Canadian Arctic logistics in support of scientific initiatives

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Canadian Arctic logistics in support of
scientific initiatives
Marty Bergmann Director, Polar Continental Shelf
Program, Natural Resources Canada Presented at
Forum of Arctic Research Operators meeting -
Nuuk, Greenland April 16, 2010
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Canadas North Challenges for field research

• The vast expanse of the Canadian Arctic
  (gt4,000,000 km2), varied terrain and extreme
  climate conditions make logistical operations
  difficult
• Most field camps in the Canadian Arctic are
  located in remote areas that are accessible only
  by certain aircraft (e.g., Twin Otter and
  helicopter) or ice-capable ships

• Field studies are costly but new government
  initiatives are improving northern research
  infrastructure and various northern logistics
  organizations can provide scientists with
  cost-effective field support

Canada
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Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS)

• In 2007, the Government of Canada announced plans
  to build a world-class science facility in the
  Canadian High Arctic
• A feasibility study has been completed by Indian
  and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
• The location of the CHARS has been narrowed to
  three Nunavut communities Resolute, Cambridge
  Bay or Pond Inlet
• In Budget 2009, the Government of Canada
  announced 87M for the Arctic Research
  Infrastructure Fund
• In Budget 2010, the Government of Canada
  announced 18M for the design of the CHARS
• Details regarding logistical support for work at
  the CHARS have yet to be determined

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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund (ARIF)

• Excerpt from the Government of Canadas Budget
  2009 new funding of up to 85 million for INAC
  to invest in upgrading key existing Arctic
  research facilities providing a near-term
  economic stimulus while building a strong
  foundation for Arctic research capacity that
  supports government priorities ensure a robust
  network of infrastructure is in place when the
  Canadian High Arctic Research Station opens.

Information courtesy of INAC
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund Projects
Churchill Northern Studies Centre

• 20 projects at 37 sites were selected for funding
• Much needed investment to replace/renovate many
  facilities that represent a legacy to the last
  International Polar Year
• Proponents had to mobilize quickly to deliver on
  two-year timeline

Photo credit M. Goodyear
Nunavut Research Institute (NU)
PCSP Resolute - design concept
Photo credit E. Corneau
Information and photos courtesy of INAC
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund Project
Sites
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund Recipients
14. Nunavut Research Vessel Project Lead
Government of Nunavut 15. Old Crow Research
Facility Project Lead Vuntut Gwitchin
Government 16. Polar Continental Shelf Program
Project Lead Natural Resources Canada 17.
Polar Environment Atmospheric Laboratory Project
Lead Dalhousie University 18. Quttinirpaaq
National Park Project Lead Parks Canada 19.
Yukon College Project Lead Yukon College 20.
Yukon Forestry Project Lead Government of Yukon
8. kANGIDLUASUk Base Camp Project Lead
Nunatsiavut Government 9. Kluane Lake Research
Station Project Lead Arctic Institute of North
America 10. Labrador Institute Nunatsiavut
Research Centre Project Lead Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador Nunatsiavut
Government 11. M'Clintock Channel Polar Bear
Research Cabins Project Lead Queens
University 12. Nunavik Research Centre Project
Lead Makivik Corporation 13. Nunavut Research
Institute Project Lead Nunavut Arctic College

• 1. Institute for Circumpolar Heath Research,
  Northwest Territories
• Project Lead Arctic Health Research Network,
  Northwest Territories
• 2. Arctic Migratory Bird Research Network
• Project Lead Environment Canada
• 3. Aurora Research Institute
• Project Lead Aurora College
• 4. Centre d'études nordiques (CEN) - SAON Network
• Project Lead Université Laval
• 5. Churchill Northern Studies Centre
• Project Lead Churchill Northern Studies Centre
• 6. H. S. Bostock Geological Core Library
• Project Lead Yukon Geological Survey
• 7. Health Canada Radiological Monitoring Network

Information courtesy of INAC
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Polar Continental Shelf Program (PCSP)

• Detailed information on PCSP was provided at last
  years FARO meeting
• Most operations are based out of PCSPs Resolute,
  Nunavut, facility, but aircraft services are also
  available from other key northern locations
• Scientists can apply to PCSP annually for a range
  of services, including

• Air transportation (e.g., Twin Otters,
  helicopters)
• Transit residence and meals at Resolute
• Field equipment from PCSPs Technical Field
  Support Services
• Fuel for aircraft, equipment and camps
• Communications network for all field camps

