Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The role of light and ultra-violet radiation in the biological and human environment  (Polar Light Effects)

Outline
The harmful biological effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are widely known. However, at polar latitudes the beneficial effects of UVR are very pronounced. Also, light (at 400-700 nm) is the major driving factor for primary production and for biological cycles. Polar ecosystems are often vulnerable to changes in the critically low levels of UVR and light. The main purpose of this proposal is to deepen our understanding of the role of the variability of light and UV radiation on primary production and human population. We will focus on phytoplankton blooms, and melatonin and vitamin D in humans. The sub goals are to 1. Explore the variability and trends of the relevant biologically effective doses in polar areas, and their sensitivity to changes in snow and cloud cover. 2. Explain differences in phytoplankton biomass, melatonin and vitamin D levels as a function of the variability of relevant biologically weighted doses. Quantify vulnerability to changes. 3. Establish foundations for future data products on UV and visible radiation. Firstly, measurements of radiation, ozone, aerosols, clouds and snow cover will be collected near Svalbard at various temporal and spatial scales. The project will expand on the methodology, expertise, infrastructure and consortium from the EU project INSPECTRO (http://imk-ifu.fzk.de/inspectro/), as well as apply instruments already operating from Ny-Aalesund. State of the art spectrometers and radiative transfer models will be used extensively. Secondly, the spectral effectiveness of radiation depends greatly on the type of biological response of interest, and must be measured and simulated separately. In the literature there exist separate biological action spectra for phytoplankton mortality, and growth, vitamin D synthesis and melatonin suppression. However, the action spectra are usually relative quantities, and the processes are inadequately studied in situ. In this project we plan to obtain time series of radiation doses before and during in situ campaign measurements of phytoplankton biomass during blooms, melatonin and blood plasma vitamin D levels in humans, mainly in spring. We will attempt to establish levels which would be critically low for the respective biological regimes. Thirdly, we will explore the required temporal and spatial resolution of biologically effective doses for phytoplankton, melatonin and vitamin D from subgoal 1. In the future the lower cost of computational power will enhance the resolution of numerical weather prediction models and speed up radiation transfer modelling which in turn will facilitate for upgraded operational products including a variety of biologically effective doses.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposal pertains to all IPY research themes in that it not only addresses the role of light and UVR variability and trends play for ecosystems and human societies under the harsh polar conditions, but also exploits the large variability of light in the polar regions as an enhanced laboratory for acquiring new insight in such themes at moderate latitudes. The project brings together researchers of atmospheric physics, medicine and biology from several European countries.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project brings together selected participants (>10) from consortia of existing and former international projects and networks, i.e. INSPECTRO (http://imk-ifu.fzk.de/inspectro), ENVINET (http://envinet.npolar.no). UVAC (http://phaeocystis.nfh.uit.no/UVAC) and CIE TC 6-54 (http://www.cie.co.at). In particular, most of the INSPECTRO consortium will participate and collaborate extensively. q2_1_Location : Arctic: Svalbard (Ny-Aalesund area) main study. Antarctica: Possible supplemental human melatonin, vitamin D and UVR studies in Queen Maud-Land (Troll, Wasa/Aboa, Kohnen, Neumayer) and with US NSF Polar Programs UV monitoring network (http://www.biospherical.com/NSF).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Arctic: Svalbard (Ny-Aalesund area) main study. Antarctica: Possible supplemental human melatonin, vitamin D and UVR studies in Queen Maud-Land (Troll, Wasa/Aboa, Kohnen, Neumayer) and with US NSF Polar Programs UV monitoring network.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/07 – 12/08            
Antarctic: 01/07 – 12/08            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The project will require a further homogenisation and inter-calibration of existing UV and visible light instrumentation. New infrastructure for atmospheric profiling and subsurface water measurements will have to be established. Expansion of existing European UV database at the Finnish Meteorological Institute to handle the new campaign data.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Methods and monitoring data of UV and light at the surface, in the atmosphere and in the aquatic environments will be publicly available beyond the time frame of IPY. Also, we foresee an improved operational radiation database, and foundations for widely available radiation data products. Publications in refereed journals.

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

Will pursue funding from the European Commission, Norwegian Research Council and other national funding sources.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The study will be based on the methodology of existing funded projects INSPECTRO (http://imk-ifu.fzk.de/inspectro/) UVR and Algae-UVR (http://dbh.nsd.uib.no/nfi/rapport/?keys=27215&language=en), UVR and Vitamin D (http://www.ism.uit.no/andenes/) and FARIN

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
The proposed project builds on and extends existing national and EU projects, but has a new polar orientation.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be steered by a steering board, in which all disciplines involved in the project are represented. Annual workshops or meetings will be held in connection with international meetings on related issues, e.g. CIE Symposia etc. A more detailed plan will be developed by June 2005.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
PhD students and Post. Docs will be employed. The project will establish a web portal for communicating to graduate students, schools and the public on the project activities, results and consequences for the Polar Regions, and global climate.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Several of the partners operate national and international data bases on UV and biological measurements. These should be used also in the frame of this project, but be made accessible through a common portal at the project web site.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The core activity will be applied funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers in the frame of a Centre of Excellence. Activities going beyond its frame will be applied for both from national research councils and international frames such as EU-FP7.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The INSPECTRO project is aimed at exploring the variability of radiation around clouds for improvement of chemical transport and global circulation models. In principle, a similar study could be done in the polar context. If adequate funding and resources, also implications for atmospheric chemistry and transport modelling will be included. There is some overlap with another IPY EoI titled “Arctic Climate Diversity”, and synergetic collaboration is foreseen.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Ola Engelsen
The Polar Environmental Centre
Tromso
N-9296
Norway

Tel: +47 77750375
Mobile:
Fax: +47 77750376
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information