Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

IPY: Pan-Arctic Carbon Export from Erosion (PACEEN) Network  (PACEEN)

Outline
Coastal abrasion of material from Arctic shorelines may become more important depending on global change. The Arctic system has many important feedbacks that will respond to global change and this is no more apparent than at the land ocean margin. Global change may alter the important process and feedbacks along this zone where important material exchanges occur such as nutrients, organic matter and water from land that impacts the functioning of the coastline. For example a decrease in sea ice cover will allow for longer open water periods thus an increase in shoreline erosion due to wave action may occur. Estimates of the contribution of eroded shoreline material on a mass amount basis and the associated organic carbon content have been made but have only focused on the shorelines adjacent to the Beaufort Sea and Eastern Siberian Seas. Therefore, to better integrate the Arctic shoreline system into regional, and global carbon budgets, this proposal will seek to establish a long term monitoring of coastal retreat rates from different coastal geomorphologies and the associated transport of organic carbon into the Arctic Ocean. Current estimates of the erosion rates and flux of inorganic and organic matter have relied upon a handful of key sites with sporadic measurements. This proposal will add and strengthen the existing research that has been done by establishing remote sensing of key sites throughout the Arctic to monitor, over the long term, erosional retreat rates of the shoreline. At the same sites, geochemical measurements will be carried out so estimates of inorganic and organic material mobilization rates can be calculated. The combination of remote sensing and geochemical measurements at key sites throughout the Arctic will better incorporate coastal erosion and subsequent mobilization of inorganic and organic material into local and global material budgets. This in turn will allow for a better forecasting of environmental change within the Arctic and provide a platform for future research to be carried out.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed work will develop a Pan-Arctic view of coastal erosion and subsequent mobilization of inorganic and organic matter to the Arctic Ocean. The combination of field studies and remote sensing at key sites throughout the Arctic will leave a legacy of data and provide the foundation for future studies to monitor changes within the Arctic. The team of researchers that have been assembled for this project are multi-disciplinary and will work closely with scientists from Arctic Circum-Polar Coastal Observing Network (ACCO-Net) proposal.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This proposal will be closely linked with the Arctic Circum-Polar Coastal Observing Network (ACCO-Net). This collaboration will allow for exchanges of data between scientists working in different regions of the Arctic thus facilitating a more complete understanding of the Arctic system.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The North Slope of Alaska from Barrow to the Canadian Border.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 08/2007 - 09/2007            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Helicopters, satellites, snow terrain vehicle, ice drilling capabilities, existing filed stations

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave behind all cores and other materials collected at the field stations as well as remotely sensed data.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project has been endoresed by the Arctic Circum-Polar Coastal Observing Network (ACCO-Net).

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?
The lead principle investigator will oversee the project and in turn a data manager will be responsible for the collection of data from each of the principle investigators. The data generated from this proposal will be maintained at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami and will be open to other scientists as well as the public through a web page dedicated to the project.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education will be a central part of this project and will involve public school students, undergraduates and graduate students. The data will also be published in high quality peer reviewed journals.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data will be archived at national and international repositories.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The proposal is being submitted to the National Science Foundation's IPY oppurtinitu in the Spring of 2006.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Ralph Mead
University of Miami, RSMAS, MAC
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, Fl
33149
USA

Tel: 305-421-4786
Mobile:
Fax: 305-421-4689
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information