AOSB PROGRAMS
AOSB, as a facilitator of Arctic ocean science research has been responsible for initiating many science-led international programs by offering planning, coordination and access to funding and logistics. Currently, AOSB's major program is the Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System (iAOOS) which is being implemented during the IPY by investigators from approximately 20 countries. A report on the successful first year of implementation of iAOOS is being prepared and will be available on this site in February.
The Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System (iAOOS)
The Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System (iAOOS) is a joint AOSB-CliC initiative for the IPY. Its focus is on Arctic change, including the fate of perennial sea ice and the climatic and social effects of its disappearance. The task is to understand the ocean-atmosphere-cryosphere system of the high northern latitudes operating as a complete system and testing its predictability. Because of technological advances and with the impetus of the International Polar Year (IPY), we are in prospect of being able to measure almost any key variable at almost any place and time that we need to describe the ocean-atmosphere-cryosphere system of the high latitudes. iAOOS intends to observe the Arctic Ocean from satellites to seabed, and observe the changes imposed on the Arctic from subarctic seas.
A mid-term IPY report on iAOOS, showing accomplishments and some early results from the 2007 field season as well as a forward looking analysis of 2008, was completed in February 2007.
The 2008 iAOOS report is available by clicking here. If you would like hard copies, please contact Sara Bowden at sbowden@ucar.edu.
To see a full listing of the iAOOS partners click here.
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AOSB has established the ICARP II Marine Roundtable to ensure integration in the planning and implementation of the marine working groups of the ICARP II and coordination with other ICARP II working groups including, but not limited to, those dealing with modeling, the human dimension and public outreach. The Roundtable will:
- Develop science and implementation plans building on recommendations from the ICARP II marine working groups.
- Keep track of ICARP II follow-up activities being undertaken by the various working groups or other parties.
- Communicate with other ICARP II working groups to ensure coordination of follow-up activities.
- Evaluate and respond to ideas generated by the AOSB or other organizations for ICARP II follow-up activities.
The first meeting was held on July 7, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Russia.. To view a list of ICARP II Roundtable members please click here.
A second meeting of early career scientists was held in Copenhagen, Denmark on 21-22 October 2008. The aim of the second workshop was to formulate a future perspective for the ICARP II Science Plans. The perspective will integrate topics of all three science plans and a draft will be available in March 2009. Minutes of the meeting are available here.
During the Winter of 2008-09 the Early Career Scientists sub-group of the Roundtable produced a project proposal entitled Arctic in Rapid Transition. ART aims to develop links between changes in sea ice and the physical, biological and geochemical feedback process and forcing mechanisms. The rationale for ART is the dramatic changes in sea ice, food web structure and Arctic ecosystems since the ICARP II was completed. These changes are having an impact on the people who live in the Arctic. The ART concept was well received by the AOSB. The next step is to host a ART Initiation Workshop in February 2010 to write a complete science and implementation plan for ART. For more information on ART, please see the ART powerpoint under "Meeting Reports."
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The Arctic Ocean Sciences Board is pleased to announce the creation of funding to support early career scientists in international arctic marine planning meetings. This initiative entitled *NRG* (New Research Generation) aims to promote the inclusion of early career Arctic scientists and engineers in the Arctic marine science planning process. It is AOSB’s intent that through this project early career scientists will not only attend one or two meetings, but will become involved in the planning process over the long-term, finding ways to contribute to their future as Arctic researchers. AOSB is pleased to acknowledge the endorsement of the Association of Early Career Polar Scientists (APECS) for this initiative. FY 2008-09 funding is set at $10,000. AOSB is looking to partner with other Arctic science organizations to increase this amount in future years.
AOSB has been pleased to provide support for six early career scientists to attend the IMPETUS meeting in St. Petersburg in November 2008, and will provide support for four early career scientists to attend the ASSW in 2009 in Bergen, Norway. Funding for the 2009-10 fiscal year will be established during the AOSB meeting in March in Bergen.
To see a list of the Program Management Committee members for the NRG, please click here.
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Some of the on-going programs initiated by the AOSB include:
Arctic-Sub-Arctic Ocean Fluxes (ASOF)
Shelf-Basin Exchange Initiative (SBE)
International Arctic Polynya Program - Polynyas in the Arctic's Changing Environment (IAPP-PACE)
Some past programs initiated by AOSB include:
Arctic Paleo-River Discharge (APARD)
Siberian River Run-off (SIRRO)
Greenland Sea Project (GSP)
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