Full Proposals for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 58)

1.1 Title of Activity
Change and variability of Arctic Systems Nordaustlandet, Svalbard

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
Kinnvika

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Veijo Pohjola
Uppsala University
Sweden

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
NULL
NULL
NULL
NULL

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
Finland
Norway
Poland
Russia
UK
USA
Canada
Japan
Estonia
Germany
The Netherlands
Iceland
Denmark
Switzerland
France
NULL

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
564

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Arctic

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
3. Polar-global linkages/tele-connections
4. Exploring new frontiers
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
1. Natural or social science

2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

We will mount a series of research expeditions during IPY to Nordaustlandet, Svalbard, the northernmost island in the Nordic Arctic sector which is 90% ice covered. The multi-disciplinal and multi-national initiative is composed by 26 projects, having individual goals, but well integrated common themes (www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/projects). The spectrum of projects from geosciences to the humanities, investigates how the environmental and anthropogenic dynamics have changed recently in comparison with past records of change from existing expedition logs and photographs, proxy climate data from ice-, lake- and sea-sediment cores, and dynamic studies both on terrestrial as marine ice, comprising more than 80 Principal Investigators (www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/personnel). We will monitor atmospheric, terrestrial and cryospheric chemical, and physical fluxes continuously over, and beyond, the period of the IPY. The activities will be integrated to existing research and monitoring in Svalbard as well as to relevant IPY projects to which Kinnvika base will serve an important add on site.Historical remains in the field and in archives from a succession of cultures of whale hunting, trapping, exploration and mineral exploitation are abundant on Nordaustlandet and northwestern Spitsbergen. Economic change and cultural variability are major themes in the interdisciplinary humanistic research that will investigate these traces at significant sites, esp. natural harbors located at good hunting grounds of the past. Historical archaeology, including pioneering arctic marine archaeology, will be combined with scientific investigations of e.g. soil chemistry, erosion and local biological alterations resulting from human interaction with the wilderness of Spitsbergen. History of science will be a major integrating endeavor in this, relating a temporal and geographical sequence of aboriginal and Western knowledge projects to the crucial transition from colonial to post-colonial arctic science and scholarship.Earlier research expedition data viewed through modern surveys and data gathering will provide data on the degree of change and variability in this particular system. Proxy-records from a variety of natural archives will bring a time-dimension to more process-focused or monitoring studies. Special attention will be paid to the response of the cryosphere to past climate and environmental changes. This is closely linked to geological assessment of glacial history and monitoring of atmospheric pollutant transport pathways. Advanced statistical methods and numerical models will be used to elucidate linkages between the systems and global teleconnections. In addition the biological legacy of the 1957-58 IGY will be explored via investigation of anthropogenically disturbed vegetation, soils, and soil biology (invertebrates, microbes) to determine the persistence of human influence on semi-desert ecosystems. We aim to provide a platform for broadband scientific endeavour into a relatively poorly investigated part of the Svalbard Archipelago. The plethora of instruments and methods we plan to unleash are required to fully measure change and variability in the Arctic system both from the human use to the resonances within the natural system. For synergies sought between different research fields, see (www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/synergies).We will provide a legacy in the form of a renovated scientific base for future, primarily Nordic field research on Nordaustlandet

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
The Kinnvika is multidisciplinary project which includes human and natural sciences. It has 26 Working Packages as follows: 5 in Atmospheric studies;3 in Biosphere studies; 4 in Climatic and environmental archives; 3 in Studies of the lithosphere;3 in Ice Mass focused studies; 2 in Landscape focused studies; 2 in Oceanography;3 in Society focused studies; 1 Systems focused study(see: http://www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/projects/index.htm).
The multidisciplinary and co-operation by disciplines is guaranteed by (i) common geographic location by the research, (ii) by the fact that the groups will work simultaneously in a common base, (iii) by organizing regular workshops for the Work Packages during the interpretation phase of research and (iv) combing the results into multidisciplinary articles and a common publication.

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
#numbers refer to projects listed at www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/projects and themes refer to the IPY.Theme 1: Monitoring campaigns: Aerosols, heavy metals, radiation, carbon, nitrogen, sea ice, climate, landscape dynamics, plankton dynamics, snow chemistry, (#1-7, 16-18, 21,22).Theme 2: Process studies: Air/snow, terrestrial ecosystem, paleoclimate, archaeological and bibliographic archives, permafrost thawing, ice and landscape dynamics, and numerical experiments (#2, 6, 8-11, 14,15, 20-24,26).Theme 3: By finding statistical relations between variability found at the studied site and global phenomenon. (#2, 8, 9, 11, 14, 26). Theme 4: Novel techniques: Remote sensing for landscape evolution.(#12, 20).Theme 6: Site examinations, bibliographical archives and interviews. (#23-25).

