAA will maintain the Tiksi
Observatory as one of our Arctic Observation Network systems.
NOAAs existing baseline observatories at Barrow, Alaska, and the South Pole
will continue to focus on measurements of trace gases and aerosols during IPY.
Question 1b. What will happen to the scientific knowledge gained through polar
monitoring and research if we do not have resources to continue monitoring during
and after IPY?
Answer. NOAA will be archiving NOAA datasets during IPY to ensure that the
scientific knowledge gained through polar monitoring and research during IPY is
available to benefit future polar research and management. It is important that the
Nation continue polar monitoring after IPY to observe and understand the changing
Arctic in the years to come.
Question 2. The U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program, managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), supports international efforts to protect the Antarctic and its marine life through the Commission for the
Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR). CCAMLR has
planned a Southern Ocean synoptic predator-prey study, formally recognized and
designated as IPYs lead project for the topic Natural Resources, Antarctic. At one
point AMLR was prepared to offer ship time to the project. At this time, what resources does the AMLR Program plan on dedicating to IPYrelated activities?
Answer. The International Polar Year (IPY) actually runs from March 2007
through March 2009 (two years; to ensure that researchers get the opportunity to
work in both polar regions or work summer and winter if they wish). The Antarctic
Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program had indicated an interest in supplying
ship time and scientific expertise to CCAMLRs survey starting in January 2008.
However, the AMLR Programs participation in Fiscal Year 2008 IPY-related activities is contingent upon the availability of an ice-strengthened research vessel with
appropriate endurance.
NOAA only needs a 35-day cruise in 2008 to fulfill U.S. requirements under
CCAMLR. However, it is not clear that NOAA will be able to lease the same vessel
as in the past for such a short cruise. NOAA is reviewing options should this ship
become unavailable.
In Fiscal Year 2008, NOAA will evaluate all options for continuing ship-based research that would enable the AMLR to contribute to CCAMLRs IPY-related research activities in the Southern Ocean.
Question 2a. Is that level sufficient to fulfill US. commitments in support of
CCAMLR?
Answer. A 35-day cruise would be sufficient to fulfill U.S. commitments in support
of CCAMLR.
Question 2b. Is the level of participation the U.S. is currently envisioning to dedicate through AMLR to this project likely to compromise CCAMLRs ability to participate meaningfully in the IPY?
Answer. NOAA will evaluate all options for continuing ship-based research that
would enable the AMLR to contribute to CCAMLRs IPY-related research activities.
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If AMLR is unable to secure an appropriate vessel to conduct the survey, it will
compromise CCAMLRs ability to participate in the IPY synoptic survey.
RESPONSE
TO
WRITTEN QUESTION SUBMITTED BY HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE

MEAD TREADWELL *
TO
Question. The National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of

Sciences recently released their final report assessing polar icebreaker roles and
needs. The report recommends that the United States replace the two older vessels,
the POLAR STAR and POLAR SEA, while maintaining and repairing the POLAR
SEA and keeping the POLAR STAR in caretaker status during the transition period.
Do you support the NRCs recommendations?
If the recommendation pertaining to icebreaker capabilities were implemented
would that level of icebreaker capacity be sufficient to meet the needs of the
U.S. Arctic Research Program?
RESPONSE
TO

MEAD TREADWELL *
TO
Question 1. How important are the Coast Guards icebreakers as a platform for
scientific research during the International Polar Year and beyond? Do you support
the National Research Councils recommendation to ensure long-term U.S. polar
icebreaking capability?
Question 2. The Bush Administration has already established a record of censoring scientists with whom it disagrees on global warming. How will you both ensure that the research for the International Polar Year is selected and conducted
without political interference from the White House?
Question 3. What assurances can you give us that the results of the U.S. research
will be communicated freely and clearly by U.S. scientists, even if they conflict with
the views of the White House and the oil and automobile industries?
RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG
DR. THOMAS ARMSTRONG AND DR. VIRGIL L. BUCK SHARPTON *
TO
Question 1. I am concerned about the recent reports that global warming is rapidly affecting the oceans chemistrymaking it more acidic. Will our U.S. research
effort include monitoring ocean chemistry and its potential impacts on the food
chain? Do we have any sense of how bad things are already, or when we are likely
to see the impacts of acidification?
Question 2. How does climate change or ocean warming affect the ability of krill
to resist over-harvesting? How much more vulnerable does it make them? How
much would a sharp decline in krill populations affect other species and the food
chain?
* Reponse was not available at the time this hearing went to press.
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Senate Hearing, 109TH Congress - International Polar Year

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S. HRG.

INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

SEPTEMBER 26, 2006

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

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Hearing held on September 26, 2006 .....................................................................

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INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR

U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND

Chairman STEVENS. My apologies for being late. Gentlemen, I do

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Senator MURKOWSKI. Thank you.

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Mr. TREADWELL. Thank you, Senator Stevens, Senator Murkowski.

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Chairman STEVENS. Thank you, Doctor Bement. Im sure were

Admiral PAPP. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon. And,

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Chairman STEVENS. Thank you very much, Admiral.