26 March 2025 | 08:30 - 10:00 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: UMC Second Floor - 247
Organisers: Hanne Sagen (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center); Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller (Institute of Oceanology PAS); Sascha Schiøtt (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources)
Session Description:
Today there is severe lack of in situ observations of the oceans in the Arctic and Antarctic, and thereby we have limited knowledge about the physical, biogeochemical, and ecological processes and trends. In situ observations are needed for improving ocean-sea ice models and analysis used in ocean climate, monitoring and forecasting services. These services will be increasingly important as ship traffic, tourism and other marine/maritime industries develop in polar regions.
A large amount of observations is collected by scientists and engineers during field campaigns with ice-going vessels and aircraft using a wide range of instruments. During such experiments, instruments are operated under human supervision, which reduces the risk of failure and potential loss of data. To sustain a long-term and year-round observational infrastructure in the Arctic, robust observational platforms equipped with autonomous sensors are required to collect high-quality data at the sea floor, in the ocean column, sea ice, and atmosphere.
The session will invite presentations on operation and integration of observing systems in polar regions, focusing on ice-based observatories with subsurface instruments, floats drifting under the ice, bottom-anchored ocean moorings, seafloor observatories, AUVs, ROVs and cabled-based systems. The session will explore the use of in situ observations in new research related to sea ice, physical oceanography, marine ecosystems, and geohazards and using innovative digital methods for integrative analysis. Synergies between subsea industry and research communities to improve the observing systems will be discussed and plans for IPY 2033-34 will be outlined. The session will address environmental impact and ethical aspects of research in the Arctic.