FRAM: Frontiers in Arctic Marine Monitoring observatory, DE

The observatory is owned the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).

FRAM supports synchronous year-round integrated system observations in Fram Strait and the central Arctic Ocean. It performs physical, chemical, and biological observations on the sea-ice and from the sea surface to the seafloor and is the only deep-sea observatory in the Arctic.Â

Contribution to POLARIN key research challenges: 1, 2, 4, 6

Contact: Martina Löbl, martina.loebl[at]awi.de

WebsiteÂ

https://www.awi.de/en/expedition/observatories/ocean-fram.html

Location

Fram Strait and Central Arctic Ocean

Facilities

FRAM is a unique modular Arctic observatory, which has installations at up to 5000 m water depth

Services offeredÂ

FRAM offers Remote Access only (no in-person participation on a cruise). The remote access will allow foreign scientists to add sensors or systems to various sensor platforms and networks e.g., to sea ice buoys, pelagic moorings, benthic landers, ice-buoys. Other services include planning, technical support for preparation, deployment, and recovery, and also support to sample analysis (e.g.,molecular data) from samples taken by FRAM’s remote access samplers.

What is included in the Access

Unit of access: Sensor deployment

The access includes the costs of staff to prepare, deploy and recover the sensor or integrated system, depending on the platform and connection type, as well as material costs for technical attachments (cables, interfaces, etc.), depending on sensor type and platform. The typical duration of work is 1 to 2 years.

Availability for access in the 2024 call

The observatory is available only for Remote Access.

The availability for access in the 2024 call is 1.4.2025-30.4.2027.

Time frame for access preparations

The assumed time effort will be between 3-15 person days of a technician or engineer per attached sensor depending on the platform and connection type. Also, material costs between 3-10 k€ might apply for technical attachments (cables, interfaces, etc.), depending on sensor type and platform.

Permits, licenses and training

–

Medical guidelines

No medical requirements.