Initial results from geophysical surveys and shallow coring of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS)

The Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS) is the sole interior Greenlandic ice stream. Fast flow initiates near the summit dome, and the ice stream terminates approximately 1000 km downstream in three large outlet glaciers that calve into the Greenland Sea. To better understand this important system, in the summer of 2012 we drilled a 67 m firn core and conducted ground-based radio-echo sounding (RES) and active-source seismic surveys at a site approximately 150 km downstream from the onset of streaming flow (NEGIS firn core, 75°37.61' N, 35°56.49' W). The site is representative of the upper part of the ice stream, while also being in a crevasse-free area for safe surface operations. Annual cycles were observed for insoluble dust, sodium and ammonium concentrations and for electrolytic conductivity, allowing a seasonally resolved chronology covering the past 400 yr. Annual layer thicknesses averaged 0.11 m ice equivalent (i.e.) for the period 1607–2011, although accumulation varied between 0.08 and 0.14 m i.e., likely due to flow-related changes in surface topography. Tracing of RES layers from the NGRIP (North Greenland Ice Core Project) ice core site shows that the ice at NEGIS preserves a climatic record of at least the past 51 kyr. We demonstrate that deep ice core drilling in this location can provide a reliable Holocene and late-glacial climate record, as well as helping to constrain the past dynamics and ice–lithosphere interactions of the Greenland Ice Sheet

Three Cities Fire and Emergency Services Project

Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village, and all other Oregon cities, are responsible for providing their citizens with fire and emergency medical (EM) services. Rather than establish internal city fire departments, the Three Cities entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to purchase services from the City of Gresham in March 2006. These services include fire suppression, fire prevention, emergency medical services, and hazardous materials response (2005 Fire Service IGA). Under this IGA, the Three Cities collectively reimbursed Gresham $2.705 million for FEMS in 2012-2013. The current IGA will expire June 30, 2015, and the Three Cities are preparing to review their arrangements for fire and EM services. In March 2013, the Portland State University (PSU), Center for Public Service (CPS) entered into a consulting agreement with the City of Troutdale, acting for itself and on behalf of the cities of Wood Village and Fairview, in a project to analyze the services provided under the Gresham Fire and Emergency Services IGA. The Portland State CPS team and the Three Cities agreed to treat the Three Cities as a combined, single entity for project analysis purposes. The consulting agreement between CPS and the Three Cities defined the following analysis areas and work task deliverables: An analysis of current fire and EM services system charges and tax revenue structures (Task I), A “Call for Service” profile analysis, showing the types and frequency of both routine calls and major events – e.g. a detailed break-out of medical calls vs. firefocused service calls (Tasks II & III), An administrative cost and program capital cost analysis, showing what Three Cities’ citizens are paying to support service delivery, A station-centered cost analysis based on Gresham Fire and Emergency Services operation of Stations 74 and 75. (Task V), The development and comparison of various service delivery alternatives, including (but not limited to) re-negotiating the existing contract and service arrangements with Gresham; establishing new service offerings, either within the existing Gresham contract or through the creation of a new entity; and/or shared services arrangements with other entities. (Task VIII)