NOAA’s Alaska Region Collaboration Team (ARCTic) Laura Furgione Alaska Regional Team Lead January 25, 2007

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)2 Alaska Region Unique Alaska Statistics 54% U.S. coast 66% U.S. continental shelf 47,300 miles tidal shoreline Population: 664,000 Commerce More than 3,000 ships a year utilize Unimak Pass (Aleutian Islands) Alaska waters provide half of all U.S. seafood Alaska has the leading air cargo hub and commercial fishery port

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)3 ARCTic: Key Partners NOAA Supported Partnerships (IOOS & RISA) Alaska Ocean Observing System, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment & Policy, Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research, International Arctic Research Center, Academic/Extramural Research University of Alaska, North Pacific Research Board, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Pacific Region Integrated Data Enterprise State Alaska State Departments (i.e., Governor’s Office, Fish and Game, Military and Veterans Affairs, Public Safety, Alaska Marine Highway) Tribes Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, Various Alaska Native Corporations Interagency NSF, International Polar Year, MMS, USCG, FAA, EPA, ACOE, USGS, and DOE Non-profit Alaska SeaLife Center, Imaginarium Science Discovery Center Industry Fairweather Inc., Oil and Gas Exploration Entities, Fishing Associations via the North Pacific Fishery Management Council International Environment Canada, Japan Meteorological Agency, Intl. Pacific Halibut Commission, U.S.- Canada Salmon Commission, North Pacific Marine Science Commission, Tokyo and Montreal Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers Special Regional Efforts Alaska Marine Ecosystem Forum

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)4 NOAA’s Alaska Challenges Limited Hydrographic Surveys Compile complete inventory of existing data and prioritize assessment No Consistent Geodetic Datum NOS National Geodetic Survey support needed for Geoid model Limited Observations for Management/Safety River Observations – only 100 sites (6,000 sq. miles each on average) Coastal Marine Observations - only 9 sites for entire coast Ecosystem Observations - no forage fish surveys Backlog of Electronic Navigation Charts Need complete set of vector data charts in large scale Limited Atmospheric Emission Monitoring CO 2 & Methane—only one monitoring site at Barrow (methane released from permafrost melt) Consequences of Climate Change Sea Ice Loss—erosion, fisheries management, marine mammals, shipping increase Warming—permafrost loss, land transportation, flooding Ecosystem change—resource management, invasive species, human health impacts

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)5 NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities Leverage Existing Resources Improve data availability (issue of national vs. regional access) Connect research and operational groups Seek data sharing partnerships (federal, state, local, industry) Enhance and Digitize Sea Ice Historical Database Arctic Observing Network (AON) NAS Study: “Build from existing and planned efforts” Pan-Arctic Observational Infrastructure Satellites, terrestrial observations, ocean buoys/moorings, weather stations, hydrologic monitoring stations, ecological sampling networks NOAA Fleet Outreach and Data Share NOS and NWS Service Enhancement Survey Expand Cooperative Programs for Real Time Data Collection NMAO - Miller Freeman, Oscar Dyson, Rainier, Fairweather, John Cobb Chartered fishing vessels, Alaska Marine Highway System

Backup Material

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)7 Alaska Region

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)8 ARCTic Membership NameLinePosition/Title Laura FurgioneNWSTeam Lead and Director, Alaska Region Eddie Bernard OARDirector, Pacific Marine Environmental Lab Steven K. Davis NMFSRegional NEPA Coordinator Dave Hofmann OARDirector, Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory Kris Holderied NOSActing Director, Kasitsna Bay Laboratory John Jensen NESDISStrategic Planning Officer, National Climatic Data Center Peter Jones NMFSAlaska Regional Planner Lance Seman NESDISStation Manager, Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station Mike Sigler NMFSHabitat and Ecological Processes Research Program Leader, Alaska Fisheries Science Center Chris Strager NWSDeputy Director, Alaska Region John Whitney NOSScientific Support Coordinator for Alaska Dave Zezula NOSAlaska Region Navigation Manager, Office of Coast Survey

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)9 ARCTic Operational Model—1 Assess, define, and prioritize on-going collaborative activities in support of: Enhancing customer service Nurturing internal and national external partnerships Exercising global leadership Promoting organizational excellence Striving for leadership excellence and accountability

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)10 ARCTic Operational Model—2 Engage and collaborate with the other regional team members to ensure consistency & efficiency. Improve 2-Way Internal Communication Flow Consistency of information flow Mechanisms, development, and utilization Regional Web-based Portal

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)11 ARCTic: Key Partners NOAA Supported Partnerships (RISA & IOOS) Alaska Ocean Observation System Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) Arctic Observing Network (AON) Cooperative Institute For Arctic Research (CIFAR) and International Arctic Research Center (IARC) - UAF

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)12 NOAA’s Alaska Challenges—1 Limited Observations River Observations 100 sites representing 6,000 square miles (size of Connecticut) Needed to assist in water resource services Coastal Marine Observations 9 sites primarily in Cook Inlet or Prince William Sound Needed to assist in climate monitoring, improving hazard resilient coastal communities, and improve maritime safety Ecosystem Observations No forage fish surveys Need habitat, oceanographic, and lower trophic level information to support ecosystem-based management of fish, marine mammals and the coastal zone Limited Atmospheric Emission Monitoring Carbon Dioxide and Methane Only one site at Barrow and potentially Toolik Lake (NSF) Methane is released by melting permafrost

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)13 NOAA’s Alaska Challenges—2 Consequences of Climate Change Changes in Sea Ice (extent and duration) Coastal Erosion Fisheries Management Co-Management of Marine Mammals Increased Shipping Navigation Hazards Nautical charting requirements Potential increase in HAZMAT incidents Changes in Atmospheric Temperature (warming) Permafrost degradation Overland transportation Glacial melt - flooding Changing Ecosystems Resource Management Invasive Species Human Health Threats

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)14 NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—1 Leverage Established Resources Structure Data Management National versus regional versus local availability Engage Researchers and Operational Groups NSF, NPRB, IPY, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, etc. Seek Data Share Partnerships National Snow & Ice Data Center USGS, ACOE, MMS, EPA, BLM State and Local Entities Seabulk Nevada taking ground truth sea ice photos in Cook Inlet.

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)15 NOAA Alaska Opportunities—2 Enhancement of Hydrographic Surveys Compile complete inventory of existing data and developed digitized database NOS, NESDIS, NMFS, ACOE, USGS, MMS, etc. Coastal Inundation Team Data archived at NGDC Prioritize inventory assessment Update and expand current geodetic datum NGS support needed for Geoid model Working international aspects Enhance Sea Ice Historical Database Assemble complete inventory of existing data and develop digitized database NOAA/NESDIS/NSIDC AOOS Sea Ice Working Group

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)16 NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—3 Arctic Observing Network (AON) Pan-Arctic Observational Infrastructure Satellites (and ground truth validation) e.g., Alaska Climate Reference Network Terrestrial Observations Ocean Buoys and Moorings Weather Stations Hydrologic Monitoring Stations Ecological Sampling Networks Arctic Residents and Other Data Sources NAS Study recommendation: “Build from existing and planned efforts.”

SES Summit 2007: Alaska Regional Collaboration Team (ARCTic)17 NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—4 NOAA Fleet Outreach and Data Share NOS and NWS Service Enhancement Survey Expand Cooperative Programs for Real Time Data Collection NMAO: Miller Freeman, voluntary ship obs leader (1,519) Oscar Dyson, fisheries and oceanography vessel Rainier and Fairweather, primary hydrographic vessels John Cobb Chartered fishing vessels and Alaska ferry system