Description of task
The separate task is devoted to the coordination of logistical requirements. The successful implementation of the observing system is fully determined by the availability of ship time or aircrafts to deploy the instruments and the use of manned camps installed on the ice. To assure the access to the crucial platforms and the appropriate logistics to operate in the field the significant effort and efficient organisational frame are required. DAMOCLES will coordinate centrally all logistics of the DAMOCLES programs, making sure that multiple purposes are served to the maximal degree for ship and flight activities, to minimize costs. DAMOCLES will rely heavily on ship and aircraft resources of opportunity. The DAMOCLES field activities will be restricted to the period 2006-8, to take advantage of the increased activity in the Arctic Ocean during the International Polar Year.
In months 25-42 arrangements for the ship- and airborne operations have to be provided. For spring 2008 following field actions are planned and will be logistically supported: the second year of iAOOS–Norway with KV 'Svalbard', a deployment of the tomography array in Fram Strait, a deployment of the AITP Array and ULS floats from Canada (Eureka), DAMOCLES ice camp operations north of Alert, fourth wintering of 'Vagabond' in Storfjord. In summer 2008 several cruises will take place, including the ASCOS cruise of the icebreakers 'Oden' and 'Frej', the 'Akademik Fedorov' cruise in May-June (with an evacuation of the NP-35 ice camp, oceanographic research in North Laptev and Kara Seas and a short term ice camp on pack ice in the vicinity of Baranov cape) and joint field activities in a frame of NABOS-RUSALCA project (China, Russia, USA). Air logistics in 2008 will be done for main scientific experiments including buoy deployment, ice thickness and snow depth measurements, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) swath mapping of sea-ice from below, simultaneous 2-D mapping of local sea-ice floes from top and below, in situ measurement of snow and ice properties, in situ radar measurements, local ice drift buoy array and optical measurements.
These activities will take place in following areas: 85°-90°N north of Canada, Canadian Forces Station Alert (at two sites: a MY floe near station and the ice camp further away) and in Fram Strait. Field operations in April/May 2008 will be done in as a coordination of projects DAMOCLES, ESA CryoVex 2008 (Cryosat Validation Experiment) and the Greenland home rule sea-ice program.
The logistical activities will to the degree possible be coordinated with corresponding activities of other countries (especially USA, China, Japan), to minimize logistical costs for all. Detailed time plan and fuel arrangements for airborne activities have to be prepared in advance. Details of arrangements for transport and lodging of individual participants and airfreight of equipment to primary departure bases will have to be settled prior the planned deployments.
