Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ecosystem Studies of Sub-Arctic Seas  (ESSAS)

Outline
The marine ecosystems of the Arctic-Subarctic regions are strongly influenced by sea-ice presence and the seasonal changes in light. Sea-ice timing and magnitude affect the structure and function of polar marine ecosystems through: (1) brine formation, (2) development of polynyas, (3) formation of “cold pools” in intermediate and bottom layers, (4) freshwater and nutrient input to the water column, (5) alteration of the light profiles, and (6) as habitat for microflora, microfauna, ice algae, birds and marine mammals. Seasonal sea-ice cover and associated ecosystem function are presently undergoing dramatic changes, e.g. during recent winters ice cover has decreased with noticeable responses in ice-dependent species, e.g. northward shifts of marine mammals and a decrease in the number of seabirds. Improved understanding of the effects of sea ice on ecosystem productivity, structure and function is required to evaluate how ecosystem productivity of the polar seas is changing and to predict the response to future climate change. Light levels strongly influence primary production as well as predation through visual sightings. The large changes in the seasonality of light levels, including their diel nature, from the Subarctic to the Arctic result in big differences in the ecosystem structure, e.g. one intense bloom in the high Arctic and often spring and fall blooms at lower latitudes. This has important and unresolved implications on the rest of the marine ecosystem such as zooplankton feeding and larval behaviour. Primary components of an ESSAS contribution to the IPY will be: · Assess the impact of sea ice on the oceanography and ocean productivity, including species composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton, and amount and fate of primary production, as a function of the latitude and timing of ice melt. · Determine the role of diel and seasonal light levels on the primary production and in particular the response of the zooplankton and ichthyoplankton feeding, production and recruitment. Measurements will include ice cover, hydrography, stratification, variation in light intensity and frequency as a function of latitude and date, nutrients and plankton. These elements will require oceanographic cruises to follow the melting ice edge northward from the southern margins of the seasonal ice cover into the Arctic Ocean. They will document changes in the marine ecosystem from bacteria to marine mammals, and will measure rate processes where appropriate. They will also require strategically placed moorings with instruments to record light levels, as well as temperature, salinity and nutrients.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
· Document the northward movement of species and ecosystem structural changes due to early ice retreat (themes 1, 2, & 4). · Assess mechanisms of ecosystem change due to changes in seasonal ice cover and oceanographic circulation and feedbacks (themes 2, 3, & 5). · Determine the effect of changing light levels with latitude on plankton productivity and species composition and the responses of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton (themes 1, 2, & 4)

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
ESSAS is a collaborative, comparative study of the Sub-Arctic seas that expects to include efforts by scientists in Japan, Korea, Russia, USA, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, and Norway.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Sea of Okhotsk, Oyashio Current, Bering Sea, Newfoundland-Labrador Shelf, Hudson Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence, West Greenland Shelf, Icelandic seas, Nordic Seas, and the Barents Sea

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/07 - 10/07       03/08- 10/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
cebreakers, ice-reinforced research ships, ship recovery of moorings, helicopters, land-based field camps This program has the potential to share facilities with other IPY programs operating in the same regions.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
This project will leave a legacy of time series stations based on oceanographic cruises, moorings and drifting buoys.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
ESSAS is a new regional program within International GLOBEC. Norway has funded a Norwegian ESSAS component (2005-2008) and NSF in the US has provided initial funds for planning BEST (Bering Ecosystem Study). New funding will be required to carry out mos

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
This project will build on the results from ESSAS, its initial national programs BEST, NESSAS and a planned Japanese study of the Oyashio Current system, and related activities such as SEARCH (Study of Environmental Arctic Change) and ASOF.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Project will be organized as a Regional Program within the International GLOBEC Program. Two levels of management are anticipated. The first is a Science Steering Committee with responsibility for coordination of measurements among different national

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
An ESSAS website will be established, articles written in popular magazines and journals, and lectures given to the general public in order to communicate and inform the outside community of the ongoing activities and results of the IPY related work of ES

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Physical data will be archived at national and IPY international data centers within one year of collection. Biological data will be provided within two years with preliminary results within one year.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding will be through national sub-projects coordinated by the ESSAS SSC. Funding for related projects in Norway and Japan have already been obtained, and in the USA, initial funding for planning has been obtained. Funding of BEST field efforts will b

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
ESSAS plans to interact with Southern Ocean GLOBEC (co-sponsored by SCAR) in developing comparisons between the Sub-Arctic and Sub-Antarctic ecosystems on, for example, zooplankton/krill responses to ice seasonality, flux paths between phytoplankton and t

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Kenneth Drinkwater
Institute of Marine Research
Box 1870, Nordnes
Bergen
N-5817
Norway

Tel: 47 55236990
Mobile:
Fax: 47 55238687
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information