September 12, 2014

World Trade Center Alaska: Arctic Ambitions Trade Mission to Northern Europe, September 4-14, 2014 (Finland-Norway-Iceland). The Trade Mission will visit Northern and Arctic Europe starting September 4th in Finland and ending September 14 in Iceland, with an intermediary stop in Norway. The itinerary includes three days in each country and features visits to Arctic communities. Familiarization with Northern Europe's economies, and in particular commercial development in the Arctic, is the main goal of this trade mission. The participants will gain useful networking opportunities and a wealth of information on these three countries. For registration and information, please contact WTCAK at (907) 278-7233.

capital Today's Congressional Action:

The House and Senate are not in session today.

Media

Obama Science Advisor to Testify on Climate Plan. White House science adviser John Holdren will testify before a House panel next week on President Obama's climate agenda. Holdren will appear before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee on Sept. 17. The Hill

The EU. The EU should be paying special attention to the Arctic, a new report concludes. Those in the North say it must pay more attention to the consequences of its current policy. Mention the EU to Arctic wonks, and the first thing that comes to mind will be the union's ban on sealskin products. Blamed by the Inuit for ruining their livelihoods and blasted by Canada and Norway for favouring EU member states, the ban, according to diplomats, remains the single reason why Brussels has not been granted permanent observer status in the Arctic Council, an inter-governmental forum, even though several individual member states have. Arctic Journal

Arctic Ground Squirrel Research. The Arctic ground squirrel exhibits the lowest body temperature measured in a mammal: -2.9°C. This supercooled state is below the freezing point of water, blood, and their own tissues, yet they don't turn to ice. They hibernate underground and yet their circadian clock maintains a rigid schedule and helps every Arctic ground squirrel emerge from hibernation within a very narrow window of time. In Frontier Scientists videos: The Perfect Yuppie Pet, In the Field, In the Lab, And the Circadian Clock, researchers seek to decode the extraordinary life of the Arctic ground squirrel. Frontier Scientists

Measuring Sea Ice. Andy Mahoney, University of Alaska Fairbanks, investigates new ways of measuring and modeling sea ice. He presents his work in Frontier Scientists videos: Sea Ice Thickness, Extreme Ice, and Ice Break Out. A helicopter towing instruments measures the distance to the top of the ice, and to the ocean's surface, gaining data that allows scientists to calculate sea ice thickness. How much multi-year ice survives in the Arctic? How is the ice pack changing, moving, and shrinking? In what ways is ice a hazard? It seems the word "extreme" characterizes some of Andy's research methods, as well as some of the changing ice conditions his research is revealing. These important measurements help track and forecast the future of Arctic sea ice. Frontier Scientists

Fish Consumption Guidelines Expand List. Expanded fish testing data and epidemiological studies have prompted the state to release new fish consumption guidelines that increase the number of fish species on the "unrestricted consumption" list. "These guidelines continue to underscore the health benefits associated with eating fish and the cultural importance of fishing," said Ali Hamade, the Environmental Public Health Program Manager. "We encourage Alaskans to use these guidelines in addition to the state's fish monitoring program resources for making healthful fish consumption choices. The guidelines recommend unrestricted consumption of many fish species from Alaska waters, particularly those most frequently consumed by Alaskans." The Tundra Drums

Appointment of Dr. Eric Saltzman as Section Head for Arctic Science in the Division of Polar Programs. [Kelly Falkner, Division Director of the Geosciences Directorate, is] pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Eric Saltzman to the position of Section Head, Arctic Sciences (ARC) in the Division of Polar Programs, Geosciences Directorate. He will begin his service at NSF on September 15, 2014. Dr. Saltzman will be joining NSF from the University of California, Irvine where he holds joint appointments as Professor in the Departments of Earth System Science and Chemistry. Arctic Research Consortium of the United States

Arctic Parliamentarians Wrap Up Meeting in Whitehorse. Parliamentary delegates from eight Arctic countries have spent this week in Whitehorse talking, listening and examining the challenges across the North, something they say doesn't always top the agenda in their capitals. "All the time I've been there, we've never had a debate on Arctic issues in Parliament," said N.W.T. MP Dennis Bevington. "But here we do discuss Arctic issues among other parliamentarians." CBC News

