Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Deep ice drilling in the northern part of subglacial Lake Vostok  (North Vostok project)

Outline
Deep Antarctic ice cores have provided valuable insights for understanding the forcing functions for environmental variability and for the sensitivity of climate to the radiative effects of greenhouse gases. The need to obtain the longest possible paleoclimate record from Antarctic ice has recently been highlighted by the new international ice coring initiative IPICS (Washington meeting, April 2004). The main motivations for obtaining very old ice are: (i) to replicate and confirm the Vostok, Dome C and Dome F records (including improved common timescales), (ii) to obtain data on climate changes before 800-900 kyr ago when Earth’s climate had a 40 kyr glacial-interglacial period, as opposed to the current 100 kyr, (iii) to obtain comprehensive information on the extreme climatic variations during Marine isotope stage (MIS) 11 (around 400 kyr ago), thus contributing to prediction of future climate change on our planet.Among other potential sites in Antarctica which may provide undisturbed climatic time series extending back to 0.8-1 Myr or more, is the site located 200 km north of Vostok Station in the “melting area” of Lake Vostok. The ice thickness here is 4000-4200 m; the accumulation rate is about 4 cm of ice per year. Preliminary model predictions and available radar data show that MIS 11 and MIS 12 can be documented here with a better resolution than in the EPICA DC ice core.We propose a new deep ice coring in the northern part of Lake Vostok at a site (to be precisely identified prior to IPY) called North Vostok. It is anticipated that implementation of this project will yield an important complimentary record which will be necessary to properly decipher climatic information contained in the deepest sections of the Vostok and EPICA DC ice cores. In addition, the deep drilling at this site will provide more precise biological and geochemical information on the main source of Lake Vostok’s water and biota, the overlying ice, as well as give the entry hole for potential deployment of a sensor array or/and a remotely operated in-situ observatory for monitoring sub-ice physical and chemical conditions in the melting zone of the lake.The deep ice coring in the northern part of Lake Vostok will be conducted using drilling technology and equipment (a cable suspended electromechanical drill) developed and tested at Vostok Station by the drilling engineers from St. Petersburg Mining Institute.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Proposed deep drilling project addresses long-term goals of the IPICS initiative and covers IPY themes from 1 to 5. The project implies high level of international cooperation in logistic and science and potentially represents a new challenge for international ice-core community to recover the oldest possible Antarctic record. It is also viewed as a logistic platform for other international projects planned during and after IPY in this region of East Antarctica.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
North Vostok drilling project is a Russian-French initiative presented at the first IPICS meeting (Washington, April 2004). It is anticipated that once started the project will attract other partners from EU and other interested contries. The project is part of IPICS associated activity during IPY that will be outlined in separate EoI.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The area 200 km north of Vostok Station, not far from the Mirny-Vostok permanent traverse route, is targeted. Precise determination of the drilling site will be done on the basis of an iterative process of modeling and radar survey of this area prior to IPY.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Nov 2007-Feb 2008      Nov 2008-Feb 2009      Ongoing for following 3-4 Antarcic field sesons

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Vostok Station, Summer season field camp (North Vostok) including drill unit with 4500 m drill capability. Fuel, drill fluid and equipment supply through transport traverse Mirny-Vostok. Airborne support from Progress station. Drilling camp and the new airstrip can potentially offer support for other field activities in this region.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes:Drilling camp, deep bore hole for geophysical survey and potential deployment of a sensor array or/and a remotely operated in-situ observatory for monitoring sub-ice physical and chemical conditions in the melting zone of Lake Vostok. Better logistic infrastructure and better international logistic co-operation in this region of Antarctica.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

National IPY committee has already endorsed this project.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project is included in the national IPY program. It is part of IPICS initiatives declared at the Washington meeting in April 2004.

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?

The project is part of IPICS that has emerged as the next logical step in ice core activity after the success of projects such as Vostok,GRIP/GISP2, EPICA, Dome Fuji. This IPY activity gives an essential focus for starting IPICS as an international activity.

How will the project be organised and managed?
At the national level the project will be managed through long-term Federal Targeted Program “World Ocean”, Subprogram “Antarctica” of the Russian Federation and national IPY committee. At the international level it will be coordinated by International Scientific Committee of the project and by IPICS SC.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education and training of graduate students, postdocs and young researches will be one of the important components of this project. Education of general public in polar and climate sciences is also expected due to highlighting the results of the project through different media and attractiveness of the polar frontier researches to people of different ages and nationalities.The web sites at the national and international levels will be created to inform about advance of the project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Major ice coring projects have traditionally deposited their datasets on the international paleoclimate databases. This will continue for proposed project. Data management and distribution policy will generally follow IPICS guidelines. Data bases will be created and maintained at the national and international levels conforming to IPY standards when developed. The general data management principles outlined in the IPY Framework document are consistent with the past practice in the ice core community.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Basic funding at the national level will be provided through Federal Targeted Program “World Ocean”, Subprogram “Antarctica” of the Russian Federation and the national IPY committee.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Leading researcher of AARI Vladimir Lipenkov
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
38, Bering st.
St. Petersburg
199397
Russia

Tel: +7 (812) 352-22-46
Mobile:
Fax: +7 (812) 352-26-88
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information