Twin Otter at Beechy Island, Nunavut
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PCSPs clients

• Researchers from the Canadian federal,
  territorial and provincial governments,
  universities, private organizations and
  international agencies can apply for PCSP
  logistical services each year in November
• PCSP supports up to 200 research projects
  annually that include over 1100 scientists,
  students and field support personnel in
  disciplines ranging from archaeology to zoology

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PCSP-supported field camps (2009)
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PCSP Resolute Facility Expansion

• PCSP received 11M from ARIF to expand the PCSP
  Resolute facility
• This expansion will nearly double the capacity of
  the facility and provide more effective work
  space for researchers and staff

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PCSPs work with the Department of National
Defence

• The Department of National Defence (DND) has a
  presence in Resolute for training operations and
  a planned Arctic Training Centre
• With this presence, telecommunications abilities
  for PCSP will continue to increase
• PCSP is working with DND regarding operations in
  Resolute and how best to meet common goals

• The CF Canadian Air Division is now responsible
  for the Alert and Eureka military outposts on
  Ellesmere Island, Nunavut

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Canadian Arctic marine science logistics

• Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) icebreakers are the
  backbone to vessel-based research in the Canadian
  Arctic
• CCG works with the National Centre for Arctic
  Aquatic Research Excellence (NCAARE, Fisheries
  and Oceans Canada) for overall planning of the
  ships
• Currently, eight of CCGs fleet of 18 icebreakers
  operate in Canadas North and have provided
  support for science programs
• The duration of science programs varies by ship
  and by year
• Programs last a few days to a few months each
  year, and sometimes over-wintering projects are
  conducted
• Icebreakers typically begin their Arctic cruises
  in mid-June to mid-July and return to their
  southern ports by October to mid-November,
  depending on programming needs and ship
  capabilities

Information courtesy of NCAARE, DFO
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Science programs on CCG ships

• Ship-based scientific activities range from
  marine biology and oceanography to seabed geology
• Main types of scientific activities on CCG
  icebreakers
• Mooring and ice buoy recovery/deployment
• Underway water collection
• CTD/Rosette
• Current major programs
• Joint Ocean Ice Study
• Canadas United Nations Convention on the Law of
  the Sea (UNCLOS) Program
• Arctic Mooring Program
• ArcticNet on CCGS Amundsen
• Current sampling programs
• Canadas Three Oceans
• Barrow Strait Ecosystem Study

Information courtesy of NCAARE, DFO
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• ArcticNet is a Canadian Network of Centres of
  Excellence that brings together researchers in
  the natural, human health and social sciences
  with Inuit organizations, northern communities,
  and federal, provincial and private sector
  agencies to study the impacts of climate change
  in the coastal Canadian Arctic

• Within ArcticNet, over 110 researchers from 27
  Canadian universities, and 8 federal and 11
  provincial organizations collaborate with
  scientists from 12 countries
• Marine science and some community-based work is
  conducted aboard the CCGS Amundsen

The CCGS Amundsen a Canadian research icebreaker
for international collaboration in the study of
the changing Arctic
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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ArcticNet and CCGS Amundsen Cruise Tracks
2003-2008
Providing major access to the Arctic for the
Canadian and international scientific community
since its inauguration in 2003
2003 - 2008 Cruise Tracks
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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ArcticNet and CCGS Amundsen Cruise Tracks
2009-2010
Providing major access to the Arctic for the
Canadian and international scientific community
since its inauguration in 2003
2009 2010 Cruise Tracks
(Planned)
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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CCGS Amundsen Support for recent Arctic
research programs

• 1300 days of dedicated scientific operations over
  8 years or 163 days per year on average
• Supported 2 major international overwintering
  studies in the Beaufort Sea (CASES CFL)
• Supported science teams from 15 countries
• Visited all Canadian coastal Inuit communities as
  part of an international Inuit Health Survey

390 days overwintering expedition
448 days overwintering expedition
Days of dedicated science operations
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Year
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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Logistical support for Canadian Arctic research

• Ongoing initiatives by the federal government are
  actively improving northern infrastructure in
  support of Canadian Arctic science
• International programs and MOUs (e.g., Canada and
  the United Kingdom, PCSP and northern Canadian
  colleges) play important roles in the further
  evolution of Canadian Arctic science
• There is more work to be done, as there is a
  significant gap between the logistical support
  requested by scientists and what can be afforded
  by logistical operators