Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 357)

1.1 Title of Activity
Spitsbergen Climate System Current Status – SCSCS.

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
SCSCS

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Sergey Pryamikov
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet
Russia

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
Svalbard Science Forum
WMO

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
Norway
Czech Republic
Poland

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
729, 732, 820, 764

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
5. The polar regions as vantage points

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

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

During last decades in the Euroarctic Region there is observed a stable tendency towards warming that enables us to assume that this is not a short-time deviations of the climatic system from the equilibrium but long-lasted changes. To main factors forming the climate of the Spitsbergen Archipelago one could refer its geographical location, atmospheric circulation, ocean impact, sea and continental ice sheet, complicated morphometrics.
On the Spitsbergen Archipelago there exists the huge mass of fresh water in a form of cryosphere elements (glaciers, snow cover, naleds), it has a specific biota and at the same time locates in the area of a relatively intensive economic activity compared with other Arctic Archipelagos... Thus, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere of the Archipelago is a noticeable objects-indicator of the current status of the Arctic climate system and estimates of its future changes. Along with this Spitsbergen is a wonderful science platform for studying the overall spectrum of reactions of Polar Regions nature on the climate variations both of natural and anthropogenic origin.
Nowadays, a large complex of scientific researches and monitoring of the Spitsbergen Archipelago environment is carried out on the basis of the infrastructure of the Russian village Barents burg, Norwegian villages Longierbuen and New-Alesunn and also the Polish research base Hornsunn. Meteorological, aerological, ice, oceanographic, biological and other observations are performed.
It is considered to perform the following complex investigations of the Spitsbergen Archipelago environment in the framework of this project:
Main project goals are:
- development and unification of the existing system of complex monitoring of the principal climate forming parameters of the environment status in the area of the Spitsbergen Archipelago
estimation of the features of the present status of the principal components of the climatic and eco– systems of the Archipelago and surrounding Euro-Arctic aquatic regions -on the basis of the analysis of databases obtained during the project implementation and historical Russian and available international databases ;
– Understanding of the impact mechanisms of external climate factors on the nature of the Spitsbergen Archipelago;
– development of the scientific basis of the scenarios of possible climate changes of the Archipelago environment and forecast of possible ecological impact;
- improvement of the technology and technical means for the system of hydrometeorological monitoring of the environment.
The investigations are complex ones. So, there are some separate sub-programs co-operating in the framework of general research program including the following directions:
• Meteorological regime;
• Hydrological regime of dry land;
• Energy-exchange processes between the atmosphere and underlying surface;
• Ice-cover evolution;
• Structure and dynamics of coastal waters including fiords;
• Climate and fresh water balance;
• Sea-ice evolution;
• Monitoring of contamination of air and water ambience
• Studies of the composite and concentration of radio-active gases in the atmosphere and ocean;
• Flora and fauna research;
• Validation of results from remote sounding of the environment components;
• Testing and experimental service of new measurement complexes for the Archipelago environment monitoring.
Implementation of the above sub-programs will be realized on the basis of ZGМО «Baretsburg» (AARI, Murmansk ASMS), Norwegian research station in New Alesunn village (NPI) and Polish station in the Hornsunn Bay (Polish Academy of Sciences). Also it is assumed to perform, on the basis of the previous AARI field studies on the Archipelago, the constant-basis observations at a number of geographical objects (glaciers, lakes, river valleys, etc) for which there exist multi-year sets of field data. Here we suppose to use both automation measuring complexes and random observations using helicopters, sea- vehicles etc.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
CSCSC – is a complex project implemented both at the Russian and international stationary research stations and observatories located on the Archipelago and also using the field researches including autonomous observation means and remote sounding. Obviously, these investigations are closely connected with the other projects and programs planned for implementation on the Archipelago during IPY (ARCDIV, CMRWA, TOPOCLIM, ARCTOS QUALITY, SVALBASE, OASIS),. At the same time SCSCS will be implemented on the base of existing AARI Program «Study of meteorological regime and Climate variability in Spitsbergen archipelago area” in the framework of which the complex sttudies of the Archipelago environment have been carried out since 2001. During the IPY the process of unification of the list of observed parameters of the environmetal status is stipulated between the co-partners (Russia, Norway, Poland etc), also additional exmerimental measurenments are possible.

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?
The result from SCSCS implementation will be development of monitoring environment system of the Spitsbergen Archipelago and surrounding waters. It will be due to development of optimal observation system, interaction with the observational programs of potential partners, using new more efficient measurenment complexes, performinf of sub-satellite validation experiments and using the capacious technologies of information exchange between the measuring complexes and data collection centers. Performed researches will provide the appropriate knowledge on the mechanisms of formation of climatic and eco- changes on the Archipelago and as a result will lead to understanding of the reasons and scenario development explaining the origin of possible climatic changes and the ecological impacts.

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
Helicopters
Snow terrain vehicles

Further details – Autonomous measurement complexes Boats

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?
Yes

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3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This is a pulse of activity during 2007-2009 within an existing programme

If part of an existing programme please name the programme – Program of AARI «Study of meteorological regime and Climate variability in Spitsbergen archipelago area.

