H. FACILITIES, RESOURCES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
The Geophysical Institute was established by an Act of Congress in 1946 and enjoys an
international reputation for studies of the earth and its physical environment. It is one of the few
research institutes of the United States where scientists study a wide spectrum of geophysical
processes ranging from the center of the earth to the center of the sun and beyond.
At the GI, the diversity of our research focus is reflected by our disciplinary-based,
functional groupings of faculty and research staff. These divisions are: space physics and
aeronomy, atmospheric sciences, snow, ice, and permafrost, seismology, volcanology, and
tectonics and sedimentation. Along with an ubiquitous, cross-discipline remote sensing group,
these research divisions reflect the range and diversity of the active scientific research projects
which reach from the center of the sun to the center of the earth and beyond. Our approximately
60 faculty and 80 graduate students and associated undergraduates carry out research projects at
high latitudes relating to our location within the Arctic. Together with the support services at the
Geophysical Institute, these research activities have a budget of about $30M annually.
A large part of the success of the GI is attributable to the support staff and their expert
services. These include a research library, machine and electronic shops, computer resource
center, digital design center, geodata center, map office, operations, business, human resource,
proposal and public information offices. The Geophysical Institute Business Offices assists PIs
with grant administration, proposal preparation, and travel coordination in accordance with
federal regulations. An Operations Office assists PIs with permitting for field research sites and
use of Institute vehicles.
The GI has several large facilities. The largest is a satellite ground station and associated
processing and archiving center called the Alaska Satellite Facility which is funded by various
federal, local, and private entities. Radar images produced here enable the all-weather study of
sea ice, earthquakes, volcanoes, and regularly provide hazard-management products for agencies
such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Ice
Center. Through the International Observatory of the North, optical images of the Arctic from
NASA and NOAA satellites are received and processed to support remote sensing research and
data services to the state. The Poker Flat Research Range, the only university-owned rocket
range in the world, is a NASA-supported launch site for suborbital space flight. The Alaska
Earthquake Information Center operates a regional network of over 300 seismometers and
reports more than 50 earthquakes a day occurring within the state. The Alaska Volcano
Observatory maintains a continual watch for eruptions and ash clouds. Together with the United
States Geological Survey, warnings are issued to pilots for avoidance of aviation hazards
(http://www.gi.alaska.edu/admin/director/bg.html).
Computer:
Our Linux computer network, consisting of three servers and four rack-mounted dual-processor
Linux PCs and substantial of disk storage, plus desktop workstations, is available for GPS data
analysis and modeling. This computer allows us to efficiently analyze and combine large data
sets. For modeling work that requires even more computer power, we can request access to the
Alaska Region Supercomputer Center (ARSC):
The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center serves the computational needs of the
University of Alaska and the Department of Defense as a DoD Supercomputing
Resource Center (DSRC) within the DoD's High Performance Computing
Modernization
Program (HPCMP). The center has been serving the
computational needs of the academic and DoD community since 1993. ARSC
computational systems and resources include a wide range of high performance
computing, storage and visualization technology. ARSC is poised to meet
northern challenges with global solutions.
Specialists at ARSC provide expertise in massively parallel supercomputing,
parallel vector supercomputing, code optimization, storage, networking and
visualization. ARSC’s relationship with the University of Alaska facilitates
collaborative research opportunities for academic and government scientists.
These areas of research include ice, ocean and atmospheric coupled modeling;
regional climate modeling; global climate change; permafrost, hydrology and
arctic engineering; magnetospheric, ionospheric and upper atmospheric physics;
volcanology and geology; petroleum and mineral engineering; genomics and
proteomics; and arctic biology. ARSC actively participates in a joint-faculty
program supporting University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) researchers in several
departments across campus. ARSC staff provide on-site training and support UAF
classes throughout the year (http://www.arsc.edu/about/about.html)
Office:
Office space is provided for all University of Alaska project personnel with adequate space and
room for future growth and visiting scientists.
Outreach:
The Geophysical Institute Public Information and Educational Outreach Office assists
researchers with sharing their research with a broader audience. Their services include:
 Scheduling and promoting numerous events open to the public including lectures,
workshops, open houses, symposiums, and seminars;
 Scheduling scientific speakers for public lectures, for service organizations, for classroom
presentations, and for related activities on a local, statewide, national, and international
level;
 Coordinating on-location news and media interviews for the institute and institute
scientists. The office prepares news releases, arranges briefings and press conferences,
with GI administration and faculty, and prepares background material for media
consumption. (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/infooffice/index.html).
Other:
Camping and survival gear are available for use as needed.
Shops:
The Geophysical Institute is home to its own Machine Shop and Electronic Shop, which assist
researchers with custom built and designed equipment as needed:
The Electronic Shop is involved in engineering, designing, constructing,
calibrating, testing, and repairing a wide range of scientific and technical
instruments. A team of shop personnel maintains and repairs computers, computer
terminals, data acquisition systems, and RF communications equipment.
Technicians are available for installation, operation, and repair of a wide variety
of electronic field equipment as required by scientific projects. Shop employees
are experienced in installing and operating remote telemetered systems in Arctic
environments
(http://www.gi.alaska.edu/services/electricshop/index.html).
The Geophysical Institute’s Machine Shop is the most extensive research and
development machine shop facility in the state of Alaska. It provides complete
research and design services from consultation and concept development to
fabrication of the finished project by combining innovative engineering and
design with precision craftsmanship in machining and fabrication. The shop is
well equipped with precision machine tools which have been fitted with high
resolution digital read-out systems; highly sophisticated computer driven threeand four-axis milling machines provide the ability to quickly and accurately
design and fabricate complex machine parts. Other capabilities include: MIG,
TIG, and stick welding, silver soldering, brazing, heat treating, aluminum
anodizing,
tumble
finishing,
carpentry,
and
cabinet
making
(http://www.gi.alaska.edu/services/machineshop/index.html).
MAJOR EQUIPMENT: