Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Climate of the Arctic and its role for Europe  (CARE)

Outline
The overall objective of CARE is to explore, quantify and model Arctic climate change, its interaction with the climate in lower latitudes and its impact on Arctic marine ecosystem, and to assess the socio-economic consequences for Europe. The specific objectives are: 1. To determine the processes responsible for the past and present variability and changes in the Arctic climate system and to improve their representation in climate models. 2. To understand the degree to which recent variability and changes in the Arctic climate system, e.g., shrinking sea-ice cover, thawing permafrost and increased methane emission, are of natural or anthropogenic origin. 3. To understand and quantify the response of marine biological processes to climate change and their impact on Arctic marine ecosystems and the air–sea CO2 fluxes and to improve their representation in ecosystem models and inclusion in global climate models. 4. To quantify the impact of the Arctic freshwater budget on the global thermohaline circulation (THC) and its impact on climate, and to assess possible impact on rapid climate change, sea-level change and sequestration of CO2. 5. To improve capabilities to predict Arctic climate on decadal and longer time scales and design optimal components of an integrated monitoring and forecasting system. 6. To assess the impact of climate change in the Arctic on the THC, marine ecosystems and fisheries, transportation, offshore industry and oil and gas production, coastal infrastructures, and on climate in EuropeThe work will be implemented in six tightly linked workpackages: WP1: Processes determining Arctic climate variability and changes; WP2: Marine biological processes in response to climate change; WP3: Air–sea–ice meso-scale processes and climate variability; WP4: Past climate variability; WP5: Remote sensing and new technology for climate data provision, and WP6: Assessment of Arctic climate change.The main activities will include: (1) Collection, analysis and harmonisation of historical and modern data sets; (2) Field experiments with deployment of new in situ observation systems, using ice breakers, ships and an ice drift station; (3) Use of state-of-art and new satellite remote sensing; (4) Use of global climate models as well as regional and process-oriented models, (5) Exchange programmes for scientists and training for students; (6) Co-ordinated dissemination and exploitation activities; and (7) Technology development and scientific service transferred to SMEs.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Theme 1: Improved descriptions and modelling of physical and marine biological processes determining the Arctic environment. CARE will design and optimal monitoring and forecasting system for the Arctic environment.Theme 2: Improved quantification of decadal and interannual variability of the Arctic environment by use of data and models, Theme 3: Identify teleconnections between climate processes in the Arctic and lower latitudesTheme 4: New frontiers will be explored by developing new observing systems from space and from underwater platforms operating in ice-covered seasTheme 5: The Arctic regions as vantage points will be investigated as regions of enhanced global warming and potential abrupt regions of climate change (i.e. melting of sea ice and glaciers). Theme 6: The impact of climate change in polar regions on human activities will be assessed.Theme 7: CARE will have education and outreach activities (see section 3.3)

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
CARE is an international proposal which will be implemented by a consortium of 70 partners from 19 countries in Europe, including US and Chinese partners. All activities of CARE involves international collaboration (see attached list of partners) q2_1_Location : ield work will take place in several regions of the European sector of the Arctic, including the deep Arctic Basins, the shelf seas, the Fram Strait and Svalbard area.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Field work will take place in several regions of the European sector of the Arctic, including the deep Arctic Basins, the shelf seas, the Fram Strait and Svalbard area

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Several research platforms will be provided: 1) ice-going vessels (Polarstern, ODEN, Lance, Jan Mayen), 2) open ocean vessels (G. O. Sars, Håkon Mosby, Oceania). 3) airplanes and helicopters, 4) satellites, 5) UK submarines, and 6) A Russian drifting ice station. The resources can also be used by other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
CARE will establish new observing systems for the Arctic, integrating data from satellites, ships, ice-buoys and underwater platforms, and new modelling systems which can be used in forecasting.

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

CARE will coordinate use of the logistical resources provided by the participating countries, using a combination of national and EU funding.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The proposal will be submitted to the national IPY committees of the participating countries for endorsement.

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
The IPY-CARE project is a Specific Support Action, funded by EU for 2005-2006, as a preparation for a CARE science and implementation plan.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Overall management: The project coordinator is Ola M. Johannessen, NERSC, with Jorn Thiede, AWI, as chairman of the steering committe. The co-ordinator will be supported by S. Sandven as project manager. Steering committee: A project steering committee has been established, with J. Thiede as chairman, to make decisions on higher level scientific and management issues, including technical, exploitation, financial, gender issues, planning and control matters. Members are: L. Bengtsson, (co-chairman) O. M. Johannessen, U. Schauer, I. Frolov, S. Falk-Petersson, L. Anderson, D. Diepenburg, J.-C. Gascard, R. Spielhagen, S. Sandven, L. Bobylev, P. Malkki, P. Lemke, H. Drange, N. Koc, P. M. Haugan, B. RudelsWP Leaders: Each WP will have Leader and Co- Leaders, responsible for co-ordination of all tasks of the WP.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education and training: CARE will provide several Ph. D and Post Doc scholarships, including training and exchange programmes for young scientists and students.Promotion and outreach: Prepare and maintain a public web-site for promotion and dissemination of results. Prepare and distribute brochures, posters, demo-CDs. Announce IPY activities to various user groups and to the general public via newspapers, TV, etc. Prepare popular articles on the public web pages and in popular magazines. Prepare education material for use in schools, colleges and universities. The International Polar Foundation in Brussels will play a key role in the promotion and outreach activities.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data management will follow the general principles in EU projects that scientific data should be made publicly available. The producers of the data have the primary responsibility to quality control, format and distribute data created in the project. The CARE web site will offer a single entry point to search and access all data created in the project. Processed and validated data sets will eventually be delivered to data centres which will be responsible for future archiving and distribution.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Joint funding between national programmes/projects and EU funding.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Director/professor Ola Johannessen
Nansen Environental and Remote Sensing Center
Thormøhlensgate 47
Bergen
5006
Norway

Tel: +47 55 20 58 00
Mobile: +47 901 35 336
Fax: +47 55 20 58 01
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information