COMNAP Sea Ice Challenges Workshop Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs 12–13 May 2015
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COMNAP Sea Ice Challenges Workshop Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs 12–13 May 2015 WORKSHOP REPORT COMNAP Sea Ice Challenges Workshop 1 Photo: Volker Siegel Front and back cover photo: Jan L Lieser Workshop Challenges Sea Ice COMNAP COMNAP Sea Ice Challenges Workshop Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 12–13 May 2015 Workshop Report The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) COMNAP Secretariat Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, New Zealand www.comnap.aq © COMNAP and contributors 2015 COMNAP does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services nor does it grade or rank specific research programmes. Therefore, mention or photo of any of these in this publication, in discussions and outcomes cannot be construed as an endorsement or recommendation from COMNAP nor any of the COMNAP Member national Antarctic programs. The designations employed, including any geographic names, and the presentations in this material does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of COMNAP concerning the legal status of any country, territory or authority. ISBN 978-0-473-34368-2 Jan L Lieser Photo: 6 12–13 May 2015 COMNAP Sea Ice Challenges Workshop 7 Background to the Workshop Sea ice conditions are one of the many together in addressing a multi-faceted challenges for vessels operating in the issue of critical importance to everyone who Antarctic marine area. In recent years, operates in the area. Workshop presenters in some parts of the Antarctic, sea ice were invited from the science community and conditions have been such that those there was an open call for presentations from conditions have affected science, science COMNAP Members organisations. support and logistics operations in the The overall aim of the Sea Ice Challenges Table of Contents regions. Some parts of the Antarctic are Workshop was to discuss the latest scientific experiencing expanding sea ice extent Background to the Workshop ...............................................................9 advice on the causes and likely future trends while other areas are seeing multi-year sea in sea ice expansion, to scope the challenges Workshop discussion ...........................................................................10 ice remain in areas where, previously, that was not the norm. The nature of changing sea ice will pose for national Antarctic Session 1: Recent National Antarctic Program Experiences sea ice conditions creates problems with programs and other operators, and to identify with Changing Sea Ice .....................................................................10 resupply of both coastal and inland Antarctic and discuss potential solutions. research stations and also poses threats to The specific aims of the workshop were to: Session 2: Sea Ice Trends ..............................................................11 human safety and has the potential to create emergency situations quickly. • Understand the causes of the expansion Session 4: Operational Implications .............................................12 in sea ice in the waters around Session 5: Sea Ice Navigation: Operational Requirements Given the challenging nature of recent sea Antarctica; ice conditions in many parts of the Antarctic and Technologies ..............................................................................12 region, COMNAP agreed at its Annual • Scope the challenges sea ice expansion Session 6: Alternative Solutions ....................................................14 General Meeting (AGM) 2014 to convene pose for sustaining Antarctic stations the Sea Ice Challenges Workshop in Hobart, that depend on over water refuelling and Further Work ...........................................................................................15 Tasmania, Australia, on 12 and 13 May 2015. resupply; and Appendices .............................................................................................16 On behalf of COMNAP, the workshop • Identify and explore potential solutions. convenor was Dr. Rob Wooding, Australian Appendix 1: Sea Ice Challenges Workshop Programme ....16 Twenty-five speakers from nine different Antarctic Division (AAD) General Manager countries presented. In addition, there Appendix 2: Abstracts..................................................................19 Support & Operations and COMNAP Vice was one poster presentation and two Chair. The workshop was co-hosted by the presentations that were sent by way of Appendix 3: Workshop Participants ........................................ 