Collaborative Research: Coordination, Data Management and Enhancement of the US Interagency and International Arctic Buoy Programme (USIABP/IABP)

The U.S. Interagency and International Arctic Buoy Programme (USIABP) maintains a network of 200 drifting buoys that provides the foundation of the Arctic Observing Network. This long-term observing program requires regular replenishment as instruments are lost to the extremely cold and harsh Arctic environment. However, maintaining this network is critical for: 1) forecasting weather, oceanographic, and sea ice conditions; 2) long-term observations of rapid environmental change; 3) forcing, assimilation and validation of global weather and reanalysis models; and 4) validation of satellite derived estimates of sea ice motion, surface temperature, and sea ice thickness. These data are shared immediately with the operational communities such as the National Weather Service and through the project’s web server (http://USIABP.apl.uw.edu) for basic and applied research. The USIABP maintains this fundamental network through a long history of collaboration with US and international partners, and by leveraging interagency support from the U.S. National Science Foundation and other U.S. and State agencies including the Department of Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the North Slope Borough of Alaska, the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain a network for broad societal benefits. The USIABP has a multi-faceted outreach program to share science and research outcomes with students and the public. The program works closely with the undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Washington, the University of Maryland, and other universities to provide research advice and career guidance for STEM workforce development. The program provides media interviews, hosts outreach events, and produces visual art showcasing observations from the USIABP in local museums such as Seattle’s Pacific Science Center, and the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington D.C. to raise public awareness of and interest in the Arctic. This project provides the longest continuing observational record for the Arctic, has been one of the cornerstones for environmental forecasting and long-term observing, and provides critical measurements for wider use by the public and the operational, research, and scientific communities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2519409 | Program: 0100CYXXDB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Ignatius Rigor | Institution: University of Washington, SEATTLE, WA | Award Amount: $630,897 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2519409 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2519409.html