The Russian research ship, the Professor Khromov on a 45-day collaborative journey of exploration and research in the Arctic in 2004. Photo by Kevin Wood

Ocean Exploration in Polar Regions

NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration may support multiple projects in both the Arctic and Antarctic in conjunction with the International Polar Year (IPY). Ocean Exploration solicited specific projects for IPY via Federal Register announcements in calendar years 2005 and 2006. OE also expects to solicit IPY-related projects during the calendar year 2007 Federal Register notice. Ocean Exploration, together with the NOAA Arctic Research Program and the Russian Academy of Sciences, plan to facilitate an expedition to the Pacific Arctic in 2008, as part of the ongoing RUSALCA (Russian American Long-term Census of the Arctic) program.

Progress: Proposals have been received for the RUSALCA 2008 expedition and are being submitted to both mail and panel reviews.