Science Mission
The Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV) is proposed to replace the 37-year old R/V Alpha Helix that is owned by the National Science Foundation. The need for a more capable ship to operate in the coastal and open ocean waters of the Alaska region was recognized by Congress, which appropriated $1M for a design study. Sufficient ice strengthening will allow it to work safely in moderate seasonal ice, operating over a longer period than formerly possible in the North Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Alaska, and the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas. The design is based on science mission requirements developed by the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System community.
Climate change (reflected by Arctic sea ice decreasing by approximately 9% per decade) and increased human use of the region will influence ocean circulation and ecosystem dynamics, impacting biological productivity, marine mammals and fish stocks. This technologically advanced platform will allow up to 26 scientists and students, per cruise, to conduct multi-disciplinary studies on these complex issues, and facilitate broadband real-time virtual participation of classroom students in expeditions, including remotely operated underwater vehicles.
Research Opportunities
- Arctic Ocean influences on oceanic and atmospheric circulation: Decadal variations in sea ice cover have profound effects on climate, global warming and global ocean circulation.
- High productivity of Alaskan continental shelves: Effects of these processes on ecosystems and fisheries are not well understood.
- Marine geological studies: Arctic oceanic sediments can reveal the history of paleoclimates. Better understanding of sub-sea volcanic activity and natural seismicity can predict potentially devastating tsunamis and other hazards.
- Increasing anthropogenic contaminants: Great potential for adverse environmental effects.
- Native subsistence users: Diversity and abundance of marine biota, including fish stocks, marine mammals and bird populations, will be critical to their traditional way of life.
Science Capabilities
- Modern suite of science winches suitable for 10,000m of cable including: deep-sea traction winch; CTD winch; and hydro winch.
- Flexible over-side handling equipment including articulated stern A-frame and side A-frame.
- Full suite of modern deck cranes on Aft deck and Foredeck.
- Covered and heated equipment staging and deployment area (Baltic Room) featuring motioncompensated hydro-boom.
- Accommodation for three ISO standard 20 foot science vans.
- Dynamic positioning capability.
- Ice-hardened multi-beam sonar installation.
- Acoustic Doppler current profilers, 75 kHz and 150 kHz.
- Large diameter coring and long coring capability.
- Undulating towed vehicle (Triaxus) deployment capability.
- MOCNESS multiple net towing system.
- Precision vessel motion sensors.
- Ethernet based, fiber-optic Local Area Science Network (LAN).
- Modern vessel control system.
Delivered in 1966, R/V Alpha Helix is the oldest UNOLS research vessel in operation. The ship's ice strengthening is modest and its suitability for arctic work is severely limited. Originally operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the vessel occasionally conducted science in sub-arctic seas (North Pacific, Bering, and Chukchi). Operated by the University of Alaska since 1980, Alpha Helix now works extensively in these areas. The sub-arctic regions are of great scientific interest, and a replacement vessel with improved research and ice capability is critical to extending the range of research.
Planning efforts for an Alpha Helix replacement have been on-going since 1980. The current design effort began in 2001 under the auspices of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Design Committee.
