Canadian Arctic logistics in support of
scientific initiatives
Marty Bergmann
Director, Polar Continental Shelf Program, Natural Resources Canada
Presented at: Forum of Arctic Research Operators meeting - Nuuk, Greenland
April 16, 2010
Canada’s North: Challenges for field research
 The vast expanse of the Canadian Arctic (>4,000,000 km2), varied
terrain and extreme climate conditions make logistical operations
difficult
 Most field camps in the Canadian Arctic are located in remote areas
that are accessible only by certain aircraft (e.g., Twin Otter and
helicopter) or ice-capable ships
 Field studies are costly but new
government initiatives are improving
northern research infrastructure and
various northern logistics
organizations can provide scientists
with cost-effective field support
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Canada
Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS)
 In 2007, the Government of Canada announced plans to build a world-class
science facility in the Canadian High Arctic
 A feasibility study has been completed by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
(INAC)
 The location of the CHARS has been narrowed to three Nunavut communities:
Resolute, Cambridge Bay or Pond Inlet
 In Budget 2009, the Government of Canada announced $87M for the Arctic
Research Infrastructure Fund
 In Budget 2010, the Government of Canada announced $18M for the design
of the CHARS
 Details regarding logistical support for work at the CHARS have yet to be
determined
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund (ARIF)
Excerpt from the Government of Canada’s Budget 2009: “…new funding of up to
85 million for INAC to invest in upgrading key existing Arctic research
facilities… providing a near-term economic stimulus while building a strong
foundation for Arctic research capacity that supports government priorities…
ensure a robust network of infrastructure is in place when the Canadian High
Arctic Research Station opens”.
Information courtesy of INAC
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund Projects
Churchill Northern Studies Centre
Photo credit: M. Goodyear
 20 projects at 37 sites were
selected for funding
 Much needed investment to
replace/renovate many facilities
that represent a legacy to the last
International Polar Year
 Proponents had to mobilize quickly
to deliver on two-year timeline
Nunavut Research Institute (NU)
Photo credit: E. Corneau
PCSP Resolute - design concept
Information and photos courtesy of INAC
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund – Project Sites
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7
1
17 8
2
15 2
7
16 2
4
3
2
9
19 20
6
2
11
7 14
13
2
7
2
8
2
1
10
12
10
5
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund Projects
(numbers cross-referenced with list on next
slide)
Note: Map is for illustrative purposes only.
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Map courtesy of INAC
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Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund Recipients
1. Institute for Circumpolar
Heath Research, Northwest
Territories
Project Lead: Arctic Health
Research Network, Northwest
Territories
2. Arctic Migratory Bird
Research Network
Project Lead: Environment
Canada
3. Aurora Research Institute
Project Lead: Aurora College
4. Centre d'études nordiques
(CEN) - SAON Network
Project Lead: Université Laval
5. Churchill Northern Studies
Centre
Project Lead: Churchill Northern
Studies Centre
6. H. S. Bostock Geological Core
Library
Project Lead: Yukon Geological
Survey
7. Health Canada Radiological
Monitoring Network
Project Lead: Health Canada
8. kANGIDLUASUk Base Camp
Project Lead: Nunatsiavut
Government
14. Nunavut Research Vessel
Project Lead: Government of
Nunavut
9. Kluane Lake Research Station
Project Lead: Arctic Institute of
North America
15. Old Crow Research Facility
Project Lead: Vuntut Gwitchin
Government
10. Labrador Institute &
Nunatsiavut Research Centre
Project Lead: Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador &
Nunatsiavut Government
16. Polar Continental Shelf Program
Project Lead: Natural Resources
Canada
11. M'Clintock Channel Polar Bear
Research Cabins
Project Lead: Queen’s University
18. Quttinirpaaq National Park
Project Lead: Parks Canada
12. Nunavik Research Centre
Project Lead: Makivik Corporation
17. Polar Environment Atmospheric
Laboratory
Project Lead: Dalhousie University
19. Yukon College
Project Lead: Yukon College
20. Yukon Forestry
Project Lead: Government of Yukon
13. Nunavut Research Institute
Project Lead: Nunavut Arctic
College
Information courtesy of INAC
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Polar Continental Shelf Program (PCSP)
 Detailed information on PCSP was provided at last year’s FARO
meeting
• Most operations are based out of PCSP’s Resolute, Nunavut,
facility, but aircraft services are also available from other key
northern locations
 Scientists can apply to PCSP annually for a range of services,
including:
 Air transportation (e.g., Twin Otters,
helicopters)
 Transit residence and meals at Resolute
 Field equipment from PCSP’s Technical Field
Support Services
 Fuel for aircraft, equipment and camps
 Communications network for all field camps
Twin Otter at Beechy Island, Nunavut
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PCSP’s clients
 Researchers from the Canadian federal, territorial
and provincial governments, universities, private
organizations and international agencies can apply
for PCSP logistical services each year in November
 PCSP supports up to 200 research projects annually
