2017•Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut)Open access
Arctic Observatory FRAM - a modern vision of integrated underwater infrastructure in the polar environment
Martina Löbl, Antje Boëtius, Torsten Kanzow, Wilken‐Jon von Appen, Melanie Bergmann, Astrid U. Bracher, Tilman Dinter, Laura Hehemann, Nicole Hildebrandt, Mario Hoppmann, Morten Hvitfeldt Iversen, Thomas Josef Jung, Thomas Krumpen, Normen Lochthofen, Ana Macario, Katja Metfies, Marcel Nicolaus, Barbara Niehoff, Ilse C. Van Opzeeland, Benjamin Rabe, Ian Salter, Ingo Schewe, Daniel Scholz, Vibe Schourup‐Kristensen, Karolin Thomisch, Sandra Tippenhauer, Frank Wenzhöfer, Thorben Wulff, Claudia Wekerle
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Abstract
The Arctic Observatory FRAM (FRontiers in Arctic Marine Monitoring) targets a modern vision of integrated underwater infrastructure in the polar environment. Since 2014 this modular observatory is being build up in Fram-Strait and the Central Arctic by the Alfred Wegner Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) to become a major research infrastructure of the Earth and Environment research field of the Helmholtz Association. FRAM enhances sustainable knowledge of the remote and harsh Arctic environment for science, society and maritime economy as it enables truly year round multidisciplinary observations from sea ice to the deep sea. Cutting edge mobile and fixed sensor platforms and technologies like e.g. ROV’s, AUV’s, under water robotics, and moorings are being (further) developed and used in combination with ship based instruments to record various essential ocean variables to improve our understanding of the Arctic Ocean, it’s essential processes, and how they are being impacted by continued warming and decreasing sea ice extend. Field data are being cross validated by satellite observations and used to improve model simulations. Data will be made freely available to the public via the AWI data portal.
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