New Mission for the Global Hawk: NOAA is testing data collected by unmanned aircraft to improve weather forecast operations. For the last five years, NOAA has teamed up with NASA to fly NASA's Global Hawk unmanned aircraft to get an inside look at how hurricanes form and intensify over the Atlantic. In the next three years, NOAA will take the next step with the Global Hawk, leading a new experiment and continuing its important collaboration with NASA. Drawing on technology and expertise honed in the current mission, NOAA will assess the feasibility of regular operations of Global Hawk to improve day-to-day forecasts of severe storms forming over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. NOAA

Legislative Action

No Arctic legislation was formally considered yesterday.

Future Events

AOOS Film Contest, Submission Deadline September 15, 2014.

In celebration of its 10th Anniversary, Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) is seeking short films highlighting Alaska's coast or oceans. AOOS welcomes films of any genre relating to the ocean (i.e. people using the ocean and coast, marine research, marine wildlife, ocean-related policy issues, etc). You don't need to be a professional to submit a film!

102nd US Arctic Research Commission Meeting, September 15-16, 2014 (Anchorage, Alaska, USA). The 102nd USARC meeting will be held in Anchorage. Draft agenda available here.

Ocean Obs and Ecological Forecasting Webinar, September 16, 2014 (Webinar). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is developing an Ecological Forecasting Roadmap and program manager Allison Allen will be in Anchorage on Tuesday Sept. 16 to hear from key researchers and stakeholders about existing efforts and needs across Alaska. Please join us in person or remotely (log-in info below) to hear the latest state of the science on Harmful Algal Blooms, pathogens and other environmental change. Discussion will focus on identifying priorities for developing operational tools in Alaska, scenario modeling, early warning systems and forecasts of marine events. We invite you to join us for lunch following the formal presentation for an opportunity to continue the conversation informally with Allison. This webinar is organized by the Alaska Ocean Observing System. Please RSVP to tyler@aoos.org by Sept 10.

The Administration's Climate Plan: Failure by Design, September 17, 2014 (Washington, D.C.). The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on the Administration's plan on climate change. Dr. John Holdren, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Janet McCabe, acting assistant administer of the Office of Air and Radiation of the US Environmental Protection Agency, are expected to testify.

2014 Week of the Arctic, October 6-11, 2014 (Nome, Kotzebue and Barrow, Alaska, USA). The Institute of the North will host the 2014 Week of the Arctic. The 2014 Week of the Arctic is a platform for community leaders, subject matter experts and interested stakeholders to learn about the Arctic while contributing to a growing list of priorities and perspectives. Presentations, roundtable discussions and workshops will be held in Nome, Kotzebue and Barrow. Throughout the week, presentations and interviews will be captured on video for distribution through social media and web-based sharing.

2014 FAMOS School and Workshop #3, October 21-24, 2014 (Woods Hole, MA). The Forum for Arctic Ocean Modeling and Observational Synthesis (FAMOS) is an international effort to focus on enhancing collaboration and coordination among Arctic marine and sea ice modelers, theoreticians and observationalists synthesize major results from the field studies and coordinated numerical experiments. The major themes of workshop include but not limited by studies focused on: predictions; Arctic observational and modeling initiatives; fate of sea ice in models and observations; atmospheric, sea ice and ocean dynamics; process studies and parameterizations; model validation and calibration; numerical improvements and algorithms; ecosystems, biological issues, and geochemistry.

Transatlantic Science Week 2014, October 27-28, 2014 (Toronto, Canada). The purpose of the annual Transatlantic Science Week (TSW) is to promote enhanced cooperation between Canadian, American and Norwegian stakeholders in research, innovation and higher education. TSW is an arena where different stakeholders can meet with the purpose of developing long-term collaborations or partnerships. The conference also hopes to strengthen the linkages that currently exist between the research and education domains. Finally, TSW also provides an excellent arena for dialogue between the research communities and policymakers.

