Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

“Integrated research of climatic changes in the high latitudes of Marine Arctic and assessment of transit navigation through NSR  (Northern Sea Route Transit” (NSR-Transit))

Outline
Integrated wide-scale monitoring in the Arctic basin with the use of ice-breakers, cargo and scientific ice going vessels as well as helicopters in order to assess changes in the Arctic basin and their impact on the conditions of transit navigation through Northern Sea Route. Comparing the obtained assessments with the results of wide scale monitoring on the Northern Sea Route Seaways done in the 1970s, will enable unique quantitative assessment of the changes occurred as well as initial data necessary to evaluate models for transit navigation. Activities in the framework of the proposed cluster include seasonal cycle of ice-hydrological and meteorological observations during the scientific-practical container carrying transit voyage (from West to East and from East to West) along NSR Seaways in June-August 2007. During this high-latitude “double” voyage it is planned to assess the conditions of NSR navigation paying particular attention to availability of hydro-meteorological information, communication, and ice-breaking assistance under the changing in the recent time climatic conditions. It is also supposed to hold a scientific-practical conference in October 2007 in Saint-Petersburg, devoted to the results of the voyage.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The realization of the project will promote the development of the arrangements on the increase of the NSR cargo-traffic economic efficiency. The obtained data will help to specify climatic changes in the Arctic zone and their impact on the conditions of navigation along the NSR. Realization of the project will support the development of economic and trade relations between Northern Europe and the Asian Pacific countries as well as the U.S. and Canada.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Russian Northern Sea Route Seaways; international scientific research team on board.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Arctic Ocean (Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchee and Bering Seas)

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/2007 - 09/2007            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice-breaker; Scientific research ice-class vessel; Helicopter; Ice-class transport vessel; Drifting buoys; Ice-drilling equipment; Satellite.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The results of the fieldwork will be used to consider the optimal observation system for hydro-meteorological monitoring in Arctic and in the developing the recommendations for further monitoring allocation in the key Arctic-processes zones development. In the practical way the obtained information will promote the creation of the optimal conditions for the transit navigation of vessels (including foreign) along the NSR and Arctic port development.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

How will the project be organised and managed?
It is suggested to delegate the management of the activity to NCP-NSR. The coordination of the scientific part of the activity will be accomplished by Council for Location of Productive Forces and Economic Cooperation. At present the participation of the following organizations, members of the Partnership is suggested: Central Marine Research & Design Institute, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, JSC “Lenmorniiproekt”, Admiral Makarov State Marine Academy, Institute of the North, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. The participation of other scientific organizations will be settled down on the concordance.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The positive results of the project will be widely covered in the scientific and popular-science periodicals, mass media, University lecture materials and in the special trade-commercial editions.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The data management will be accomplished through the unified national database of the information on Polar regions. At first phase (in 2006) scheme of data management and user-access technologies will be developed. Further the integrated database of the Polar region information will be formed (in 2007-2008).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Partly the project will be financed by the state budget on uses of high-latitude Arctic research, but the main funding will be provided by commercial organizations, including the members of the Partnership, taking part in the activity, and the International Polar Year fund.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Alexander Granberg
Council for Location of Productive Forces and Economic Cooperation
Vavilova Street, 7
117997
Russian Federation

Tel: +7-495-135-00-28
Mobile: +7-916-207-95-99
Fax: +7-495-135-00-28
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information