Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Interaction of sea ice decline and upper ocean warming, and associated climatologic and ecological processes  (Sea Ice Decline and Ocean Warming (SIDOW))

Outline
Obvious decrease of Arctic sea ice has greatly changed the local climate and affected global climatologic change. The thinner ice allows more solar energy entering the water under sea ice and heating the water. A maximum temperature appears in the subsurface water and has been reported many times in recent years. The warming is mainly caused by the thinning of sea ice, and it also quickens the ice melting. Therefore, there is closed correlation and interaction between the ice decline and subsurface water warming.The warming in subsurface water changes the air-sea interaction through sea ice, increases the heat flux into the atmosphere, and changes the water structure of the upper ocean under sea ice, which might be the main source to Arctic climate change. Also, the warming changes the photosynthesis in the water under sea ice and makes the very high productivity in thin ice area. Various biological processes vary in ice covered water correlated with the warming and there is positive feedback to the ice melting. More in situ observations are needed in this project to obtain the warming processes data through spring to autumn in marginal seas of Arctic and ice edge area. Remote sensing for infrared and visible will be adopted to access ice thickness, and the extra heat absorbed by sea water with regard to thinner ice will be calculated. Nutrient, chlorophyll, ice algae, chemical tracers, phytoplankton and zooplankton will be sampled to discover the effect of ice decline upon biological process. New species through climate and water environment change is the key issue concerned in ice covered region. As the interaction of ice decline and subsurface water warming is mainly correlated to ice thickness and may occur anywhere, Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea are chosen as the research region.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
(a)Reveal the key process affecting the local climate and global climate change when ice thickness declines. (b)Understand the mechanism interaction of ice thickness changes and subsurface water warming. (c)Understand the dynamic and biological processes in upper ocean correlated to the ice decrease. (d)Subsurface water warming is a positive feedback to the ice thickness decline. The project will provide observational evidence to forecast the trend of ice thickness change.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Scientists and institutions from China, US, Japan, Korea, Canada and Germany will be involved in this project.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Plateau, Canadian Basin, and Bering Sea

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/2007 – 10/2007      06/2008 – 10/2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice-breaker, Helicopters, Remotely Operated Vehicle, and Ice drilling capability will be used to this project. China will provide an Arctic cruise in 2007 for these logistic support. Otherwise, infrared and visible satellites data and existing field stations are available to the field work.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
(a)Quantified estimation to the absorbed heat in the water under sea ice and the air-sea flux to the atmosphere. (b)New methods to calculate ice thickness and heat storage in upper ocean (c)Coupled air-ice-water numerical models.

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?
Chinese Committee of IPY will support the project. PIs involved will provide funding from their own countries.

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
Some of projects of China supported by Chinese Natural Science Foundation is correlated to this topic. As a whole, the proposal is a new autonomous.

How will the project be organised and managed?
A detailed observation plan will be made by all participants. An icebreaker cruise of China will carry out in 2007. The in situ observation will be organised by Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration. All PIs will finance their own funding in related research.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
More than 40 graduate students will take part in the project. As an important activity in IPY, the scientific researches will be reported widely in several countries.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
All the data obtained in this project will be shared by PIs and national data centres of these countries.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Five subjects funded by National Nature Science Foundation are ongoing. More related subjects will be applied to their country’s NSF or other funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
As the time is too limited, we have no enough time to organize more scientists from other countries to participate the project. We hope to have more chance to complete the organizing activity. And we also hope to involve other approved projects with the similar topic with this proposal.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Jinping Zhao
Laboratory of Polar Processes and Global Ocean Change
College of Marine Physical and Environmental Oceanography
Ocean University of China 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao
266003
China

Tel: 86-532-2032096
Mobile: 13853238188
Fax: 86-532-2032096
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information