H. facilities, resources and other equipment

The Geophysical Institute was established by an Act of Congress in 1946 and enjoys an international reputation for studies of the earth and its physical environment. It is one of the few research institutes of the United States where scientists study a wide spectrum of geophysical processes ranging from the center of the earth to the center of the sun and beyond.

At the GI, the diversity of our research focus is reflected by our disciplinary-based, functional groupings of faculty and research staff. These divisions are: space physics and aeronomy, atmospheric sciences, snow, ice, and permafrost, seismology, volcanology, and tectonics and sedimentation. Along with an ubiquitous, cross-discipline remote sensing group, these research divisions reflect the range and diversity of the active scientific research projects which reach from the center of the sun to the center of the earth and beyond. Our approximately 60 faculty and 80 graduate students and associated undergraduates carry out research projects at high latitudes relating to our location within the Arctic. Together with the support services at the Geophysical Institute, these research activities have a budget of about $30M annually.

A large part of the success of the GI is attributable to the support staff and their expert services. These include a research library, machine and electronic shops, computer resource center, digital design center, geodata center, map office, operations, business, human resource, proposal and public information offices. The Geophysical Institute Business Offices assists PIs with grant administration, proposal preparation, and travel coordination in accordance with federal regulations. An Operations Office assists PIs with permitting for field research sites and use of Institute vehicles.

The GI has several large facilities. The largest is a satellite ground station and associated processing and archiving center called theAlaska Satellite Facility which is funded by various federal, local, and private entities. Radar images produced here enable the all-weather study of sea ice, earthquakes, volcanoes, and regularly provide hazard-management products for agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Ice Center. Through the International Observatory of the North, optical images of the Arctic from NASA and NOAA satellites are received and processed to support remote sensing research and data services to the state. ThePoker Flat Research Range, the only university-owned rocket range in the world, is a NASA-supported launch site for suborbital space flight. TheAlaska Earthquake Information Center operates a regional network of over 300 seismometers and reports more than 50 earthquakes a day occurring within the state. TheAlaska Volcano Observatory maintains a continual watch for eruptions and ash clouds. Together with the United States Geological Survey, warnings are issued to pilots for avoidance of aviation hazards (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/admin/director/bg.html).
Computer:

Our Linux computer network, consisting of three servers and four rack-mounted dual-processor Linux PCs and substantial of disk storage, plus desktop workstations, is available for GPS data analysis and modeling. This computer allows us to efficiently analyze and combine large data sets. For modeling work that requires even more computer power, we can request access to the Alaska Region Supercomputer Center (ARSC):

The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center serves the computational needs of theUniversity of Alaska and the Department of Defense as a DoD Supercomputing Resource Center (DSRC) within the DoD's High Performance Computing Modernization     Program (HPCMP). The center has been serving the computational needs of the academic and DoD community since 1993.ARSC computational systems and resources include a wide range of high performance computing, storage and visualization technology. ARSC is poised to meetnorthern challenges with global solutions.

Office space is provided for all University of Alaska project personnel with adequate space and room for future growth and visiting scientists.

The Geophysical Institute Public Information and Educational Outreach Office assists researchers with sharing their research with a broader audience. Their services include:

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  Scheduling and promoting numerous events open to the public including lectures, workshops, open houses, symposiums, and seminars;
  
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  Scheduling scientific speakers for public lectures, for service organizations, for classroom presentations, and for related activities on a local, statewide, national, and international level;
  
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  Coordinating on-location news and media interviews for the institute and institute scientists. The office prepares news releases, arranges briefings and press conferences, with GI administration and faculty, and prepares background material for media consumption. (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/infooffice/index.html).
  

Camping and survival gear are available for use as needed.

The Geophysical Institute is home to its own Machine Shop and Electronic Shop, which assist researchers with custom built and designed equipment as needed:

(http://www.gi.alaska.edu/services/electricshop/index.html).