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

NOAA’s Alaska Region Collaboration Team

(ARCTic)

NOAA’s Alaska Region Collaboration Team

(ARCTic)

Laura FurgioneAlaska Regional Team Lead

January 25, 2007

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Alaska RegionAlaska Region

Unique Alaska Statistics54% U.S. coast66% U.S. continental shelf47,300 miles tidal shorelinePopulation: 664,000

CommerceMore than 3,000 ships a year utilize Unimak Pass (Aleutian Islands) Alaska waters provide half of all U.S. seafoodAlaska has the leading air cargo hub and commercial fishery port

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ARCTic: Key PartnersARCTic: Key PartnersNOAA 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 ResearchUniversity of Alaska, North Pacific Research Board, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Pacific Region Integrated Data Enterprise

StateAlaska State Departments (i.e., Governor’s Office, Fish and Game, Military and Veterans Affairs, Public Safety, Alaska Marine Highway)

TribesAlaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, Various Alaska Native Corporations

InteragencyNSF, International Polar Year, MMS, USCG, FAA, EPA, ACOE, USGS, and DOE

Non-profitAlaska SeaLife Center, Imaginarium Science Discovery Center

IndustryFairweather Inc., Oil and Gas Exploration Entities, Fishing Associations via the North Pacific Fishery Management Council

InternationalEnvironment 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 EffortsAlaska Marine Ecosystem Forum

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NOAA’s Alaska Challenges

NOAA’s Alaska Challenges

Limited Hydrographic SurveysCompile complete inventory of existing data and prioritize assessment

No Consistent Geodetic DatumNOS 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 coastEcosystem Observations - no forage fish surveys

Backlog of Electronic Navigation Charts

Need complete set of vector data charts in large scale

Limited Atmospheric Emission Monitoring

CO2 & Methane—only one monitoring site at Barrow (methane released from permafrost melt)

Consequences of Climate ChangeSea Ice Loss—erosion, fisheries management, marine mammals, shipping increaseWarming—permafrost loss, land transportation, floodingEcosystem change—resource management, invasive species, human health impacts

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NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities

NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities

Leverage Existing ResourcesImprove data availability (issue of national vs. regional access)Connect research and operational groupsSeek 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 ShareNOS and NWS Service Enhancement SurveyExpand Cooperative Programs for Real Time Data Collection

NMAO - Miller Freeman, Oscar Dyson, Rainier, Fairweather, John CobbChartered fishing vessels, Alaska Marine Highway System

Backup MaterialBackup Material

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Alaska RegionAlaska Region

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ARCTic MembershipARCTic MembershipName Line Position/Title

Laura Furgione NWS Team Lead and Director, Alaska Region

Eddie Bernard OAR Director, Pacific Marine Environmental Lab

Steven K. Davis

NMFS Regional NEPA Coordinator

Dave Hofmann OARDirector, Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory

Kris Holderied NOS Acting Director, Kasitsna Bay Laboratory

John JensenNESDI

SStrategic Planning Officer, National Climatic Data Center

Peter Jones NMFS Alaska Regional Planner

Lance SemanNESDI

SStation Manager, Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station

Mike Sigler NMFSHabitat and Ecological Processes Research Program Leader, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Chris Strager NWS Deputy Director, Alaska Region

John Whitney NOS Scientific Support Coordinator for Alaska

Dave Zezula NOS Alaska Region Navigation Manager, Office of Coast Survey

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ARCTic Operational Model—

1

ARCTic Operational Model—

1Assess, define, and prioritize on-going collaborative activities in support of:

Enhancing customer serviceNurturing internal and national external partnershipsExercising global leadershipPromoting organizational excellenceStriving for leadership excellence and accountability

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ARCTic Operational Model—

2

ARCTic Operational Model—

2Engage and collaborate with the other regional team members to ensure consistency & efficiency.

Improve 2-Way Internal Communication FlowConsistency of information flow

Mechanisms, development, and utilization

Regional Web-based Portal

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ARCTic: Key PartnersARCTic: Key Partners

NOAA Supported Partnerships (RISA & IOOS)Alaska Ocean Observation SystemAlaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)Arctic Observing Network (AON)Cooperative Institute For Arctic Research (CIFAR) and International Arctic Research Center (IARC) - UAF

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NOAA’s Alaska Challenges—

1

NOAA’s Alaska Challenges—

1Limited Observations

River Observations 100 sites representing 6,000 square miles (size of Connecticut)

Needed to assist in water resource services

Coastal Marine Observations9 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 ObservationsNo 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 MonitoringCarbon Dioxide and Methane

Only one site at Barrow and potentially Toolik Lake (NSF)Methane is released by melting permafrost

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NOAA’sAlaska Challenges—

2

NOAA’sAlaska Challenges—

2Consequences of Climate Change

Changes in Sea Ice (extent and duration)Coastal ErosionFisheries ManagementCo-Management of Marine MammalsIncreased Shipping

Navigation HazardsNautical charting requirementsPotential increase in HAZMAT incidents

Changes in Atmospheric Temperature (warming)Permafrost degradationOverland transportationGlacial melt - flooding

Changing EcosystemsResource ManagementInvasive SpeciesHuman Health Threats

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NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—1

NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—1

Leverage Established ResourcesStructure Data Management

National versus regional versus local availability

Engage Researchers and Operational GroupsNSF, NPRB, IPY, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, etc.

Seek Data Share PartnershipsNational Snow & Ice Data CenterUSGS, ACOE, MMS, EPA, BLMState and Local Entities

Seabulk Nevada taking ground truth sea ice photos in Cook Inlet.

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NOAA Alaska Opportunities—2

NOAA Alaska Opportunities—2

Enhancement of Hydrographic SurveysCompile complete inventory of existing data and developed digitized database

NOS, NESDIS, NMFS, ACOE, USGS, MMS, etc.Coastal Inundation TeamData archived at NGDC

Prioritize inventory assessment

Update and expand current geodetic datumNGS support needed for Geoid model

Working international aspects

Enhance Sea Ice Historical DatabaseAssemble complete inventory of existing data and develop digitized database

NOAA/NESDIS/NSIDCAOOS Sea Ice Working Group

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NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—3

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 ObservationsOcean Buoys and MooringsWeather StationsHydrologic Monitoring StationsEcological Sampling NetworksArctic Residents and Other Data Sources

NAS Study recommendation: “Build from existing and planned efforts.”

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NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—4

NOAA’s Alaska Opportunities—4

NOAA Fleet Outreach and Data ShareNOS and NWS Service Enhancement SurveyExpand Cooperative Programs for Real Time DataCollection

NMAO: Miller Freeman, voluntary ship obs leader (1,519)Oscar Dyson, fisheries and oceanography vessel Rainier and Fairweather, primary hydrographic vesselsJohn Cobb

Chartered fishing vessels and Alaska ferry system