that include over 1100 scientists, students and field
support personnel in disciplines ranging from
archaeology to zoology
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PCSP-supported
field camps (2009)
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PCSP Resolute Facility Expansion
 PCSP received $11M from ARIF to expand the PCSP Resolute facility
 This expansion will nearly double the capacity of the facility and
provide more effective work space for researchers and staff
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PCSP’s work with the Department of National
Defence
 The Department of National Defence (DND) has a presence in
Resolute for training operations and a planned Arctic Training
Centre
 With this presence, telecommunications abilities for PCSP will continue to
increase
 PCSP is working with DND regarding operations in Resolute and
how best to meet common goals
 The CF Canadian Air Division is now
responsible for the Alert and Eureka military
outposts on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
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Canadian Arctic marine science logistics
 Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) icebreakers are the backbone to vesselbased research in the Canadian Arctic
 CCG works with the National Centre for Arctic Aquatic Research
Excellence (NCAARE, Fisheries and Oceans Canada) for overall planning
of the ships
 Currently, eight of CCG’s fleet of 18 icebreakers operate in Canada’s
North and have provided support for science programs
 The duration of science programs varies by ship and by year
 Programs last a few days to a few months each year, and sometimes overwintering projects are conducted
 Icebreakers typically begin their Arctic cruises in mid-June to mid-July
and return to their southern ports by October to mid-November,
depending on programming needs and ship capabilities
Information courtesy of NCAARE, DFO
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Science programs on CCG ships
 Ship-based scientific activities range from marine biology and
oceanography to seabed geology
 Main types of scientific activities on CCG icebreakers:
 Mooring and ice buoy recovery/deployment
 Underway water collection
 CTD/Rosette
• Current major programs:
 Joint Ocean Ice Study
 Canada’s United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Program
 Arctic Mooring Program
 ArcticNet on CCGS Amundsen
 Current sampling programs :
 Canada’s Three Oceans
 Barrow Strait Ecosystem Study
Information courtesy of NCAARE, DFO
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 ArcticNet is a Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence that brings
together researchers in the natural, human health and social sciences
with Inuit organizations, northern communities, and federal, provincial
and private sector agencies to study the impacts of climate change in
the coastal Canadian Arctic
 Within ArcticNet, over 110 researchers from 27 Canadian
universities, and 8 federal and 11 provincial organizations
collaborate with scientists from 12 countries
 Marine science and some community-based work is
conducted aboard the CCGS Amundsen
The CCGS Amundsen: a Canadian research icebreaker for
international collaboration in the study of the changing Arctic
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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8 Ton Deck cranes
Lab containers
733 Zodiac
MVP300
60hp Winch
AFT labs
CTD-Rosette deployment
area, A-frame, 40 hp winch
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
10 ton A-frame &
500hp winch
Barge
Helodeck
Halftrack
Moonpool, acoustic well &
EM300 sounder
Paleo/benthos labs
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ArcticNet and CCGS Amundsen – Cruise Tracks
2003-2008
Providing major access to the Arctic for the Canadian and
international scientific community since its inauguration in 2003
2003 - 2008 Cruise Tracks
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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ArcticNet and CCGS Amundsen – Cruise Tracks
2009-2010
Providing major access to the Arctic for the Canadian and
international scientific community since its inauguration in 2003
2009 & 2010 Cruise Tracks
(Planned)
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
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CCGS Amundsen – Support for recent Arctic
research programs
1300 days of dedicated scientific operations over 8 years or 163 days per year on average
Supported 2 major international overwintering studies in the Beaufort Sea (CASES & CFL)
Supported science teams from 15 countries
Visited all Canadian coastal Inuit communities as part of an international Inuit Health
Survey
448 days overwintering
expedition
390 days overwintering
expedition
Days of dedicated
science operations
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


2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Year
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2008
2009
2010
Information courtesy of ArcticNet
Logistical support for Canadian Arctic research
 Ongoing initiatives by the federal government are actively improving
northern infrastructure in support of Canadian Arctic science
 International programs and MOUs (e.g., Canada and the United
Kingdom, PCSP and northern Canadian colleges) play important roles in
the further evolution of Canadian Arctic science
 There is more work to be done, as there is a significant gap between
the logistical support requested by scientists and what can be afforded
by logistical operators
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