Some of the region's rivers carry chemical and radioactive pollutants into the Arctic Ocean. The food web structure and basic life histories of arctic species are poorly understood. There are also important interdisciplinary research topics to be pursued in the Arctic, such as the relationship between physical and biological conditions that affect arctic ecosystems. Chapter 2 reviews the advantages and disadvantages of a wide variety of research facilities, particularly surface vessels and submarines, needed to meet the scientific objectives identified. Federal and state agencies of the United States should encourage arctic research by ensuring appropriate funding and providing dedicated research platforms.
Arctic science involves complex operations that require many types of platforms.
Dedicated U.S. research icebreakers are essential elements of the U.S. arctic science strategy but at present do not exist for the Arctic. The unique abilities of research icebreakers and submarines are complementary. A research icebreaker would allow large multidisciplinary scientific parties to gain access to many important arctic regions and would permit horizontal and vertical sampling of the Arctic Ocean not possible by other means. Even with a research life span limited by the remaining fuel aboard, a nuclear submarine can traverse nearly all the Arctic Ocean with a small scientific party and acquire synoptic survey data that otherwise would be impossible to obtain. The capabilities of research icebreakers and submarines to address science needs are presented in Chapter 3.