US-NZ Partnership in Antarctica

New Zealand Embassy10 Apr 2015

Dr. Kelly Kenison FalknerDirector, Polar Programs & USAP

National Science Foundation

Mr. Peter BeggsChief Executive

Antarctica New Zealand

Mt. VictoriaWellington, NZ

Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr.

Antarctic Treaty System

United KingdomUnited Kingdom

ArgentinaArgentina

ChileChile

New New ZealandZealand

AustraliaAustralia

FranceFrance

NorwayNorway

• Treaty signed 1959, entered into force 1961, reaffirmed for 50 more years 2011

• All territorial claims held in abeyance

• Reserved for peaceful uses

• Commitment to environmental protection and scientific research

• 50 Member Nations; 29 are consultative parties with an “Active Science Program”

• Consensus based Treaty measures implemented through domestic law

US & NZ are among 12 original signatories of Treaty

Antarctica New Zealand

• Permanent presence at Scott Base• Logistics support• National Antarctic Program co-

operation• Science coordination• Environmental management• Support to Ministry of Foreign Affairs

on Antarctic Treaty matters• Outreach and education

The New Zealand Antarctic Institute Act:To develop, maintain and execute New Zealand activities in Antarctica, in particular the Ross DependencyTo enhance the quality of New Zealand scientific researchTo cooperate with other (Antarctic) organisations within and outside New Zealand

Scope of USAP Logistics System

Christchurch – Antarctica Historic Context

The sea port of Christchurch, Lyttelton was the final stop over for early Antarctic Expeditions

The British National Antarctic Expedition ship, the Discovery, in 1901. Led by Robert

Falcon Scott

Building on foundational science

Scott’s early expeditions did pioneering science – modern science builds on these observations

Why did we choose Ross Island?

Sustainable SupportSustainable Support

Polar Environment, Safety and Health

ANDRILL (ANtarctic Geological DRILLing)

Large multi-national (NZ, US, Germany and Italy) program looking at past Antarctic climatesImportant for understanding how change may impact the world in the futureKey finding – the Ross Ice Shelf has retreated and advanced again about 40 times in the last 1.8 million years

Subglacial aquatic environments include the largest wetland on the planet as well as lakes and rivers

WISSARD drilling targets

Life beneath the ice sheets!Life beneath the ice sheets!Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling

• First Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) to be established – proposed jointly by New Zealand and US

• Close collaboration in numerous science programs• Results show rapidly Dry Valley ecosystems adapt to new

conditions• Now working together to understand the impact of climate

change on the terrestrial biota in the Dry Valleys

Dry Valleys Research

Frontier ScienceFrontier ScienceSouth Pole AstrophysicsSouth Pole Astrophysics

Defining Our Universe• Discovery of B-mode polarization (10-m

telescope)• B-mode polarization evidence of

gravitational waves predicted by inflation (BICEP2)

• High energy extragalactic neutrinos Physics World top discovery of 2013 (IceCube)

• Smithsonian Innovation Award for detectors 2014 (IceCube)

James Yang, IceCube Collaboration

MacroFauna• NZ and US scientists collaborate on Adélie penguin

population dynamics on Ross Island• The work covers a continuous 30-year record or penguin

numbers and colony health for Ross Island colonies• Largest natural science experiment monitored by both

programmes – “B15 iceberg” in 2000 cutting off McMurdo Sound

Advances in Climate Advances in Climate SSciencecienceCentennial-scale changes in the global carbon cycle during the last deglaciation; Nature, 514, 616-619 (30 October 2014)

WWhat has polar science done for you lately?hat has polar science done for you lately?

Major USAP Policy Major USAP Policy MilestonesMilestones• 1960 Executive Branch USAP Responsibilities established post IGY (OMB A-51)

• 1970 USAP Management from DoD to NSF; “Active & Influential Presence”

affirmed (NSDM-71)

• 1976 “Active & Influential Presence” and NSF Management reaffirmed

(NSDM-318)

• 1982 “Active & Influential Presence” and NSF Management reaffirmed

• (White House Memorandum 6646)

• 1993 Navy announces intention to withdraw

• 1994 Statement of U.S. policy objectives (NSC-26)

• 1996 NSTC Review affirms need for three stations

• 1997 USAP External Panel: Modernize South Pole Station

• 1999 US Air Force assumes role of DoD Executive Agent

• 2008 South Pole Station modernization complete

White House Memorandum 6646• NSF Shall:

• budget for and manage the entire United States National Program in Antarctica…

• draw upon logistic support capabilities of government agencies on a cost reimbursable basis…

• use commercial support and management facilities where these are determined to be cost-effective…

• provide U. S. presence in Antarctica, including;year-round occupation of South Pole and two coastal stationsfull logistics support to over 650 scientists in Antarctica

The White House (1982)

Increasing International Engagement

“Science Awards” refers to grants, fellowships, fixed-price awards, and cooperative agreements promoting research.