07 février 2017

The challenges of BBOS: a Canadian perspective

BBOS is a stepping stone to AOOS, the Arctic Ocean Observatory System:

The challenges of BBOS

We need to plan now for something much bigger than BBOS

From a Canadian perspective: two main challenges:

1) Funding the research programs of BBOS and then AOOS

2) The logistics to deploy the BBOS and then AOOS infrastructure

The challenges of BBOS

1) Funding the research programs of BBOS and then AOOS

•  An NSERC strategic network likely would not be sufficient and trans-sectoral enough for the magnitude and complexity of BBOS and a fortiori AOOS

•  BBOS is the kind of large, international program requiring big logistics successfully supported by ArcticNet in the past. BBOS is very large and brings the additional engineering aspect that ArcticNet lacked (but that OTN, ONC, Sentinel North, CMO, MEOPAR, and other recent initiatives have)

•  The Canadian participation in AOOS would require an NCE on steroids

The challenges of BBOS

2) The logistics to deploy the BBOS and then AOOS infrastructure

0 20 40 60 80

100 120 140 160 180

2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Funded CFI Shortfall

FUNDED VS REQUESTED SHIP TIME

Days

at S

ea

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Funded Shortfall

User Program May June July August September October

DFO-AZOMP     15   6                                      

BaySys         1         13                            

ArcticNet                   13                     6      

Health Survey                         5             26        

NRCan                                   10            

User Program May June July August September October

DFO-AZOMP                                                

BaySys (SN)       31           13                            

ArcticNet                   13       17             6      

Health Survey                           17               12    

NRCan                                                

Total requested ship time in 2017: 202 days at sea

Total allotted ship time: 133 days at sea

Target for 2017-2022: 11 major projects Program/project Year Days Amundsen Total value

1 BaySys - Hudson Bay System 2017-2022 34 1,888,360 9,140,0002 Qanuilirpitaa? (How are we now?) 2017 2017-2022 57 3,165,780 9,282,0503 Churchill Marine Observatory (CMO) 2017-2022 8 444,320 49,800,0004 Sentinel North - Core program 2017-2024 54 3,000,000 160,000,0005 Sentinel North - Winter Schools 2017-2024 22 1,200,000 2,200,0006 ARICE (Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium) 2018-2022 16 925,000 2,000,0007 Greenland Circumnavigation 2018-2022 66 3,592,380 7,500,0008 BREA-II (Beaufort Region Environmental Assessment) 2018-2022 20 1,084,000 19,000,0009 NE Greenland Shelf 2018-2022 42 2,305,842 4,832,000

10 BBOS Baffin Bay Observing System (+INTAROS) 2021-2026 104 5,636,800 125,000,00011 Baffin Bay Overwintering 2021-2026 200 10,886,000 24,000,000

Mobilization/demobilization 2017-2022 112 600,000Total 735 34,728,482 412,754,050

The Canada-built polar class icebreaker actually needed for BBOS and AOOS will be available by 2030 only In the meantime, Canada urgently needs a second research icebreaker to respond to the demand, including BBOS and eventually AOOS

We also need to integrate BBOS with the German-led Hausgarten in Fram Strait and the US observatory in Davis Strait. The three must become sister observatory systems, sharing technology, logistics, data and research objectives

Ergo, there likely will be a need to coordinate icebreaker operations, through the ARICE initiative for example

Experience shows that the combination of an NCE and large infrastructure is a powerful tool to deploy large programs such as BBOS and ultimately AOOS.

Discussions are ongoing for the creation/continuation of such a combination that would guarantee the success of BBOS and then AOOS.

Canadian perspective on BBOS challenges

Thank You Gibbs Fjord, Baffin Island, Nunavut

ArcticNet: cross-sector research in support of decision in a changing Arctic

Canada’s Network of Centres of Excellence to study the changing coastal Canadian Arctic under climate change and

modernization.