Polar Fieldwork Opportunities Working with the British Antarctic Survey

PolarPolar FieldworkFieldwork Opportunities Opportunities Working with the British Antarctic Survey

Prof. DominicDavid G VaughanA Hodgson BAS Director of Science

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar Fieldwork Opportunities Working with the British Antarctic Survey

• Introduction to research in the polar regions • Introduction to British Antarctic Survey • Polar science - my experience • Supporting UK polar science • Opportunities for NERC grant funded polar science • Summary • Questions

www.antarctica.ac.uk Research in the polar regions - Antarctica

• UK Government invests in polar research and infrastructure • Critical for informing UK Government policy objectives for climate change, energy security, global food security, innovation and economic growth • BAS is the UK national Antarctic operator, funded by NERC to support UK polar science community

www.antarctica.ac.uk About British Antarctic Survey

• NERC-owned Research Centre • Delivering research at both poles • Manages UK polar infrastructure • Provides operational support to UK polar science community • BAS core- and grant-funding from NERC is supplemented by EU and other grants • Active programme of national and international science collaborations

www.antarctica.ac.uk BAS Science Polar Science for Planet Earth

Six interdisciplinary science themes • Climate • Chemistry and past climate • Ecosystems • Environmental change and evolution • Ice sheets • Polar Oceans

www.antarctica.ac.uk Collaborative science programmes

NERC and EU-funded programmes • NERC iSTAR programme • NERC Arctic Research Programme • EU-funded programmes (eg ice2sea, ICE- ARC) • International use of UK facilities • >30 collaborations with HEIs

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar science – my experience

Improving estimates of ice loss from Antarctica using records of relative sea level change

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar science – my experience

Past ice sheet thickness and extent

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar science – my experience

www.antarctica.ac.uk Supporting UK polar science

• 5 Antarctic research stations • 1 Arctic research station • Deep-field facilities • 2 polar ships • 5 polar aircraft • Expert polar support teams • Integrated programme planning

www.antarctica.ac.uk UK science facilities Antarctica

• Rothera • Halley • Signy – summer only • Bird Island – South Georgia • King Edward Point - Govt of South Georgia • Ships - research cruises • Airborne campaigns • Field season - October to April

www.antarctica.ac.uk Rothera Research Station, Antarctic Peninsula

• Science operates all year • 100 people in summer • 20 people in winter • Versatile science labs • Boating and diving programme • Support for deep field research • Aircraft operations hub • Ship wharf

www.antarctica.ac.uk Halley Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf

• Science operates all year • 52 people in summer • 13 people in winter • UK’s most southerly station • Clean air; space weather, atmospheric and climate studies • International collaboration with NASA • Deep field support

www.antarctica.ac.uk Signy – South Orkney Islands

• Summer only science • Supports 8 people on station • Biological research labs • Long term ecosystem studies inform international conservation policy

www.antarctica.ac.uk Bird Island – South Georgia

• Science operates year-round • Up to 12 people in summer • 4 people in winter • Long-term conservation biology programme shapes UK govt and international policy • Ecosystem and population dynamics – birds and seals

www.antarctica.ac.uk King Edward Point – South Georgia

• Science operates all year • Up to 12 people • Commissioned research for Govt of South Georgia • Long-term conservation biology programme shapes UK govt and international policy for sustainable fishing

www.antarctica.ac.uk UK science facilities - The Arctic

• NERC Ny Ålesund station • Arctic fieldwork campaigns • Ship research cruises • Airborne campaigns

www.antarctica.ac.uk Arctic – Ny Ålesund Station

• Up to 150 people in Summer • Leased by NERC operated by BAS • Multi-national station • Highly collaborative environment • Ideal for PhD students to gain polar skills

www.antarctica.ac.uk Large-scale Arctic field campaigns

Image: Dan Satterfield • Photos of NEEM?

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar science platforms - aircraft

Twin Otter aircraft configured to carry instrumentation including • High-resolution cameras • Sea-ice/surface mapping • Magnetometer • Cloud and aerosol measurements • Comprehensive meteorological instrumentation

DASH 7 with long-range fuel tanks – ideal for 4300 km surveys

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar science platforms - ships

NOC Autosub 2

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar fieldwork support

• Field party deployment to Antarctic Peninsula and deeper into the continent • Field party deployment to Arctic locations • Typical field parties range from 2 to10 people for between 1 and 10+ weeks • Single location fieldwork or over ice-travel by skidoo • Pre-deployment and on-location safety training are essential • Field assistants to ensure safety of science teams

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar fieldwork – ice traverse

• Tractor train to support large deep- field campaigns • NERC iSTAR programme • Capacity - 40 tonnes science equipment • 6-weeks, 1500 km over ice • Available to community when iSTAR ends

www.antarctica.ac.uk UK-based expertise

• Innovative engineering development and support • Novel data platforms built and deployed in polar regions • Build and test facilities in Cambridge • Maintenance of deep-field instruments

www.antarctica.ac.uk Get involved! NERC grants and field support for polar science

• Apply for NERC standard, large-scale grants and fellowships • As a member of a NERC thematic /research programmes • Form partnerships and collaborations with BAS science teams • Collaborative Gearing Scheme • Apply for EU or other grants

www.antarctica.ac.uk Get involved! NERC grants and field support for polar science

Application process • Check your eligibility to meet NERC or BAS requirements • Submit a preliminary request for polar logistics at least 3 months before grant deadline • Submit a funding proposal via Je-S • Talk to us about your requirements for Antarctic and Arctic logistics support • Work with us to plan your Antarctic and Arctic fieldwork if you are already in receipt of funding

www.antarctica.ac.uk/apfp

www.antarctica.ac.uk Summary

• Working in the polar regions advances scientific knowledge and understanding that is relevant to government and society • Polar research is rewarding and exciting • There are many different scientific opportunities available • Advance planning is essential to take your ideas to reality • BAS science and support teams are keen to help you • All the information you need is on the website

www.antarctica.ac.uk/apfp

www.antarctica.ac.uk Questions? www.antarctica.ac.uk/apfp

www.antarctica.ac.uk Polar science platforms - ships

New UK Polar Research Ship - from 2019