Engineering at the Ends of the Earth. Polar Ocean Technology for the 1980's.

• Other Authors: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC MARINE BOARD
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1979
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Geology; Geochemistry and Mineralogy; *OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA; *MARINE GEOLOGY; *PETROLEUM GEOLOGY; POLAR REGIONS; STATE OF THE ART; NATURAL RESOURCES; COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS; ALASKA; MARINE TRANSPORTATION; ARCTIC REGIONS; *Ocean engineering; Antarctic; Arctic; Canada; Greenland; Norway; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; Beaufort Sea; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA074161; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA074161

Ocean engineering operations in polar waters, particularly in the Arctic, will increase during the foreseeable future as efforts continue to recover commercially valuable resources such as petroleum, fish, and various minerals. The establishment of the 200-mile economic zone already has resulted in a marked increase in the number and capability of fishing ships in the Arctic. A sale of leases for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the Beaufort Sea is scheduled for late 1979. The petroleum industry is rapidly expanding its technological base in Alaska and Northern Canada. Mining and other operations are planned for Greenland. In the Antarctic, krill resource assessment and experimental fishing projects are being undertaken by several countries in preparation for large-scale development. In addition to U.S. activities, other nations-notably Canada, the Soviet Union, Japan, West Germany, and Norway--are investing substantial funds in developing polar ocean engineering technologies. This report is a review of polar ocean engineering research and technology that are considered necessary to support of commercial and scientific operations during the decade of the 1980's. In presenting the panel's view of the critical national needs in polar ocean engineering, the report identifies and examines the technical deficiencies in today's state of the art and recommends ways of improving the situation.