Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Thermal State of Permafrost: The IPA Contribution to an International Network of Permafrost Observatories (INPO)  (IPA TSP/INPO)

Outline
The International Permafrost Association’s (IPA) project Thermal State of Permafrost (TSP) will measure permafrost temperatures in existing and new boreholes over a fixed time period to provide a “snapshot” of permafrost temperatures in both time and space. There is currently no global database that defines the thermal state of permafrost within a specific time period. Available temperature measurements were obtained at various depths and periods over five or more decades. Temperatures have changed at different rates in different regions (permafrost zones occupy 25% of the ice-free lands of Planet Earth). The TSP data set will serve as a baseline for the assessment of the rate of change of near-surface permafrost temperatures and permafrost boundaries, to validate climate model scenarios, and for temperature reanalysis. TSP, a component of the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P), addresses concerns related to climate warming and the attendant societal issues in the high-latitudes and mountain regions of the Earth. TSP will serve as the basis for the development of an International Network of Permafrost Observatories (INPO).The Thermal State of Permafrost (TSP) objectives are to:· Obtain a set of standardised temperature measurements throughout the permafrost regions of Planet Earth (snapshot) · Produce a global data set and maps of contemporary permafrost ground temperatures · Increase the number of GTN-P borehole and active layer sites · Provide measurement strategies and protocols · Contribute data for verifying models and reanalysis approaches of past, present and future permafrost and active layer temperatures · Report initial results at 2008 conferences. The main TSP Field Campaign is planned for a 12-18 month period during 2007-08. Data will be incorporated into the WMO/FAO/IPA GTN-P. The GTN-P presently consists of more than 425 candidate boreholes throughout the permafrost regions that comprise national and regional networks, and 125 sites in the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (GTN-P/CALM) network. The initial boreholes, listed on the web (www.gtnp.org), range in depth from less that 10m to greater that 900 metres. A series of planning meetings to verify sites and measurement protocols are planned at international conferences and workshops in 2005 and 2006. Measurements of borehole temperatures will be obtained either by logging holes one or more times during the campaign (snapshot), or on a year-round basis using data recorders. Initial results will be presented is summer 2008 at the Permafrost Conference in Fairbanks and at the Geological Congress in Olso, and at SCAR conferences.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The acquired permafrost temperatures and related data sets will serve as a “snapshot” for the establishment of a baseline against which to assess future changes in permafrost, to validate climate model scenarios, and provide data for reanalysis of past ground temperature (Themes 1, 2, 3). The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) reported accelerated degradation of permafrost impacts infrastructures, coastal processes, and local communities (Theme 6). These issues are of concern to the Fourth IPCC assessment and the IASC ICARP. TSP results will provide authoritative documentation on existing conditions and changes, and assist in land-use planning decision.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
IPA is an affiliated organization of IUGS and IGU, and supports the International Year of Planet Earth. The SCAR Expert Group on Permafrost is our partner. IPA and CliC (WCRP) have a MOU. IPA supports IGOS Cryo. IPA manages GTN-P for WMO. The IPA Secretariat, UNIS (Svalbard), provides international coordination.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
TSP involves all permafrost regions of the Earth in which boreholes will be available for observations. This includes the Arctic, major subarctic regions, lower latitude mountains and plateaus, the Antarctic and subantarctic islands (see 3.6 for details). Many of these sites have active layer measurements that compliment the TSP observations.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/06 – 12/08            
Antarctic: 12/05 –04/08            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Helicopter and/or fixed-wing support will be required for some remote sites in Russia and Alaska, and can be shared with others when feasible. Field station accommodations are required. New boreholes from 20-100m deep are planned. The possibility of using a coiled Fast Mechanical-Access Drill for permafrost is being explored.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
TSP seeks to establish a database and a permanent International Network of Permafrost Observatories, preferably on lands that are protected from human disturbances and in conjunction with other environmental research. Therefore, environmental measurements obtained by present and future generations of researchers will reflect natural change in climate and the environment.

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

Logistics are at the individual national project level. The majority of boreholes are accessible by ground transportation. Air support will be required for some sites in Canada, Russia and the US. Deep drilling (>100m or through the permafrost) may require regional consortia of operators.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Endorsements are pending in IPA and SCAR countries with National IPY committees. The TSP was approved by the IPA Council in 2003 and is incorporated into activities of the SCAR Expert Group on Permafrost and Periglacial Environments. The WRCP CliC programme endorses the TSP/INPO as part of the CliC/IPA MOU.

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
TSP/INPO can be considered an extension of the WMO/GCOS and FAO/GTOS networks under GTN-P; but is a stand-alone project designed to commemorate the IPY and the IUGS International Year of Planet Earth. The IPA is the facilitator for GTN-P.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The IPA and its 24-member Council form the core oversight organization. Within IPA there are several working groups and data activities that share common interest in TSP. A small project management team, consisting of designated national and regional (PolarPACE, SCAR, etc) representatives will be identified to manage TSP planning and coordination. Workshops at national and international conferences will be used to develop and track project plans. See 4.1 and 4.2 for partial list of provisional team members.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
All national programmes are urged to include young researchers and students. Universities are establishing curricula with field sites (e.g. Tyumen State Oil and Gas University and the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) provides courses and workshops). The GTN-P and IPA web sites and Frozen Ground news bulletin will disseminate information.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The WMO GTN-P web site at the Geological Survey of Canada (www.gtnp.org) is the primary location for borehole metadata and dissemination of summarised permafrost temperature data.. Final borehole data sets will be archived at NSIDC with an initial Legacy CD for the 2008 NICOP.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Principal field funding would be from national and regional governments, and regional programmes (EU, INTAS), and where possible private sources such as oil and gas and other resource developers. There is an IPA planning proposal pending with the International Union of Geological Sciences. IUGS provided modest seed funding in 2004.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The following lists the countries and number of boreholes and CALM sites currently identified within the GTN-P. Additional boreholes will be identified throughout the planning phases (2005-2006). The* indicates incomplete initial compilation: Antarctica (10); Argentina (1), Canada (80), China* (35), Denmark/Greenland (2), Germany (1); Iceland (4), Italy (3), Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan (6), Mongolia (15), Spain (4), Sweden* (15), Switzerland* (12), Norway*/Svalbard (10), Russia* (180), USA (66).This EOI is directly linked to several other international permafrost EOIs: ANTPAS (Jan Boelhouwers, Sweden); ANTPAGE (David Gilichinsky, Russia); PolarPACE (Charles Harris, UK): ACCO-Net (Volker Rachold, Germany), and we will participate with ASDI and Arctic DEM.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Jerry Brown
International Permafrost Association
P.O. Box 7
Woods Hole, MA
02543
USA

Tel: 1 508 457 4982
Mobile:
Fax: 1 508 457 4982
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information