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45 

 Appendix IV.F. ; '■'■ \ 



Title: The National Ice Center (NIC): A twenty year partnership. 



Issue: How can real time global ice information and operational ice predictions be developed 

 and delivered to government and private users in a time of decreasing resources? 



Relevance: In the submarine/ballistic missile age the Arctic Ocean is an important area of 

 potential military conflict. Arctic research expeditions conducting military related research 

 need ice information. World wide ice coverage is also relevant to questions of global climate 

 change. 



Background and Approach: The National Ice Center provides real-time worldwide ice 

 information and predictions to support Polar Naval operations. Coast Guard icebreaker 

 operations in the Arctic, Antarctic, Great Lakes and NE US Coast. It was called the Joint Ice 

 Center QIC) until April 1995 when ongoing US Coast Guard (USCG) participation was 

 recognized with a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). By formal definition, the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides satellite data and personnel. Navy 

 provides analysis of data, persormel amd organizational leadership, and USCG provides 

 aircraft, sensors, and personnel. 



Partners: Navy, NOAA and US Coast Guard 



Motivating Factors: Decreasing assets with continuing need for ice products by all partners. 

 Need for diverse, expensive facilities to support mission: satellite data/processing, aircraft, 

 sensors, expert personnel. 



Impact or Benefit: The NIC has become the US center of excellence in the analysis of satellite/ 

 airborne ice imagery. It is currently the national center and Washington DC communications 

 node for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data downlinked to the Alaska SAR facility and the 

 national center for the creation of operational ice products from satellite SAR images. 



Lessons Learned: (1) Formally established interagency organizations in which products are 

 valuable to all participants can share resources/personnel and leadership to serve all partners; 

 (2) Partnerships can develop significant national capabilities beyond the capacity of any single 

 agency; (3) Well defined organizational structure and responsibilities and flexibility in the use 

 of uncommitted but often available resources have supported NIC success. 