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?
Ice strengthened research ship
Ice drilling capability
Helicopters
Existing field stations
New field station

Further details – Summer 2006: Ice strengthened vessel, Fuel and Food depots; Kinnvika base renewal; Spring 2007: Ice breaker/Helicopter input of equipment; Summer 2007: Ice strengthened research vessel sea ice margin/marine biology equipment to erect/renew base @ Kinnvika, and Small boats/Zodiacs; Spring 2008: Helicopter, Snowmobiles Summer 2008: Helicopter, Ice strengthened research vessel

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?

3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This activity is the start of a new programme that will outlive IPY

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
Basic idea:The project is a combination of a scientific project, logistical co-operation and a legacy effort. The idea is based on the co-ordinated work of a variety of scientific projects that are carried out at a common field site using existing co-ordinated logistics. The project strengthens old and opens new and concrete avenues for international co-operation in the high arctic. The project is initiated from a grass root level by researchers. The project has the following goals:1.To support high level multidisciplinary scientific research;2.To complement the legacy of Arctic research stations by re-opening a base in a specific high-arctic area;3.Strengthen and widen the logistical co-operation by international Arctic research expeditions both with respect to a land base as well as aerial, marine and terrestrial transportation.Leadership:The project is led by a Steering Group which has members from institutes from all Nordic Countries, and Poland. The Steering Group is chaired by Arctic Centre, Finland. The task of the Steering Group is to co-ordinate the logistics and science work of the project. The steering group has expertise of leadership of scientific institutions, leadership of scientific projects and international scientific networks, in demanding field experiments and by leadership of national research expedition logistics. The day to day planning of the projects will be handled by the project leader with liaison to the Steering Committee which will coordinate expedition science activities.Science work:The scientific work of the project is divided into 25 different research projects, or Work Packages. Individual Work Packages will be managed by a Principal Investigator. Each Work Package will take care of their own research strategy, its funding and related research logistics needs. Experience has shown that the most effective way to implement multidisciplinary research is to have a common scientific problem for various disciplines as well as to organise field efforts by using a common field site. The Kinnvika-project will serve both as catalysis and conductor between the different Work Packages and meld them into a multidisciplinary overview of the change and current status of the area. The project will organise a series of multidisciplinary workshops including major kick-off and wrapping-up conferences. The project will establish a potential base for a possible longer term permanent or semi-permanent monitoring work.
Logistics: Overall logistics will coordinated by a 3 year appointed professional with responsibility for detailed planning and acquisitions and liasing with national polar operators and other logistic operating in the vicinity of Nordaustlandet.The logistics will be based on co-ordination and share of existing national and commercial logistics. The research site is based on existing facilities by re-opening a field station which was set up during IGY 1957. Despite of remoteness of this high arctic area the transportation facilities are relatively modest and feasible within our expected budget. Outreach - The project has a strong outreach component through the co-operation with the Science Centre Exhibition and Information Services international networks by the Arctic Centre, Finland. The Centre and the Kinnvika project will co-operate in a new dedicated IPY out-reach project to be filed with the IPO: IPY Histories: International Polar Year Activities Past and Present: Museum and Virtual Exhibitions.The Steering Group has established a co-operation with mass media such as TV-film production.Data services
· Data services will be co-ordinated by Steering Group and will be organised according to guidelines by IPY Metadata guidelines.

Education
· Education plans will be coordinated by the steering committee, with several complete programme wide activities detailed in sections 3.6-3.9.
· Education activities will be linked with the University of Arctic international secretariat which is based at the Arctic Centre.

Links to IPY-projects:
We are coordinating closely with various large international IPY projects of relevant focus, here we list the key projects and the contact member of Kinnvika with liaison responsibilities:
· ARCDIV & POLAP (Piotr G?owacki),
· GLACIODYN(Jon Ove Hagen),
· LASHIPA(Urban Wråkberg),
· CARE (John Moore)
We have steering committee members within the steering committees of the above mentioned projects and thus we participate in science activities. Steering group members (Piotr G?owacki & Elisabeth Isaksson) are also participating to SVALBASE led by Norwegian Polar Insititute.

Preparatory tasks:
· A reconnaissance visit to Kinnvika will be done in September 2005 by Steering Group members from Finland, Sweden and Norway and is already funded by Nordic Council of Ministers.
· A meeting by the Steering group and key logistic parties will be organised in October/November, and is already funded by Nordic Council of Ministers.

