Logistic concept of PAICEX project

Logistic concept of PAICEX is to organize during the IPY a number of Ice Drifting Camps (IDC) in key-regions of the Central Arctic Ocean. Each Ice Camp team will consist of 5-7 scientific and logistic persons to develop and conduct field round-year “sea ice-upper ocean” observations.

Science and Action Plans need to be similar at each IDC as well as field observations and samplings need to be done with same technology, field and labs equipment, using same methods of measurements, scheduled samplings, fixation etc. Main priorities need to be focused on observations of snow and sea-ice cover dynamic, CTD casts, hydrological samplings and biodiversity studies.

This approach will allow getting “snap-shot” round-year information about sea ice-upper ocean system in the geographical scale of the Arctic Ocean. Expected results may be very important for assessment of permanent sea-ice cover condition, upper ocean and ecosystems in recent climatic changes in the Arctic.

Russia has unique experience in establishing drifting stations and conducting air operations in the Arctic. This experience was used to organize the Russian drifting stations NP-32, NP-33 and NP-34 in the period of 2003 to 2005 and yearly ice airfield ”Borneo”. That is why the Russian participants of the PAICEX are ready to provide complete logistic support.

However, the scale of the PAICEX does not allow preparing and implementing it by one country's efforts due to financial reasons. The best solution may be a consortium of stakeholders from various countries. In this case it is evident that the scientific program of the experiment can be significantly added and expanded taking into account other IPY scientific programs.