Due to sudden unrest in the Maldives in early February, operations of the ARM Mobile Facility on Gan Island were suspended on February 9, 2012, and all instruments have been secured and powered down. If the situation stabilizes, AMF operations for the ARM Madden-Julian Oscillation Experiment, or AMIE, which began in October 2011, may resume prior to the scheduled end date of the campaign on March 31, 2012. After that, the AMF will be packed up and returned to the United States to begin preparations for its next deployment. In the meantime, data collection for AMIE continues from ARM’s permanent site on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
The AMF team enjoyed excellent relationships with the community on Gan and did not experience any negative treatment during their stay. They are hopeful that circumstances in the region will resolve soon and wish the very best to people throughout the Addu Atoll.