Registration Available
4th Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on
Naval and Maritime Operations
20-22 June 2011
Washington, D.C.
For further information or to register, please go to:
http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/Ice2011.php
Or contact:
Pablo Clemente-Colon
Pablo.Clemente-Colon [at] noaa.gov
Organizers announce that registration is available for the 4th Symposium
on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime
Operations. The event will be held 20-22 June 2011 at the Navy Memorial
Naval Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW) in Washington, D.C.
The Symposium is cohosted by the U.S. National Ice Center (NIC) and the
U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC), and addresses present and
future impacts of rapid changes in Arctic Ocean sea ice cover on a wide
range of maritime operations. The forum, the fourth in a series, is a
key opportunity for federal entities to discuss their response to
changes in both the arctic environment and associated policies.
This year's event builds upon:
- The April 2001 inaugural symposium, "Naval Operations in an
Ice-free Arctic," sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR),
NIC, the Oceanographer of the Navy, and USARC;
- The July 2007 "Impact of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and
Maritime Operations" symposium, cosponsored by NIC and USARC; and
- A June 2009 gathering at the U.S. Naval Academy.
The first symposium focused primarily on naval operations and national
strategic issues, but since 2007 the symposia have expanded the
discussion to impacts on other maritime operations such as commercial
transportation, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, fisheries, and
oceanographic research.
This year's symposium continues the discussion vis-a-vis recent events
that include (see links to resources for the following topics at
http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/Ice2011.php):
- The continued downward trend of arctic sea ice extent and total
volume including significant loss of multi-year ice;
- The response of U.S. agencies to the National and Homeland
Security Presidential Decision on arctic policy, such as the Navy
Arctic Roadmap, the ongoing U.S. Coast Guard's arctic requirements
and planning efforts, and NOAA's Arctic Vision and Strategy;
- National Ocean Council development of a strategic action plan on
"Changing Conditions in the Arctic," one of nine strategic action
areas identified in the 2010 National Ocean Policy;
- The Arctic Council Arctic Search and Rescue (SAR) Task Force
development of an Arctic SAR Agreement;
- The IMO development of a Polar Code for vessels operating in polar
waters;
- The increased interest in government as well as private industry
joint arctic oil spill response research;
- The expanded energy exploration activities as part of BOEMRE lease
sales in the Chukchi Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and the Beaufort
Sea;
- The IMO/IHO/WMO establishment of five new arctic NAVAREAs/METAREAs
for maritime safety information services;
- The International Polar Decade proposed by the WMO Executive
Council; and
- The mounting calls for U.S. Senate ratification of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The symposium provides a unique high-level overview of the latest
activities and plans of key agencies in response to an increasingly
accessible Arctic Ocean. It also serves to further publicize results and
outcomes from efforts such as the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment
(AMSA) and the CNO Naval War College Global Shipping Game. As in prior
symposia, the 2011 gathering will continue to provide an opportunity to
review changes in arctic sea ice conditions observed over the previous
two years, evaluate advances in sea ice seasonal and climate forecast
model predictions, and discuss the impact of environmental conditions on
naval and maritime operations.
The symposium is open to the general public with a limited number of
registrations available on a first come first serve basis. To register,
please go to: http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/Ice2011.php.
Or contact:
Pablo Clemente-Colon
Pablo.Clemente-Colon [at] noaa.gov