Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Air-Ice Chemical Interactions – IPY coordinated studies  (AICI-IPY)

Outline
The polar atmosphere is often considered both pristine and simple. However, there is a strong dynamic between the lower atmosphere and ice surfaces. Over the polar plateau, production in the snowpack controls the chemistry of the lower atmosphere. Halogen chemistry over the sea ice zone depletes boundary layer ozone, and causes mercury deposition. Persistent organic compounds undergo a distillation which leads to their deposition in polar regions. The IGBP projects, IGAC and SOLAS, have jointly endorsed a task, “Air-Ice Chemical Interactions”, to determine the importance of these processes, and assess how they would alter with a warming climate and shrinking cryosphere. IPY offers a unique opportunity to determine the spatio-temporal pattern of boundary layer chemistry and processes, by linking various field activities carried out in the same year. AICI-IPY will provide an overall framework, arrange supporting laboratory and modelling studies and integration of remote sensing data, and organise synthesis meetings. This work will support and link these more focussed field activities: Polar plateau intensives: studying the influence of the snowpack, and boundary layer structure, by measuring concentrations, fluxes and processes at sites with different characteristics. Summit, Greenland has a long pedigree in air-snow studies, and this will be extended under AICI-IPY; a separate, related, IPY plan for enhancing the Summit infrastructure is being submitted (lead contact Roger Bales). The ANTCI group at South Pole expect to carry out further campaigns in IPY. AICI-IPY scientists will aim to add activities at Concordia (Antarctica). OASIS (Ocean-Air-Sea Ice-Snow Interactions) will study processes in the sea ice and coastal zone. OASIS contains ambitions both wider (biogeochemistry) and narrower (Arctic ocean/coast) than AICI, and will submit a separate detailed plan to IPY. OASIS has scheduled an international planning meeting for January. It is likely to consist of studies at coastal stations and an ice station. Counterpart Antarctic coastal studies are already planned. ITCT-Arctic will fly two multi-aircraft campaigns (winter/spring and summer) to investigate transport in and out of the Arctic. The campaigns will be closely linked with the ground-based studies described above. A separate IPY proposal will give more details (lead contact Andreas Stohl) To provide an overall context for the intensive campaigns, AICI-IPY will determine the year-round spatial distribution of at least that most important molecule, ozone, in the boundary layer. No picture exists of the scale of ozone production and depletion, and its concentration in the boundary layer is not amenable to satellite observations. This work will link other AICI studies, using sensors deployed on autonomous platforms and buoys. OASIS will organise this action for the Arctic sea ice zone, while AICI will coordinate individual polar operators to fill gaps on the map in the Antarctic and over Arctic land.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
AICI-IPY will provide a first year-round spatial pattern of chemistry (especially ozone) in the polar regions (theme 1). Through the linked process study intensives, this will lead to an understanding of the extent of processes determining boundary layer chemistry, and to models to determine how that chemistry will change (theme 2). These processes probably spill out of the polar regions, and certainly affect air and water quality, so this work will also contribute to themes 3 and 6. The increased activity in atmospheric chemistry will lead to an improved infrastructure, with chemistry studies carried out routinely at more stations (legacy).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
AICI is endorsed by IGAC, and has a Steering Committee from 8 nations. Of the component parts, Summit activities have traditionally been US-led but with European involvement; the OASIS executive committee contains 6 nationalities; ITCT-Arctic builds on previous multinational initiatives (e.g. ITCT-2K4); the ozone network will seek participation from every Antarctic operator and Arctic nation. q2_1_Location : Plateau studies: Summit, South Pole, Concordia OASIS: Probably Alert, Barrow, Ny Alesund and Arctic Ocean. Counterparts at Halley and probably other coastal Antarctic stations. ITCT-Arctic: Arctic transects Ozone network: all manned stations, unmanned platforms and buoys throughout the polar regions, land and sea.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Plateau studies: Summit, South Pole, Concordia OASIS: Probably Alert, Barrow, Ny Alesund and Arctic Ocean. Counterparts at Halley and probably other coastal Antarctic stations. ITCT-Arctic: Arctic transects Ozone network: all manned stations, unmanned pl

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07-08/08            
Antarctic: 10/07 – 02/09            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Access to plateau stations (Summit, S. Pole, Concordia); Access to coastal sites (Arctic and Antarctic); Ship for access to Arctic sea ice in springtime (sharable) Airborne platforms over sea ice (blimps essential, aircraft desirable) Aircraft for ITCT-Arctic Autonomous powered platforms on land and on buoys (sharable with other projects e.g. meteorology, geophysics, oceanography).

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Parts of the project will involve nations and sites not previously active in tropospheric chemistry; it is anticipated that this will lead to a legacy of increased research, monitoring capacity, and infrastructure in both polar regions. The data collected will act as a baseline against which future change can be assessed.

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

Several aspects of the work (for example, individual ozone sensor sites) can be carried out as individual components hosted by single national operators. However, it is anticipated that OASIS at least will require components supplied by different members.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
AICI is endorsed by IGBP-IGAC and SOLAS. IGAC specifically supports the IPY proposal presented here. Individual components have support from international groups: for example OASIS is itself an international grouping with SOLAS endorsement. Various national IPY committees have had sight, and approved of this plan and specific elements of it.

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?
Exp
As explained above, AICI-IPY is part of AICI, which is an activity of IGAC and SOLAS. The need for an integrated one-year intensive phase was recognised at the start. Several specific elements are entirely new.

How will the project be organised and managed?
AICI-IPY will be managed and coordinated by the AICI SSC, which exists, has been approved by IGAC, and which has support from the IGAC offices. The AICI SSC will delegate responsibility for individual components such as OASIS and Summit activities to the executive groups already existing or planned for those components. The AICI SC will form a small task group to promote and coordinate the ozone network.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Scientists involved in existing related activities such as Summit, ANTCI (South Pole) and Alert2000 have a strong record of outreach activities including educational web sites, web chat Q and A sessions with schools, and teachers joining field parties. We anticipate making a strong plan to continue such activities.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Most data will be submitted to national data centres. AICI plans to use its emerging web site as a central metadata point for all AICI datasets, linking to the individual data.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Parts of the project already have funding in national plans, while some parts (such as ozone sensor deployments) will mainly be subsumed in existing logistic activities. For OASIS, plateau studies, and ITCT activities, individual national funds will be sought based on international science plans.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Eric Wolff
High Cross
Madingley Road
Cambridge
CB3 0ET
UK

Tel: +44 1223 221491
Mobile:
Fax: +44 1223 221279
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information