US
government shutdown could threaten Antarctic research
Hundreds
of American scientists and support staff are being sent home and all
field and research activities in Antarctica are being suspended
because of the United States government shutdown.
10
October, 2013
New
Zealand scientists say the United States government shutdown
threatens research in Antarctica for both countries.
The
United States National Science Foundation is reducing its Antarctic
Programme to caretaker status from Monday because of the funding
suspension and all field and research activities will be put on hold.
International
Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research director Craig Cary says
New Zealand relies on the United States both for logistics and
science in the field.
"There
are plans in place for major logistics programmes, new intiatives and
the central Trans Antarctic Mountain Camp that is being looked at as
a possibility for the next couple of years may have to be delayed ...
maybe four to five years if things pile up in the way that it is
envisioned if things continue the way they are right now."
Associate
director at the International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic
Research at Waikato University Charles Lee says research could be
cancelled across the board for the 2013 season.
Dr
Lee says the United States co-funds the air link between Christchurch
and Scott Base, which is essential for New Zealand researchers.
Dr
Lee says if the airlink is maintained, there will be less impact on
New Zealand research.
"Our
own field operations are independent so the impact in that regard is
going to be comparatively small.
"But
our own researchers (are) also heavily integrated with the research
of our American collaborators. And if they can't go down this year
then that certainly will impact on our field operations as well as
our science."
Professor
at Victoria University's Antarctic Research Centre Peter Barrett says
because of the collaborative nature of the research, the effect of
pulling out American staff will be huge.
But
Antarctica New Zealand's operations manager Graeme Ayres told Morning
Report he is hopeful the situation will be temporary.
"I
personally feel ... hopeful that this is a temporary situation and we
can start seeing the situation returning to normal over the next week
or so."
Signs
of hope shutdown could be resolved
Meanwhile
in the United States, Republicans and Democrats in Congress are
seeing signs of hope for a break in their fiscal impasse.
Members
of both parties have floated the possibility of a short-term increase
in the debt limit to allow time for broader negotiations on the
budget.
The
slight shift in tone was aided by a column by House Budget Committee
Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who urged a negotiated end to the
stalemate but did not mention Republican demands for linking changes
in the federal healthcare law to government funding.
President
Barack Obama this week criticised Republicans for threatening
economic chaos.
But
he said he would talk about anything including the healthcare law if
the Republicans reopened the government and lifted the debt ceiling
even for the short term.
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