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
SCSCS will establish a management structure that maintains necessary strategic planning and linkages including sub-projects developed on the base of individual EOI projects. The SCSCS cluster will use following elements for scientific project organisation and management:
• SACS Steering Committee consisting of members (as a rule PI) from each of the cluster EOI and leaded by Project co-ordinator will be responsible for guiding all the work performed under the project;
• Program Coordinator will be responsible for the overall science coordination, planning and monitoring of research activities and field work, assuring coherence, harmonisation and complementation of measurements, and will lead the program secretariat;
• For coordination of working groups, accomplishment of work packages as well as proper exchange of preliminary results and the creation of new ideas will be organized on regular basis;
The SCSCS Science Plan will be the main tool for assuring progress, timely deliverables and coordination. The plan will give detailed description of the overall objectives, work package and subproject activities, exchange program, deliverables and field activity plans.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
The main result of the SCSCS implementation is further development of the environment monitoring system of the Spitsbergen Archipelago and surrounding waters. It will take place due to optimization of the observation system and obtaining on its basis the correct estimates of the status and variation of the parameters of of environmental-climatic system of the Spitsbergen Archipelago. Crusial role must belong to the use of new more efficient modern measuring complexes, perfoming of sub-satellite validation experiments and use of the capacious technologies of th einformation exchange between the measuring complexes and data collection centers.. The results of the performed works will show the actual conception about formation of climatic and ecological processes on the Archipelago and how they contribute to successful development of scientific basis for global climate changes forecast, environment state and improvement of hydrometeorological forecasting.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
An increasing interest of a number of European (France, Italy, Spane) and Asian states (China, Japan, South Corea), not bordering the Arctic to the impact on environmental, living conditions and economics creates a high potential for their participating in IPY, and, respectively, in SCSCS in the freamework of mutual lield works on the Archipelago and further coordinated data processing of th eresults obtained. Now, Italy, France, Japan and South Corea already have the seasone field bases on the Archipelago (Norwegian village New-Olesunn)

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
Since SCSCS is focused at the complex studies of the nature of the Spitsbergen Archipelago, comprising its costal waters, sea ice, atmosphere, glaciers, flora and fauna and also the adjacent regions of Arctic Ocean and Arctic, it creates strong links with core programs that consider the Arctic Ocean, its marginal seas, atmosphere and cryosphere without lateral boundaries like “ Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System”, “Network for Arctic Climate and Biological Diversity Studies” , “The Pan Arctic cluster for Climate forcing of the Arctic Marine Ecosystem”, “Weather and Climate: IPY-Thorpex “Multi-disciplinary Observing Systems: International Arctic System for Observing the Atmosphere”, and “Cryosphere: State and fate of the Polar Cryosphere”. Since SCSCS is focused on the natural sciences primarily it is natural that this project contribute a lot for successful implementation of Human Dimensions related clusters, like “Change: Adaptation and Vulnerability; coupled human-environment systems”. This later collaboration will expand the interface between the physical climate system and the ecosystem-human response aspects of a changing Arctic

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
SCSCS will follow and contribute to the design of the IPY data management policy and plan. Collected during IPY period data will be available through International Data Exchange System via WDC which certainly will have link to IPY Data management system since there is already suitable Data Management EoI “.
Following the IPY Data Policy, the CAOCS cluster will implement the following data management principles and procedures:
• Metadata: Description of work-packages and subprojects will and collected data will be placed on SCSCS home page on AARI web-site: www.aari.nw.ru and will have automatic links;
• Data: Each individual subproject in this cluster will build their own secure data storage and data validation/quality procedures. A well managed system of QA/QC protocols, building first of all on the existing WMO/IOC JCOMM standards, will be the SCSCS cluster advantage. All partners will agree on harmonisation procedures, joint measurement protocols, key parameters, quality control standards and exchange policies;
• Exchange: Following the IPY Data Policy, all subprojects will make their data available to the research team and the general IPY research community within a reasonable time through existing data exchange procedures and via WDC system.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
No

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
Implementation of this project will contribute to development of a modern diagnostic system of atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere of Spitsbergen Archipelago. It will enable us to generalize the existing information and obtain new data required for a correct estimate of the past and present status of the environment of the Archipelago and the tendencies in its changes Project implementation will enable research of the natural processes leading to these changes and estimation of their impact on the living conditions and humane activities on the Spitsbergen Archipelago.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
It is considered that students and PhD students of the Russian Universities and Institutes, the grantees of the Fellowship Programs from Russian-German Otto Schmidt Laboratory of Polar and Marine Research and Russian-Norwegian AAR/NPI “Fram” Arctic Climate Laboratory will be involved to the project implementation. Scholarships on the IPY programs and methods of its implementation will be held. Activities on Education and Outreach related to the polar regions will be placed on web site of the IPY Russian Organizing Committee
It is considered that students and PhD students of the Russian Universities and Institutes, the grantees of the Fellowship Programs of Russian-Norwegian AAR/NPI “Fram” Arctic Climate Laboratory and Russian-German master Program “POMOR” will be involved to the project implementation... On the stationary Russian and International research stations located on the Archipelago at summer field bases and at research vehicles the summer workshops and seminars will take place on the IPY programs and methods of their implementation. Activities on Education and Outreach related to the polar regions will be placed on web site of the IPY Russian Organizing Committee

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
Financial Support of th eproject will be realized mostly due to Russia national program “Investigation of meteorological regime and Climate variability in the Spitsbergen archipelago area” and by initiative and expedition grants of RFBR with partial participation of the foreign partners in the project implementation.

3.11 Additional Comments
A reason for the development of separate IPY cluster on complex studies of the Spitsbergen Archipelago environment based, especially, on Russian EoIs are national long-term plans, financial support for their implementation and the existing unique experience and knowledge needed for complex works in this region.

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Dr Sergey Pryamikov
Arctic and Antarctic research Institute of Roshydromet
38 Bering str. St-Petersburg
199397
Russia

Tel:          812-3520096
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         812-3522685
Email:       priamiks@aari.nw.ru

Second Contact
Dr Boris Ivanov
Arctic and Antarctic research Institute of Roshydromet
38 Bering str. St-Petersburg
199397
Russia

Tel:          812-3523352
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         812-3522685
Email:      b_ivanov@aari.nw.ru

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation