Opportunity to Plan and Develop a Comprehensive US Arctic Research Infrastructure Network Hub at Oliktok Point, Alaska

The US, an Arctic nation with sovereign territory in the Arctic, does not have a comprehensive US research facility in the High Arctic… but it could. The Arctic is changing rapidly, with impacts on environment, ecology, communities, industry and security. These impacts are also felt globally via changes in weather patterns, ocean currents, and sea level. Human activity for resource extraction, shipping, tourism, and defense purposes is increasing. Infrastructure for search and rescue and emergency response is sub-standard; while coastal erosion, less sea ice, more storms, and thawing permafrost compromise infrastructure. All activity in the Arctic will benefit from improved understanding to forecast and predict operational conditions and future changes. As Arctic waters open, increased international activities will place greater demands for domain awareness to inform services and security. There is a compelling need for comprehensive US Arctic research infrastructure to address pressing needs. While the US does not yet have this… it could.

We identify the opportunity for a comprehensive multi-agency US High Arctic Research Center (USHARC) and network as a national asset to address opportunities and challenges of Arctic change and impacts on energy, food and water security, economic and environmental health, and national security. USHARC will enable a network to serve Federal and State government, industry, Arctic communities, and researchers in addressing infrastructure, emergency response, search and rescue, domain awareness, environmental change, and Arctic technology challenges. A facility at Oliktok Point, Alaska can serve as a hub for coordinated research in the US Arctic between Toolik Lake, Utqiagvik (Barrow), and Prudhoe Bay; and can take advantage of unique assets. These include: access via land, sea and air; coastal, marine and terrestrial ecologies; controlled airspace across land and ocean; medical and logistic support; atmospheric observations; connections to Barrow and Toolik research sites; broadband fiber-optic link; University of Alaska Fairbanks Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Facility partnership; an airstrip and hangar for UAS. Combined with the Toolik Field Station and Barrow Environmental Observatory, they would form an integrated network of US Arctic Stations.