National Science Foundation and Science Community Needs for Polar Icebreakers Background material prepared for the August 26, 2005 meeting of the NAS/NRC Task Force on Assessment of U.S. Coast Guar Polar Icebreaker Roles and Future Needs Karl Erb, Director Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation

NSF Polar Roles National Science Foundation – Provides $96 million for Arctic fundamental research Chairs the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (to coordinate Federal Arctic research) Provides $266 million for Antarctic fundamental research Manages the U.S. Antarctic Program

NSF Provides $96 Million (33%) of the Federal Funding for Arctic Research

Funding Decisions Funding decisions based on peer review of scientific merit and broader impacts –3,100 proposals over 5 years –1,500 researchers Future directions guided by science community input –NAS reports –Workshops (80 such) –IASC, SCAR, etc. –Disciplinary roadmaps

Life in the Cold and Dark Bacteria Found in Melt Samples Taken from Ice Thought To Be Refrozen from the Waters of Lake Vostok. Snow Bacteria Found at the geographic South Pole

Some Polar K nowledge Frontiers Ice, Earth, and Climate Life in the Cold and Dark Origins of the Universe

Major Study Sites in the Arctic

USCG Healy and German icebreaker Polarstern in the Arctic Ocean

SHEBA

Study of Environmental ARctic CHange (SEARCH) SEARCH is a multi-agency, international, interdisciplinary research effort to understand the full scope of changes occurring in the Arctic

Bering Sea Jellyfish

Global ocean circulation

Antarctic Science Science performed includes: Upper atmosphere studies Astrophysics Climate change Seismology Glaciology Volcanology Life in the Cold and Dark McMurdo Station Beardmore Glacier 375 nm Palmer Station Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station 730 nm Vostok Station (Russian) 708 nm Siple Dome 540 nm Downstream C 507 nm To Christchurch, 2,085 NM

U.S. Antarctic Program Resources – Ships USAP research icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer Contract cargo ship American Tern USAP research icebreaker Laurence M. Gould

USCG Polar Star and the Russian icebreaker Krasin, McMurdo Sound 2005

Presidential Memorandum 6646 (1982) Tasked NSF to Manage the U. S. Antarctic Program on behalf of the U.S. government. Develop and fund the associated research program Draw upon logistic support capabilities of government agencies on a cost reimbursable basis Use commercial support and management facilities where these are determined to be cost effective and not detrimental to the national interest.

1994 Presidential Decision Directive Four basic objectives of U.S. policy in Antarctica: 1.Protecting the relatively unspoiled environment of Antarctica and its associated ecosystems; 2.Preserving and pursuing unique opportunities for scientific research to understand Antarctica and global physical and environmental systems; 3.Maintaining Antarctica as an area of international cooperation reserved exclusively for peaceful purposes; and 4.Assuring the conservation and sustainable management of the living resources in the oceans surrounding Antarctica.

Ozone Hole, September 2004

The Changing Antarctic Ice Sheet

Cosmic microwave background if a camera were sensitive to microwaves

Astrophysical Research

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, January 2005

Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic

McMurdo Station Beardmore Glacier 375 nm Palmer Station Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station 730 nm Vostok Station (Russian) 708 nm Siple Dome 540 nm Downstream C 507 nm To Christchurch, 2,085 NM Some Antarctic Study Sites McMurdo Sound Shipping Channel & Turning Basin

NSF/OPP Advisory Committee report – USAP Resupply Krasin and USCG Polar Star in McMurdo Sound, 2005

Ship Capabilities Days at Sea Science & Support CrewHPDisplacement (tons) Ft/KtS Polar Star/ Polar Sea ,000 (diesel) 75,000 (turbine) 13,4006 ft at 6 kts Krasin?06535,50020,0006 ft at 3 kts Healy ,00016, ft at 3 kts NBP ,0006,8003 ft at 3 kts Polarstern ,00017,3004 ft at 5 kts LMG ,5753,4001 ft at 3 kts ARRV ,7502, ft at 3 kts

Current ship resources Current Resources ResearchSupplyAge POLAR STAR/SEA+29/27 years KRASIN+29 years HEALY+6 years NBP+13 years LMG++10 years Military Sealift+Various ARRV+To be built

Meeting Future Needs for Heavy Icebreaking Capability POLAR STAR/SEA - SLEP? New Heavy Ice Breaker?  One or Two?  Icebreaker only or multi-purpose?  Antarctic only?  Arctic and Antarctic?  Build to lease?  Government Owned, Contractor operated?  Shared use with private sector?  Military or commercial crew?  Military or commercial construction?