Project history:
· A plan was initiated in Finland already in November 2002, Sweden in 2003, and the other countries came in 2004. The scientific interest towards it has been high. The project is directed to the historic site of the Swedish-Finnish-Swiss IGY expedition in 1957. The project has close link to Norwegian activities in the area. The proposal is also part of the future plans of the internationally open research network of the Swedish Programme for Social Science Research in the Polar Regions, which is a part of an ongoing work since 1997.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
The project has good potential for longer term legacy of infrastructure. The base at Kinnvika was established in 1957. It will be renovated for research and expedition activities during IPY. This allows possible continued usage as a base for research after IPY if regarded useful by scientists and consistent with requirements of Environmental Impact Assessment and limitations of working in the Nordaustlandet Nature Reserve. The Kinnvika Base will provide another concrete platform for international and Nordic cooperation in the High Arctic.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
Yes. Finland's high arctic research has been extremely limited to date, despite being one of the 8 Arctic countries. Finnish researchers can feel they have a high Arctic base of operations at Kinnvika for several years. Estonia is involved. The internet will allow a virtual participation of anyone in the planned outreach and field activities

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
The IPY core education and outreach activity is the initiative of the University of Arctic whose international secretariat is based at Arctic Centre.We are waiting to hear what the other core activities are, certainly we will work closely with whatever are relevant

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
Arctic Centre hosts several Arctic databases and has an Information Service currently comprising 9 members including Arto Vitikka, Finnish member of the IPY-JCADM as well as Arctic Portal initiative by the Arctic Council. We will be active in formulating, and subscribe fully, to the IPY DIS plan. We will be able to create new databases and provide data dissemination to other specialist international data repositories appropriate for each field of research undertaken by the expedition.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
Most of the field projects will use doctoral students, and much of the research will be done by young scientists and post-docs. An exchange program for PhD's and researchers will be established between the partners to improve future links and joint work.The Kinnvika base will require a team of about 3 logistics persons personnel on site. We will additionally hire a logistical coordinator for 3 years to run the whole project. As Finland, and to an extent also Sweden, lack a high Arctic research station, this will provide a new focus for Arctic scientific research and aspirations of the young within the countries.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Arctic Centre is a multidisciplinary research institute, including a science centre and an electronic information services institution, and having long expertise on education and popularisation of science to wide public and school pupils. The Arctic Centre houses the core IPY Education and Outreach activity carried by the international secretariat of the University of Arctic, and we have already begun to discuss education activities with the UArctic team. A travelling/parallel exhibition will be prepared from the expedition by hired producer guided by Science Centre professional staff by the Arctic Centre. A website is a part of the exhibition production and it enables schools and media to follow the research in the field. The website is established by support of Information Services Unit by the Arctic Centre, by the Swedish Programme for Social Science Research in the Polar Regions and may also be supported by the Swedish Natural Historic Museum (Geologins dag). The expedition already enjoy considerable media interest e.g. due to the historical value of the Kinnvika Site, which will lead to a series of small broadcasted programs filmed during the pre-site survey in September, 2005.

The Lashipa initiative also plans a travelling exhibition of historical IPY photographs and on-going IPY activities, that we will work closely with through Kinnvika (Urban Wråkberg) and the archive of Barents region historical documentary film archive (Afbare) based at the Arctic Centre.

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
The scientific work will be funded mostly through the participating institutes through salaries and research equipment. Extra funding for research is being sought from national research councils and foundations. The logistic funding will be based partly on the existing national equipment by the countries and their shared use. The running costs will be applied, and some support for reconnaissance work and project meetings has already been allocated by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Additionally funding is being sought through domestic ministries. The national polar logistic operators in Finland and Sweden have been positive towards the proposal. The Polish research vessel Horyzont II has been promised for logistic supply and scientific transport during summer 2006 and 2007 at very low cost as we will coordinate our logistic activities with the Polish Polar research station in Hornsund.

3.11 Additional Comments

4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Dr Veijo Pohjola
Uppsala University
Vice-Head of the Departement of Earth Sciences, Departement of Earth Sciences, Villavägen 16, Uppsala
752 36
Sweden

Tel:          +46 - 18 471 2509
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         +46 – 18 471 2737
Email:       veijo.pohjola@geo.uu.se

Second Contact
Prof Paula Kankaanpää
Arctic Centre
University of Lapland Box 122 Rovaniemi
FIN-96101
Finland

Tel:          +358 341 2768
Mobile:   +358 40 7777 825
Fax:         +358 16 341 2777
Email:      Paula.kankaanpaa@ulapland.fi

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation