Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The effect of changing climate on the long range transport of pollutants to the Arctic  (TRANSARC Pollutants)

Outline
The Arctic is considered to be a pristine environment, however research has shown that the Arctic environment has and is receiving pollutants from industrial emissions from Europe and Eurasia. These pollutants are affecting the ecology of the area and the indigenous population’s health and livelihood. The transport of pollutants such as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s), heavy metals and radionuclides to the Arctic are influenced by changes in climate and as we consider global climate change we must also consider the effect of that change on pollutant transport. At present atmospheric circulation suggests that Europe and Eurasia are the main suppliers of contaminants to the Arctic however atmospheric transport of pollutants may not be as important at higher latitudes and we must consider marine transport. The focus of this study will be to advance our understanding of the major mechanisms of long range transport of pollutants and assess the relative importance of atmospheric and marine transport and the potential effect of climate change. This work will build on research that has been undertaken within the SAM’S Northern Sea Programme and will be accomplished by studying historical pollutant trends within lakes (atmospheric inputs), fjords shelf and deep ocean sediments (atmospheric and marine transport) around areas such as Greenland and Svalbard including the Barent Sea, Kara Sea and the Fram and Denmark Straits. The data obtained will be linked with other studies (e.g. GEOTRACERS in the Arctic, ARCTOS QUALITY, iAOOS, STABILITY ) to assess other processes such as the importance of the redistribution of contaminated sediment by sea-ice. Work carried out within SAMS Northern Seas Programme, around Svalbard using stable lead isotopes to determine source and transport pathways of pollutants suggest that the highest percentage of anthropogenic pollutants are found in Arctic lakes and fjords and pollutant inventories decrease from coastal to deep ocean environments. These results point to pollutant transport from the large catchment area of Eurasia being extremely important. Specific aims of the research are; 1. To obtain sediment archives of past pollutant inputs to the Arctic terrestrial and marine environment, 2. Generate chronologies for freshwater and marine sediment cores using natural and manmade radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs and 14C) and reconstruct historical inputs and sources for a range of heavy metal pollutants (e.g. Hg, Cd and Pb) in lake, shelf and deep ocean sediments within the Arctic, 3. To determine the relative importance and impact of both atmospheric and marine transport of pollutants to the Arctic, 4. To collaborate with atmospheric scientists at national and international centres to further the understanding of the magnitude of atmospheric transport of contaminants, 5. Explore oceanographic feedback mechanisms of pollutant transport in the Arctic marine environment e.g. global distillation, deposition, runoff to marine environment and finally transport in ocean currents. The information gained in this project will be useful to a large number of environmental scientists in a range of disciplines and it is hoped that this research will further inform the process of protecting the Arctic environment its people and cultures.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
1: Determination of present day sources, pathways and fluxes of pollutants to the Arctic, useful for predictive impact modelling and mitigation. 2: Reconstruction of heavy metal input over decadal / millennial timescale will inform present day modelling of pollutant impacts and effect on Arctic society. 3: A better understanding of processes and pathways of pollutants to the Arctic will inform on the effect of industrial Europe and Eurasia on the Arctic and potential feedback mechanisms between atmosphere, terrestrial and marine environments, 4: Further development of sampling tools to retrieve sediment archives from traditionally inaccessible areas. The use of stable isotope geochemistry to investigate water mass movement in the northern seas.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Initial links with the following institutes have been made during previous polar work and it is hoped that these links will be strengthened within this research. NILU (www.nilu.no) (Dr Torunn Berg and Dr Kim Holm) FMI (www.fmi.fi) (Dr Jussi Paatero). New collaborations with national centres will be developed through this research.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Different Arctic environments e.g. Lake, fjordic shelf and deep sea environments. Kongsfjorden, Krossfjorden (Svalbard), the Fram Strait and East Greenland margins, Geenland lakes, the Barents Shelf and Yermak Plateau and the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean. Initial sampling of lake and inner fjordic sediment cores will be carried out in the new Arctic Marine Laboratory,Svalbard and at the Danish Zackenberg Ecosystem research facility (ZERO), Greenland.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: March 2007and 2008 for lake and inner fjord sampling.      2007-2011 deep sea sediment sampling      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
(1) the James Clark Ross sharing of Norwegian vessels; icebreaker class vessel for Arctic Basin work if available; (2)) Experimental Marine Laboratories at Svalbard; (3) Arctic moorings and sea bed observatories (multi-instrumented for biological and physical parameters. Lake and inner fjordic cores will be collected when there is ice cover therefore this part will be land based and will necessitate support from the Polar Institutes based at Svalbard and reenland.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The development of infrastructure to carry out integrated ecosystem science at participating laboratories – notably at the new Arctic Marine Laboratory, Svalbard. –The continuation of time series observations at mooring and observatory sites (Kongsfjord) –The development of an experimental ice laboratory (at Dunstaffnage) for coupled physical/biogeochemical studies on sea ice dynamics. –The expansion of education and post-educational training opportunities in polar ecosystem science

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes, The SAMS Northern Seas Core Programme has been approved and funded by NERC UK and reviewed and endorsed by the 2004 Science and Management Audit of SAMS. Northern Seas 2 will be reviewed in 2006.

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?
New
This project has been developed from research carried out within SAMS Northern Seas Programme (NSP 1) and will benefit from the infrastructure and management of the SAMS Northern Seas 2 (NSP 2) programme which is a coordinated approach to multidisciplinary marine studies in the European Arctic. Details may be found on www.sams.ac.uk. The core strategic programme provides a vehicle for additional specific projects such as the one detailed in this EOI and the logistic and operational support for collaborators from the UK and Norway. NSP 2 is a continuation of Arctic work initiated under NSP 1 2001-6.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be coordinated and managed at the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory by the lead PI’s using the PRINCE2 management system. Logistical coordination will be carried out with the British Antarctic Survey, Norwegian Polar Institute and Kings Bay Company.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
SAMS undergraduates and postgraduates are enrolled with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI Millennium Institute), part of the Arctic Universities Network. Consortium linkage is being established with the ARCTOS student network and ongoing ARCTOS PhD trainee school in Arctic marine Ecosystems (http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/). PhD students from SAMS have enrolled on dedicated courses offered through UNIS (University Centre in Svalbard, http://www.unis.no), and discussion is underway regarding a teaching contribution from SAMS academic staff. SAMS has a full time Education and Outreach officer for dissemination of research of public interest to its membership (over 550), and internationally. SAMS employs a full time Knowledge Transfer Officer linked to the outreach and education activities to ensure take-up of research outcomes in the private and commercial sectors.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data management is coordinated by the full-time SAMS Data Manager according to SAMS protocols. This methodology links closely to the British Oceanographic Data Centre where archival of SAMS data takes place. SAMS provides web-based information and resource capability for all its collaborative projects (www.sams.ac.uk).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding will be sought through national funding bodies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Ongoing projects in the Arctic are described at www.sams.ac.uk/research, and in the annual reports and newsletters of SAMS.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Tracy Shimmield
Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)
Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory
Oban ,Argyll,
PA37 1QA
UK

Tel: +44(0)1631 559255
Mobile: 07867 781158
Fax: +44(0)1631 559001
Email:

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Other Information