67 AAD with thanks to its Director, Dr. Tony information papers to the workshop. Fleming, and by the Antarctic Climate and Appendix 4: Links to Further Information ................................ 70 Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre The following sessions were part of the Appendix 5: Acknowledgements ...............................................71 (ACE CRC) with thanks to its Chief Executive, workshop programme (Appendix 1): Professor Tony Worby. Dr. Yves Frenot, Session 1: Recent National Antarctic Director of Institute Paul Emile Victor (IPEV) Program Experiences with Changing Sea Ice and COMNAP Vice Chair, provided oversight Session 2: Sea Ice Trends of the workshop. The Chair of COMNAP, Session 3: Sea Ice Technology (poster Professor Kazuyuki Shiraishi, Director- session) General of the National Institute for Polar Session 4: Operational Implications Research (NIPR), presented the welcome and Session 5: Sea Ice Navigation: Operational opening address at the workshop. Requirements and Technologies Session 6: Alternative Solutions (Including The workshop brought together scientists, Icebreakers) Antarctic program managers, sea ice forecasters, ice navigators and shipping This report presents the key outcomes of the experts from around the world to work workshop. Jan L Lieser Photo: 8 12–13 May 2015 COMNAP Sea Ice Challenges Workshop 9 Workshop discussion SESSION 1: RECENT NATIONAL When we envision sea ice, many of us picture requirements on stations (of a behavioural strengthen and push cooler water and sea ANTARCTIC PROGRAM solid, flat, continuous platforms which form and technical nature) and the introduction of ice further north. This results in growth of EXPERIENCES WITH CHANGING and extend for kilometres out from the increased station self-sufficiencies (such as sea ice extent. Localised changes in wind SEA ICE Antarctic coast. But while sea ice extent is introduction of hydroponics) can have other patterns also affect the distribution of sea ice certainly a challenge, there are four major benefits in the long-term. and partially explain the increase in sea ice Session Chair: Rob Wooding factors making operating conditions difficult: extent off the Ross Sea and decrease west Session Presenters: Yves Frenot, Takeshi the extent of ice cover, icebergs (that may of the Antarctic Peninsula. Another factor Tamura, Robb Clifton, Lei Ruibo have sea ice built up around them), rafted and SESSION 2: SEA ICE TRENDS affecting surface winds is the depletion of ridged ice, and multi-year fast ice-especially ozone in the stratosphere, which cools the National Antarctic programs have operated Session Chair: Tony Worby vessels in the Antarctic marine area for more in areas where such ice has not usually stratosphere and leads to stronger gradients accumulated in the past. These obstacles Session Presenters: Rob Masson, in temperature to the surface – propagating than 50 years. Vessel operators are first-hand Marilyn Raphael, Sharon Stammerjohn, witnesses to changing sea ice conditions, impact shipping schedules which creates its a signal of strengthening westerly winds at own set of challenges given the relatively Will Hobbs, Xavier Crosta, Mark Curran, Petra the surface during summer. Sea ice models patterns and trends. Changes are regional, Heil, Phil Reid and there is no one overarching statement short Antarctic summer season. are not currently capturing many of these processes very well and are therefore not in regards to sea ice that would fit a “whole All this means that national Antarctic National Antarctic programs are interested particularly good tools for predicting future of Antarctic” situation. But, certainly for programs can no longer rely on what they in knowing if the changes they have been trends. most areas beyond the Peninsula and West thought they knew. They now have to observing in sea ice condition will continue Antarctic regions, sea ice conditions have develop contingency plans, especially for for a period of time, or whether sea ice While first-hand experience confirms sea proved challenging for the past several years. delivery of fuel supplies. Such contingencies challenges are on the decline, thus they ice challenges are increasing in parts of are interested in understanding trends. Such challenging conditions have meant that often cost more money and fuel to implement Antarctica, the climate models are showing no than is usual, an example being the need to Keeping an eye on Antarctic sea ice year- detectable trends, or a reduction in mean sea national Antarctic programs have had to: by-year, one might be correct in thinking implement alternative solutions for resupply burn aviation fuel in order to deliver the diesel ice extent. There are strong feedback actions fuel which would normally be delivered by sea ice extent appears to be very similar occurring with differing coastal icescapes of their Antarctic