Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Long term observation of soil carbon and methane fluxes in Siberian tundra.  

Outline
Arctic soils and permafrost contain roughly 25% of the world's soil carbon pool. Permafrost melting, decomposition of soil carbon and methane fluxes from soils may increase as a result of expected large climate warming in the arctic. The resulting greenhouse gas emissions may constitute a positive feedback to climate warming, and are therefore a highly relevant for climate change studies. However, the carbon balance of northern ecosystems depends on complicated interactions with temperature, permafrost, hydrology, and ecosystem primary production. Research on this subject hitherto has concentrated on the North American and Western European Arctic, creating a large data gap over the largest continental landmass of Eurasia. Research in this area is very sparse, due to the lack of research facilities. It is highly important to increase the number of research locations where multi-year observational time series can be obtained. Only in this way sound data on the effects of climate variability and process interactions can be obtained. Our objective is to establish a permanent research station for a multi-year study of the climate change sensitivity of the carbon balance (including methane fluxes), permafrost and hydrology in the east Siberian arctic tundra lowlands along the Indigirka river. At the site (Kytalyk reserve near Chokhurdagh), a record of four years of CO2 (eddy covariance) and three years of CH4 (chamber) flux measurements is already available. To extend this record and to construct a complete carbon balance, we will install a state-of-the-art facility, including continuous methane flux measurements using eddy covariance techniques. Therefore infrastructure at the site needs to be enhanced, and local scientists need to be trained. The field station will be operated by a team of Russian and Dutch scientists and will be incorporated in wider networks of Arctic research stations and European/Russian/Japanese research programmes. Besides CO2 and CH4 flux measurement facilities, we will include continuous observation of permafrost changes, river discharge, carbon transport by water, and relevant meteorological parameters. To support the carbon balance and permafrost research, an assessment will be made of the spatial heterogeneity of the research area for upscaling of flux measurements to the landscape level. Maps of landcover and high spatial resolution landscape indicators will be produced based on available remote sensing data and intensive ground validation, to assess mid-(seasonal) and longterm (interannual) permafrost and vegetation dynamics.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will contribute to the establishment of a data set on tundra carbon balance. methane fluxes and vegetation, (contribution to Theme 1) with a perspective on longer term observations (Theme 2) on the effects of climate change on tundra greenhouse gas balance, vegetation and permafrost. The study of greenhouse gas fluxes in the project will enhance the knowledge of arctic soil and vegetation feedbacks on climate change (Theme 3).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Collaboration is funded by the Scientific Cooperation programme between the Netherlands and the Russian Federation. Participants: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA, Netherlands), Wageningen University and Research Centere (WUR, Netherlands), Institute for Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone (IBPC), Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Kytalyk (70o48'N, 147o53'E) in the Kolyma-Indigirka lowland, near Chokhurdagh. The site is situated on the Bereleg or Elon river, a tributary of the lower Indigirka.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/07 - 10/07      04/08 - 10/08      04/09 - 10/09
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
A field station will be established that also may support other IPY activities

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
See 2.3, the field station infrastructure will remain after the IPY and will provide also a basis for future research projects

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

Logistic support is also provided by World Wildlife Fund Russia office in Chokurdagh

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - the project has been granted as a cooperation project between Dutch and Russian national organizations for basic research (NWO, RFBR). The project details also have been forwarded to the coordinator of the Dutch contribution to IPY, Dr. M. Walgreen, email walgreen@nwo.nl

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
We will propose to include this project in 'Response of Arctic and Subarctic soils in a changing Earth: dynamic and frontier studies (RASCHER)', Activity ID 262

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project is managed by the main applicants, Dr. J. van Huissteden (VUA), Dr. T.C. Maximov (IBPC). This includes scientific and logistic management. Financial management is coordinated by the financial department of the home institute of the Dutch applicant, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences. If included in RASCHER, the project managers will report to the RASCHER Scientific Steering Committee.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Although not the first goal of this project, diverse comminucation and outreach activities will be undertaken by communicating research results to the press. The participants already have been engaged in several media contacts. Also communication of the research results to the local population will be undertaken through contacts with the WWF Russia and the local museum at Chokurdagh.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data will be made available via a project web site (already existing). Data that have not yet been published are available on request for other IPY projects. The activity will sign up to the IPY data policy.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project budget (€ 150.000) has been funded by a grant from the Scientific Cooperation programme between the Netherlands and the Russian Federation.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Because of the long proposal review procedure, the project could not be proposed at an earlier stage as part of the IPY. The approval of the project grant was communicated to the applicants in June 2007.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Jacobus (Ko) van Huissteden
Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Dept. Hydrology and Geo-Environmental Sciences
De Boelelaan 1085
Amsterdam
1081HV
The Netherlands

Tel: +31 20 5987354
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Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information