A Strategic Vision for NSF Investments in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research (2015)
Chapter: Front Matter
A Strategic Vision for NSF Investments in
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research
Committee on the Development of a Strategic Vision for the
U.S. Antarctic Program
Polar Research Board
Division on Earth and Life Studies
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS • 500 Fifth Street, NW • Washington, DC 20001
This study was supported by the National Science Foundation under award number PLR-1353826. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agencies or any of their subagencies.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-37367-8
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-37367-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015951217
DOI: 10.17226/21741
Additional copies of this report are available for sale from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu/.
Image credits (front cover):
Left: Paul Cziko, University of Oregon, and Chi-Hing Christina Cheng, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; iStock
Center: Jim Yungel, NASA; Robin Bell, Columbia University
Right: Keith Vanderlinde, National Science Foundation; NASA/WMAP Science Team
Background: Filipa Carvalho
Image credits (back cover):
Left: Deneb Karentz, University of San Francisco
Center: Elaine Hood, National Science Foundation
Right: Vasilii Petrenko, National Science Foundation
Copyright 2015 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. A Strategic Vision for NSF Investments in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
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COMMITTEE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE U.S. ANTARCTIC PROGRAM
ROBIN E. BELL (Co-Chair), Columbia University, Palisades, NY
ROBERT A. WELLER (Co-Chair), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
DAVID H. BROMWICH, Ohio State University, Columbus
JOHN E. CARLSTROM, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
CHI-HING CHRISTINA CHENG, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CALVIN ROBERT CLAUER, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Hampton
CRAIG E. DORMAN, U.S. Navy (ret.), Fairbanks, AK
ROBERT B. DUNBAR, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
DAVID R. MARCHANT, Boston University, Boston, MA
MARK A. PARSONS, Research Data Alliance, Rensselaer Institute for Data Exploration and Applications, Troy, NY
JEAN PENNYCOOK, Penguin Science, Fresno, CA
A. R. RAVISHANKARA, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
TED A. SCAMBOS, University of Colorado, Boulder
WILLIAM H. SCHLESINGER, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
OSCAR M. E. SCHOFIELD, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
JEFFREY P. SEVERINGHAUS, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA
CRISTINA TAKACS-VESBACH, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Staff
LAURIE GELLER, Senior Program Officer
LAUREN EVERETT, Associate Program Officer
SHELLY FREELAND, Senior Program Assistant
ROB GREENWAY, Program Associate
POLAR RESEARCH BOARD
JULIE BRIGHAM-GRETTE (Chair), University of Massachusetts, Amherst
WALEED ABDALATI, University of Colorado, Boulder
SRIDHAR ANANDAKRISHNAN, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
KATEY WALTER ANTHONY, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
BETSY BAKER, Vermont Law School, South Royalton
JOHN CASSANO, University of Colorado, Boulder
SARA B. DAS, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
JENNIFER A. FRANCIS, Rutgers University, Marion, MA
EILEEN E. HOFMANN, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
BRENDAN KELLY, Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH), Monterey CA
JOHN KOVAC, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
NANCY G. MAYNARD, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
ELLEN S. MOSLEY-THOMPSON, Ohio State University, Columbus (until July 2015)
GEORGE B. NEWTON, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Marstons Mills, MA
RAFE POMERANCE, Independent Consultant, Washington, DC
CARYN REA, ConocoPhillips, Anchorage, AK (until July 2015)
GAIUS (GUS) R. SHAVER, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
Ex-Officio:
LARRY D. HINZMAN, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
DENEB KARENTZ, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
TERRY WILSON, Ohio State University, Columbus
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Staff
AMANDA STAUDT, Board Director
LAURIE GELLER, Program Director
LAUREN EVERETT, Associate Program Officer
AMANDA PURCELL, Research and Financial Associate
RITA GASKINS, Administrative Coordinator
ROB GREENWAY, Program Associate
SHELLY FREELAND, Administrative and Financial Assistant
Acknowledgments
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in their review of this report:
Stephen Ackley, University of Texas at San Antonio
Richard Alley, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Sridhar Anandakrishnan, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Steven Boggs, University of California, Berkeley
John Cassano, University of Colorado, Boulder
Rob DeConto, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Hugh Ducklow, Columbia University, Palisades, New York
Michael Gooseff, University of Colorado, Boulder
Albrecht Karle, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ramon Lopez, University of Texas at Arlington
Alison Murray, Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada
Joseph Silk, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
David Spergel, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Eric Steig, University of Washington, Seattle
Achim Stössel, Texas A&M University, College Station
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by W. Berry Lyons (Ohio State University) and David Karl (University of Hawaii), appointed by the Division on Earth and Life Studies and the Report Review Committee, who were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered.
The Committee extends a special thanks to Allan T. Weatherwax, Merrimack College, and Roberta L. Marinelli, University of Southern California Los Angeles, who both provided valuable input as ex-officio liaisons to the committee during the course of the study.
Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.
Contents
Why We Do Research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
Overview of the U.S. Antarctic Program and Motivation for Strategic Planning
Origin and Goals of This Study
2 Opportunities and Challenges of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research
Overview of the Breadth of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science
Intra- and Interagency Context for NSF’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research
International Collaboration in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research
Strategic Framework for NSF Investments in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research
3 Suggested Research Priorities for the Coming Decade
Maintain a Core Program of Investigator-Driven Research Across a Broad Base of Topics
Support a Few Strategically Chosen Large Research Initiatives
4 Foundations for a Robust Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research Program
Critical Infrastructure and Logistical Support
Coordination and Collaboration Opportunities
A Committee Member Biosketches
C Overview of Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean (NRC, 2011a)
E Schedule of Outreach Sessions Held to Gather Community Input for This Study
