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US-NZ Partnership in Antarctica

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US-NZ Partnership in Antarctica US-NZ Partnership in Antarctica New Zealand Embassy 10 Apr 2015 Mr. Peter Beggs Dr. Kelly Kenison Falkner Chief Executive Director, Polar Programs & USAP Antarctica New Zealand National Science Foundation Mt. Victoria Wellington, NZ Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr. Antarctic Treaty System US & NZ are among 12 original signatories of Treaty • Treaty signed 1959, entered into force 1961, reaffirmed for 50 more years 2011 United Kingdom • All territorial claims held in Norway abeyance Argentina • Reserved for peaceful uses • Commitment to Chile environmental protection and Australia scientific research • 50 Member Nations; 29 are consultative parties with an France “Active Science Program” New • Consensus based Treaty Zealand measures implemented through domestic law Antarctica New Zealand The New Zealand Antarctic Institute Act: To develop, maintain and execute New Zealand activities in Antarctica, in particular the Ross Dependency To enhance the quality of New Zealand scientific research To cooperate with other (Antarctic) organisations within and outside New Zealand • Permanent presence at Scott Base • Logistics support • National Antarctic Program co- operation • Science coordination • Environmental management • Support to Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Antarctic Treaty matters • Outreach and education Scope of USAP Logistics System Christchurch – Antarctica Historic Context The sea port of Christchurch, Lyttelton was the final stop over for early Antarctic Expeditions The British National Antarctic Expedition ship, the Discovery, in 1901. Led by Robert Falcon Scott Building on foundational science Scott’s early expeditions did pioneering science – modern science builds on these observations Why did we choose Ross Island? Sustainable Support Polar Environment, Safety and Health ANDRILL (ANtarctic Geological DRILLing) Large multi-national (NZ, US, Germany and Italy) program looking at past Antarctic climates Important for understanding how change may impact the world in the future Key finding – the Ross Ice Shelf has retreated and advanced again about 40 times in the last 1.8 million years Life beneath the ice sheets! Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling Subglacial aquatic environments include the largest wetland on the planet as well as lakes and rivers WISSARD drilling targets Dry Valleys Research • First Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) to be established – proposed jointly by New Zealand and US • Close collaboration in numerous science programs • Results show rapidly Dry Valley ecosystems adapt to new conditions • Now working together to understand the impact of climate change on the terrestrial biota in the Dry Valleys Frontier Science South Pole Astrophysics Defining Our Universe James Yang, IceCube Collaboration • Discovery of B-mode polarization (10-m telescope) • High energy extragalactic neutrinos Physics • B-mode polarization evidence of World top discovery of 2013 (IceCube) gravitational waves predicted by • Smithsonian Innovation Award for detectors inflation (BICEP2) 2014 (IceCube) MacroFauna • NZ and US scientists collaborate on Adélie penguin population dynamics on Ross Island • The work covers a continuous 30-year record or penguin numbers and colony health for Ross Island colonies • Largest natural science experiment monitored by both programmes – “B15 iceberg” in 2000 cutting off McMurdo Sound Advances in Climate SSciencecience Centennial-scale changes in the global carbon cycle during the last deglaciation; Nature, 514, 616-619 (30 October 2014) WWhathat has polar science done for you lately? Major USAP Policy Milestones • 1960 Executive Branch USAP Responsibilities established post IGY (OMB A-51) • 1970 USAP Management from DoD to NSF; “Active & Influential Presence” affirmed (NSDM-71) • 1976 “Active & Influential Presence” and NSF Management reaffirmed (NSDM-318) • 1982 “Active & Influential Presence” and NSF Management reaffirmed • (White House Memorandum 6646) • 1993 Navy announces intention to withdraw • 1994 Statement of U.S. policy objectives (NSC-26) • 1996 NSTC Review affirms need for three stations • 1997 USAP External Panel: Modernize South Pole Station • 1999 US Air Force assumes role of DoD Executive Agent • 2008 South Pole Station modernization complete White House Memorandum 6646 • NSF Shall: • budget for and manage the entire United States National Program in Antarctica… • draw upon logistic support capabilities of government agencies on a cost reimbursable basis… • use commercial support and management facilities where these are determined to be cost-effective… • provide U. S. presence in Antarctica, including; year-round occupation of South Pole and two coastal stations full logistics support to over 650 scientists in Antarctica The White House (1982) Increasing International Engagement “Science Awards” refers to grants, fellowships, fixed-price awards, and cooperative agreements promoting research. .
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