The United States in Antarctica
Report of the
U. S. Antarctic Program
External Panel
Washington, D. C.
April 1997
Questions regarding availability of this document may
be directed to the
National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230.
United States Antarctic Program External Panel
Washington, D. C.
April 1997
This document represents the final report of the United States Antarctic
Program External Panel. The report hs he unanimous approval of all 11 panel
members and drraws upon our collective experience which includes som 4 individual
trips to Antarctica involving visits to all three U. S. stations, each research
ship, support icebreakers and numerous field sites. As a panel, we visited
McMurdo Station and South Pole Station and toure support facilities at Christchurch.
We received approximately 70 briefings and conducted 80 "one-on-one"
meetings with individuals involved in virtually all aspects of the Antarctic
Program. Over 200 inputs were received in response to our request for "public
comments."
During visits to McMurdo and the Pole, the Panel conducted informal "Town
Meetings" and was the beneficayof numerous comments by members of those
communities having first-hand experience in day-to-day operations. We are
most appreciative of the candor and professionalism with which we were treated
by those with whom we came into contact, and in particular the members of
the National Science Foundation who so expertly and constructively supported
our efforts.
We believe the U. S. Antarctic Program is well managed, involves high
quality science and is important to the region as well as to the United
States. We also believe that in the current budget environment, costs must
be reduced, preferably through increased efficency and "reinvention,"
but, if not, through reduced scope. Rtnsae offered herein to help ensure
the continued viability of the program into the 21st century.
![Signatures](graphics/page3.jpg)
Contents
1.0 Executive Summary
2.0 Introduction
3.0 AntarcticaThe Environment
4.0 Antarctica Past and Present
- 4.1 Early Antarctic Activity
- 4.2 Current U.S. Antarctic Program
- 4.3 Recent History of U.S. Science in Antarctica
5.0 Antarctica - Significance Today
- 5.1 Importance of U.S. Presence in Antarctica
- 5.2 Development of U.S. Policy
- 5.3 Antarctic Research
- 5.4 Environmental Considerations
6.0 Findings
- 6.1 Geopolitical Significance
- 6.2 Scientific Activity
- 6.3 International Cooperation
- 6.4 Facilities
- 6.5 Provisions for Capital Asset Replenishment
- 6.6 Life-Extension of Existing South Pole Facilities
- 6.7 Level Funding
- 6.8 Safety and Health
- 6.9 Management Effectiveness
- 6.10 Ongoing Facility Improvements
- 6.11 Cost Visibility
- 6.12 Personnel Issues
- 6.13 Support Capacity
- 6.14 Management Structure
- 6.15 Cost Reduction Opportunities
- 6.16 Transition of Aviation Responsibilities
- 6.17 Telecommunications
- 6.18 Robotics
- 6.19 Technology Opportunities
- 6.20 Education Opportunities
- 6.21 Tourism
- 6.22 National Commitment to an Antarctic Policy
7.0 Recommendations
- 7.1 Presence
- 7.2 Safety and Health
- 7.3 Program Scope
- 7.4 International Cooperation
- 7.5 South Pole Facilities
- 7.6. Funding
- 7.7. Planning and Budgeting
- 7.8 Management
- 7.9 Program Integration
- 7.10 Transition
- 7.11 Telecommunications
- 7.12 Tourism
Appendices
- I. Biographies of Members
- II. Terms of Reference
- III. State Department Views
- IV. Summary of Recommendations
- V. Presentations and Interactions
- VI. International Agreements: Excerpts
- VII. Bibliography
Glossary
Exhibits
- Federal spending for polar research in FY96
- Cutaway view of the Antarctic ice sheet and
bedrock
- Map comparing sizes of Antarctica and the
United States
- Antarctic annual temperatures at three locations
- How Antarctic ice affects world climate
- The life cycle of the emperor penguin
- "Antarctic Meltdown" (effect of
melting ice sheet)
- South Pole/North Pole map and comparison
table
- Cruise tracks of Captain Cook and other early
explorers
- Attainment of the South Pole (Amundsen
and Scott)
- Comparison of impact of whaling and ozone
hole
- Gondwana (maps of former supercontinent)
- Map of Antarctic stations (all nations)
- Number of Antarctic Treaty nations, 1959-1997
- U. S. Antarctic Program spending history,
1955-1997
- USAP FY95 funding for support and science
by facility
- USAP FY95 science grants to research institutions
- McMurdo Station
- McMurdo Station annual population cycle, June
1994 - May 1997
- Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
- Palmer Station
- R/V Polar Duke (ice-strengthened research
ship)
- R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer (research icebreaker)
- USCGC Polar Sea (logistics icebreaker)
- Green Wave (cargo ship)
- LC-130 Hercules
- Twin Otter research/support airplane
- Contract helicopter being unloaded from C-5
- Automated geophysical observatory
- Field camp
- International cooperation (Cape Roberts project)
- Number of projects and research personnel
compared to budget
- USARP and operational support budgets, FY85-FY97
- USAP dollars per research personnel
- USAP dollars per research project
- U.S. Government Executive Branch policy
statements regarding Antarctica
- The ozone hole (stratospheric depletion
vs time)
- The ozone hole (vertical profile from South
Pole Station)
- The ozone hole (satellite image of Antarctica)
- The ozone hole (satellite image of southern
hemisphere)
- Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array
(AMANDA) at South Pole
- West Antarctic Ice Stream (WAIS) project
and Glacier educational project
- Southern ocean cross section
- Sea ice extent, summer minimum
- Sea ice extent, winter maximum
- Flux of carbon dioxide: southern ocean JGOFS
experiment
- Organisms living in Dry Valleys rock
- Cyanobacteria in saline Dry Valleys lake
- Algal bloom on under surface of sea ice
- McMurdo bulk fuel tanks
- Snow drift at South Pole (two photographs)
- Elevated structures at South Pole Station
- South Pole water well
- Jamesways at South Pole Station
- South Pole Station garage
- Nine 25,000-gallon rubber fuel bladders,
South Pole
- Existing South Pole station (1989 photograph)
- Useful life projections, existing South
Pole Station
- Utilidor (utilities tunnel) at South Pole
Station
- Enhanced Station at South Pole (artist's
conception)
- Capabilities, three South Pole Station
options
- Design parameters, three South Pole Station
options
- Optimized Station at South Pole (artist's
conception)
- Reductions from Enhanced to Optimized Station
- Costs through 2002 and 2025, four South
Pole Station options
- Assumed USAP "level" budget,
FY98-FY02
- Funding schedule, South Pole Optimized
Station, FY98-FY02
- Cost of McMurdo and Palmer improvements,
total and FY98-FY02
- USAP science grants and science support
costs, FY98-FY02
- USAP level cost five-year budget assessment
- USAP funding shortfall, FY98-FY02
- Mobile runway support facility, McMurdo
- Reverse osmosis water production at McMurdo
- Vintage heavy vehicle at McMurdo
- Communication with the South Pole
- Number of tourists visiting Antarctica
since 1980
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