US shutdown affects Antarctic research

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.

Radio NZ,

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.