The German contribution: Major topic
Development and application of innovative technology
Comprehensive data collection in polar regions necessarily relies on a variety of recording methods: Remote sensing techniques and single spatial and temporal data recordings are complemented by large-scale observation networks. The latter depend on autonomous observation systems, established within international collaborative associations. Whereas autonomous physical, geophysical, chemical and biological observation systems represent a major technical challenge in and by themselves, their deployment in polar regions is complicated further as a result of the harsh environment and the ice cover on polar oceans, which, in many areas persists throughout the year.
Within the Polar Year framework, the following technological research and development aspects will be central:
- Establishment of autonomous geophysical observatories (seismology, positioning, magnetics, meteorology)
- Construction and deployment of floating marine rafts for the purpose of long-term observations of atmospheric, ice-related, oceanographic and biogeochemical parameters.
- Deployment of seismic sensors on drifting sea ice and ice bergs for investigation of seismic activity in polar oceans
- Robotics for sampling and in-situ analysis under extreme conditions and for work in locations with access limitations.