Arctic Circle, October 31-November 2, 2014 (Reykjavik, Iceland).

The Arctic Circle is nonprofit and nonpartisan. Organizations, forums, think tanks, corporations and public associations around the world are invited to hold meetings within the Arctic Circle platform to advance their own missions and the broader goal of increasing collaborative decision-making without surrendering their institutional independence. The Arctic Circle will organize sessions on a variety of issues, such as: Sea ice melt and extreme weather; Polar law: treaties and agreements; The role and rights of indigenous peoples; Security in the Arctic; Shipping and transportation infrastructure; The prospects and risks of oil and gas drilling; Clean energy achievements and sustainable development; Arctic resources; Business cooperation in the Arctic; The role of Asian and European countries in the Arctic; Greenland in the new Arctic; Fisheries and ecosystem management; The science of ice: global research cooperation; Arctic tourism; The ice-dependent world: the Arctic and the Himalayas.

US- Canada Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum, November 4-6, 2014 (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada). Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the Canadian Polar Commission in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior, are hosting the fourth Canada - United States Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum. The Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum is a biennial meeting with representation from government, industry, academia, Aboriginal groups and Northerners from both Canada and the United States. The Forum provides an opportunity to discuss current and future priorities for northern oil and gas research. The Forum will showcase the value of northern research in support of sound decision-making for oil and gas management.

Alaska Policy Commission. November 17-18, 2014 (Anchorage, Alaska). The Alaska Arctic Policy Commission (AAPC) has more important work to do in 2014. The Commission will strive to gather public input and engage with Alaskan communities, state agencies, federal partners, and the international organizations working in the Arctic. In order to meet our goals AAPC will convene three in-person meetings over the course of 2014 and focus on implementation and final recommendations.

The Arctic Biodiversity Congress, December 2-4, 2014 (Trondheim, Norway). The Arctic Biodiversity Congress will present and discuss the main scientific findings of the ABA; facilitate inter-disciplinary discussion, action and status updates on the policy recommendations in the ABA; provide scientific, policy, management, NGO, academia, Indigenous peoples and industry audiences the opportunity to collaborate around the themes of the ABA; advise CAFF on national and international implementation of the ABA recommendations and on the development of an ABA Implementation Plan for the Arctic Council; highlight the work of CAFF and the Arctic Council on circumpolar biodiversity conservation and sustainable development; and, contribute to mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystem services, ensuring that the recommendations of the ABA are implemented by not just governments, but many organizations and people across disciplines.

Arctic Change 2014, December 8-12, 2014 (Ottawa, Canada). The international Arctic Change 2014 conference aims to stimulate discussion and foster collaborations among people with a vested interest in the Arctic and its peoples. Coinciding with the pinnacle of Canada's chairmanship of the Arctic Council and marking ArcticNet's 10th anniversary, Arctic Change 2014 welcomes researchers, students, Northerners, policy makers, and stakeholders from all fields of Arctic research and all countries to address the numerous environmental, social, economical and political challenges and opportunities that are emerging from climate change and modernization in the Arctic. With over 1000 participants expected to attend, Arctic Change 2014 will be one of the largest trans-sectoral international Arctic research conferences ever held in Canada.

Arctic Frontiers: Climate and Energy, January 18-23, 2015. The earth is in the midst of major climate changes. The Arctic is experiencing the impact of these changes more and faster than other parts of the globe. Processes starting in the Arctic may have deep and profound impacts on other parts of the globe. At the same time the Earth's population is rising and with it the global energy demand. New and greener energy sources are gaining market shares, but still the energy mix of the foreseeable future will have a substantial fossil component. The Arctic is expected to hold major oil and gas resources, while the regions green energy potentials are less explored. The Arctic Frontiers conference is a central arena for discussions of Arctic issues. The conference brings together representatives from science, politics, and civil society to share perspectives on how upcoming challenges in the Arctic may be addressed to ensure sustainable development. Arctic Frontiers is composed of a policy section and a scientific section.

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