In Memory of Tim Boyd
On Sunday, 27 January, the SCICEX community learned that Tim Boyd, SCICEX Science Advisory Committee member, had died as a result of being struck by lightning.
Tim was a well-respected physical oceanographer who contributed significantly to our understanding of Arctic Ocean hydrography. He left Oregon State University in 2007 to join the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). As a member of the SCICEX SAC, Tim was working diligently to increase awareness of the value of the SCICEX program in addressing issues of importance to both the military and civilian communities. He was also working to encourage an increased collaboration between the US and Royal Navy's in the use of submarines as an observing platform.
Tim was a dedicated and enthusiastic researcher and a pleasure to work with. He was one heck of a nice guy and will be sorely missed.
Our thoughts go out to his wife and daughters.
Memories of Tim are being collected online at: In Memory of Tim Boyd
Overview
The Submarine Arctic Science Program, SCICEX, is a federal interagency collaboration among the operational Navy, research agencies, and the marine research community to use nuclear-powered submarines for scientific studies of the Arctic Ocean. Unlike surface ships, submarines have the unique ability to operate and take measurements regardless of sea ice cover, weather conditions, and time of year. This allows for a broad and comprehensive investigation of an entire ocean basin. The goal of the program is to acquire comprehensive data about Arctic sea ice, water properties (biological, chemical, and hydrographic), and water depth (bathymetry) to improve our understanding of the Arctic Ocean basin and its role in the Earth's climate system.
SCICEX was officially launched in 1994 after a successful feasibility test in 1993 where civilian scientists joined Navy personnel on a submarine to acquire scientific data. From 1995–1999, five more dedicated science cruises were completed aboard nuclear-powered submarines. Since then, a modified approach has been taken, where some time is set aside for the collection of unclassified scientific data during otherwise classified submarine exercises. These are known as Science Accommodation Missions (SAMs) which are facilitated by the Arctic Submarine Lab (ASL). Guidance on data collection priorities during a SAM is provided in the SCICEX Phase II Science Plan. The most recent SAM took place in March and April 2011.
This site is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) award number 0632296 for the Arctic Observing Network (AON) and by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC). SCICEX is a Navy contribution to AON, the observational change component of a federal interagency committee called the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH).
Current ONR Awards
SCICEX Data Stewardship
PI: Florence Fetterer
Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Open-water Test of Submarine-launched Expendable CTDs
PI: Tim Boyd
Institution: Scottish Association for Marine Science
Validation of Biogeochemical Measurements in the Arctic Ocean from Virginia and Sea Wolf Class Submarines
PI: Ray Sambrotto
Institution: Columbia University
Study of the impact of submarine operations on sea-ice draft measurements
PI: Mark Wensnahan
Institution: University of Washington
