- Establish cooperative programs with other agencies (NSF, COE, NASA, 

 etc.), universities and foreign governments. The National Science Foundation is 

 very interested in polar research and funds many projects in Antarctica but its 

 mission prevents it from funding monitoring programs. It appears feasible that a 

 cooperative program could exist between NSF and NOAA whereby NSF funds 

 the initial research portion of a water level measurement project in the Antarctic 

 and then NOAA would continue the funding when the project becomes more 

 routine. A similar type of arrangement could be made with the U.S. Army's Cold 

 Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory or with NASA. We already have 

 cooperative projects in progress with the Canadians, British, Australians, and 

 Russians and should expand them to include field measurements in polar regions. 

 NOS should also develop projects with Japan and New Zealand. 



4.2.2 Specific Re commendations 



- Investigate and find additional suitable sites for polar tide stations such as 

 the one established at the Prudhoe Bay, AK Saltwater Treatment Plant. After 

 suitable sites are found, they should be prioritized and an installation schedule 

 generated. The Prudhoe Bay site should be established as a pilot station for 

 continued R&D activities. 



- Continue to refine techniques for the installation of thermal bench marks at 

 appropriate cold region sites. These types of bench marks have been proven 

 very successful in areas where an active zone exists on top of the permafrost 

 layer. 



- Continue and foster the development of acoustic and electromagnetic links 

 for the transmission of information through the water/ice interface. A few 

 American companies have developed prototype underwater acoustic modems 

 with much improved reliability and data rates. A Canadian company has 

 developed a prototype electromagnetic device for transmitting data from sensors 

 under the water to a land-based receiver. Both of these developments show great 

 promise as the communication links of the future. 



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