Date

Science Plan Released
U.S. Navy Submarine Arctic Science Program (SCICEX)

To view the SCICEX Science Plan, Part 1, Technical Guidance for Planning
Science Accommodation Missions, go to:
http://www.arctic.gov/publications/scicex_plan.pdf

Or contact:
Jackie Richter-Menge (Chair, SCICEX Science Advisory Committee)
Email: Jacqueline.A.Richter-Menge [at] usace.army.mil

John Farrell (Executive Director, U.S. Arctic Research Commission)
Email: jfarrell [at] arctic.gov


A new science plan for the U.S. Navy Submarine Arctic Science Program,
better known as SCICEX, has just been released. It is available on the
web site of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC) at:
http://www.arctic.gov/publications/scicex_plan.pdf.

The SCICEX program takes advantage of the unique observing and
data-collection capabilities of the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered
submarines in the Arctic Ocean. The plan, titled "Part 1: Technical
Guidance for Planning Science Accommodations Missions," addresses
opportunities for the collection of scientific data during planned
operational missions. It provides the U.S. Navy with a detailed and
prioritized list of sampling recommendations to measure sea ice
thickness (i.e., draft profiling), ocean hydrography and bathymetry
(i.e., water depth), and to measure and sample ocean biology and
chemistry. The ultimate goal of collecting this information is to
increase the scientific knowledge and understanding of the Arctic Ocean
region.

Part 2 of the plan, currently under development, will outline the
management of SCICEX data and scientific community access.

The plan was prepared by the SCICEX Interagency and Science Advisory
Committees. The Scientific Advisory Committee will periodically review
the plan, and will update it based on advances in knowledge and
technology. The plan was approved and endorsed by the SCICEX Interagency
Committee, which is chaired by the Office of Naval Research, and
includes representatives from the Navy's Arctic Submarine Laboratory,
and the Chief of Naval Operations, as well as the National Science
Foundation, and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.

A limited number of paper copies of the science plan are available upon
request from the USARC office, via: info [at] arctic.gov.

To view the SCICEX Science Plan, Part 1, Technical Guidance for Planning
Science Accommodation Missions, go to:
http://www.arctic.gov/publications/scicex_plan.pdf.

Or contact:
Jackie Richter-Menge (Chair, SCICEX Science Advisory Committee)
Email: Jacqueline.A.Richter-Menge [at] usace.army.mil

John Farrell (Executive Director, U.S. Arctic Research Commission)
Email: jfarrell [at] arctic.gov