Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Constraining the ice sheet evolution in southern Greenland since the Last Glacial Maximum from relative sea-level changes and glacial-isostatic adjustment models  (Ice sheet evolution and sea-level changes in southern Greenland)

Outline
The southern part of Greenland is a key area in understanding the interplay between the different Earth system components affecting climate. In this area, many of the Earth system components meet and interact with each other in a complex manner. Studying the area’s glacial history will give insights into palaeoclimate changes and environmental responses. The knowledge of former climate change is highly relevant to predictions of future changes of global climate. The changing climate caused complete or partial disappearance of the large continental ice sheets following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, c. 22 ka BP). Significant vertical uplift of the formerly ice-covered areas occurred due to glacial-isostatic adjustment and this can be seen as relative sea-level changes. Sea-level changes outside ice-covered areas are largely caused by the redistribution of water between continents and ocean basins as a consequence of glacial growth and decay. Observations of relative sea-level changes since the LGM until the present day from formerly glaciated regions help to constrain local ice-volume changes and the retreat/growth history. A recently completed interdisciplinary research project showed that earlier ice sheet models underestimate the ice thickness and/or the extent in southern Greenland during the LGM. The project included sea-level observations, bedrock exposure analyses and glacial-isostatic adjustment modelling, and the modelling was constrained by developing and testing a range of plausible ice-recession and ice-readvance scenarios. The ice sheet scenarios tested suggest that the ice sheet extended all the way out to the shelf edge during the LGM, that ice sheet recession began early (c. 22,000 cal. yr BP) and that the ice-margin recession proceeded quickly. The ice thickness in central southern Greenland during the LGM must have been of the order of 4000-4500 m. New data from the area around Bredefjord suggest, however, that the ice sheet was thinner in this specific area and that the fjord acted as a major drainage path for the southern part of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The Bredefjord area seems to be the key area for the drainage of the ice sheet in the south but only few data are available and more needs to be collected to confirm this. The project aims to investigate the Bredefjord area and search for Late-glacial lake sediments, deglaciation sequences and isolation contacts from lakes and marine basins. The data collected will enable us to reconstruct the relative sea-level history of the area, the evolution of the southern part of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the ice sheet drainage mechanisms. This is crucial to the understanding of future ice sheet evolution scenarios.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The results of this project will enable us to make conclusions about the evolution of the southern part of the Greenland Ice Sheet (Theme 2), which is relevant for the reconstruction of palaeoclimate and future forecasting of climatic changes and its effects. The project will increase our understanding of the Greenland contribution to the global sea-level rise occurring during the Late-glacial (Theme 3) and Holocene. The project will add to the global database of sea-level changes and the network of glacio-isostatic observation points (Theme 3 and 5). In addition, MSc-students will participate and knowledge about polar/climate research will be passed on to the next generation.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project is a collaboration between scientists from Sweden (Swedish Geotechnical Institute and Lund University), Australia (Australian National University) and Denmark (GEUS) and includes fieldwork, laboratory analyses, model development, training of students, securing grants and writing publications.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The target area for the project is the Bredefjord area, SW Greenland. Previous investigations indicate that this area is a key area for ice drainage of the southern part of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: August/2007 – September/2007            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The logistic support for this expedition will not require any significant support or facility. Two Zodiac boats with accessories, survival suits, satellite phone and VHF. This equipment could be shared with other projects possibly working in the same region in the time frame before or after this project.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will mainly use existing facilities and equipment. The legacy of the project will however be intellectual advances, institutional collaboration and training of the next generation of scientists as students will be involved.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
Commercial operator
Own support

The expedition will need support from either the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, the Danish Polar Center or some other operator for the supply of two Zodiac boats with accessories, survival suits, satellite phone and VHF.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - This expression of intent has been submitted to the APEX Steering Committee and will be forwarded by their activity leader to the Swedish national IPY Committee.

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
This project is an expansion of a project finished in the spring 2006. New interesting data have resulted from a PhD-project finished in 2006. These results and new questions have led us to plan for a continuation. This new initiative will hopefully be integrated into the APEX framework.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project is managed by the four PI’s included, with a head responsibility for the field activity taken by Dr. Charlotte Sparrenbom (Swedish Geotechnical Institute) and Dr. Ole Bennike (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland), the laboratory work will be supervised by Prof. Svante Björck (Lund University), Dr. Ole Bennike and Dr. Charlotte Sparrenbom and the modelling analyses will be managed by Prof. Kurt Lambeck (Australian National University) and Dr. Charlotte Sparrenbom.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Our plan is to have two MSc-students to participate in the project (both in the field and in laboratory work) and produce one master thesis each from the project. We also plan to produce a minimum of two scientific papers presenting the results obtained from the project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
All collected cores will be stored in a cold room at Lund University for sub-sampling and analyses and the results from all analyses will be made public by international publishing. The sea-level data will be incorporated into a sea-level database accessible upon request.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The expedition costs are funded by an Australian grant. Applications to national funding agencies are submitted for the analyses costs and part of salaries for data processing. An application for logistic support (providing expensive equipment such as Zodiaks, survival suits and communication equipment) is sent to the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat (SPRS).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Charlotte Sparrenbom
Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI)
Hospitalsgatan 16 A
Malmö
SE-211 33
Sweden

Tel: +46 40 356771
Mobile:
Fax: +46 40 938685
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information