For information regarding this post please
email to James Swift, jswift [at] popmail.ucsd.edu
or visit the UNOLS Web Site at: http://www.gso.uri.edu/unols/unols.html
regarding this science opportunity
Dear Colleague,
The UNOLS Arctic Icebreaker Coordinating Committee (AICC) is an
NSF/USCG-sanctioned committee chaired by Jim Swift, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography. The purpose of the AICC is to provide Arctic marine science
projects with planning and scheduling assistance and to facilitate
communications between scientists, science funding organizations, and
facility providers. Particular concerns of this committee at present are the
USCG icebreakers Polar Sea, Polar Star, and Healy. Additional information
about the AICC is available on the UNOLS web site
http://www.gso.uri.edu/unols/unols.html
or the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States
http://www.arcus.org/AICC/fr_index.html.
The US Coast Guard recently informed the AICC that USCGC Polar Star is
expected to be available for funded Arctic science missions during mid-late
summer 2000. Additionally, the Coast Guard anticipates the USCGC Polar Sea
will be deployed on a shakedown cruise to the western Arctic during
mid-June through July of 2000 for 30-40 days. On such cruises, there is an
opportunity for a limited number of science berths (10-20) available for
scientists for Science-Of-Opportunity (SOO) operations. There is no
funding being made available by the USCG to support SOO research other than
the opportunity for ship time.
Science-of-Opportunity is defined as follows: Following extensive yard and
maintenance periods, Coast Guard icebreakers may proceed to the Arctic to
conduct machinery trials, to test equipment, and to conduct training, in
conditions which duplicate normal operating conditions. The Coast Guard
calls these missions "shakedowns". During these shakedowns, the USCG
allows scientists to deploy with the icebreaker to take advantage of
research opportunities on a not-to-interfere basis with machinery and
equipment trials, or other training missions taking place. Scientists who
deploy on shakedown missions are not charged for icebreaker use under the
current multi-agency reimbursement agreement for dedicated science
missions. It is important to note that while science will be accommodated
whenever appropriate, science is not the first priority of an SOO mission,
and in fact, there is no guarantee that any science will be accomplished
during these missions. Despite these important and ongoing caveats, the
AICC would be remiss if we did not also note community satisfaction with
the 1997 and 1998 SOO missions, during which most science objectives were
in fact accomplished by the Coast Guard. [Because the 1999 SOO mission was
cancelled the AICC will ask the Coast Guard to consider impacts on intended
1999 participants while making selections for 2000.]
For the 2000 cruise, the Coast Guard requests that scientists who are
interested in participating submit an Icebreaker Science-of-Opportunity
Request Form, available through the UNOLS web site noted above. Requests
submitted by the deadline of 4 January 2000 will be assessed by the AICC
for suitability, including geographic region, seasonality, number of
berths, compatibility of scientific programs and personnel responsibilities,
USCG equipment requests, and laboratory requirements.
Highly specific time and geographic requirements cannot be guaranteed. It
will be the sole responsibility of investigators contemplating sample-only
requests to make mutually-agreed arrangements with a qualified cruise
participant. Investigators without sea experience, or who contemplate
sending participants without sea experience, are expected to discuss plans
with experienced participants well ahead of time, obtain relevant training,
and verify these preparations with the Chief Scientist before the cruise.
The USCG will select the participants for the cruise. The AICC's role is
to facilitate communication between the scientific community and the USCG,
including assembling information about potential Science Of Opportunity
investigations and assessing them for suitability. Investigators are
reminded that they may not use submission of an SOO request for AICC
assessment to leverage agency science support.