Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The effect of natural and anthropogenic forcing on marine ecosystems, biogeochemistry and physical processes operating in the European Arctic  (SAMS NORTHERN SEAS - ARCTIC)

Outline
Background The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is undertaking a 5-year Core Strategic Research Programme, entitled “Marine environmental change in Northern Seas: natural and anthropogenic influences” funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The programme is due for renewal, subject to international review, from April 2007. The key objective is to improve understanding of the sensitivity of marine ecosystems to environmental perturbations, both natural and anthropogenic, along a latitudinal gradient from Scotland to the central Arctic. This requires closely linked studies of changing species diversity, ecosystem function, biogeochemical impacts and physical disturbance, in order to more clearly define ecosystem resilience and sustainability. To support the programme, SAMS is now a full partner in the Marine Laboratory at Ny Alesund, Svalbard. Currently, the participating institutions are represented by the Marine Lab Project Group (chaired by the Norwegian Polar Institute). In addition to SAMS (the sole UK partner), present members include the Italian National Research Council (CNR), National Polar Institute (NIPR), Japan, Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Germany; National Science Foundation (NSF), USA; University Courses on Svalbard (UNIS), and the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), with the laboratory part-financed and operated by the King’s Bay Company. In addition, SAMS mounts biannual research cruises using the RRS James Clark Ross (scheduled for 2005, 2007 and 2009), and other cruise collaborations, mainly involving European ice strengthened vessels. Terrestrial operations involving sediment sampling from ice covered lakes on Svalbard has been supported by the NERC and NPI facilities at Ny Alesund. Sea ice operations, supported through international collaboration, include data gathering from: icebreakers, ice camps, aircraft and helicopters. In addition SAMS successfully ran, in the spring of 2004, possibly the first European funded scientific ice camp to be situated in the Arctic Basin. SAMS has close cooperation from the UK MoD allowing scientists to participate in under ice operation on active submarine exercises, to study sea ice and polar oceanography. Specific IPY expressions of interest involving SAMS scientists include: iAOOS:. The most comprehensive Integrated ARCTIC OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM ever devoted to Arctic Ocean. SAMS involvement is through the EU DAMOCLES project. CoAATS: UK/Norwegian proposal to establish teleconnections by tracing the variability of Atlantic Water along the European shelf to the Arctic. ICICLE: Investigation of mixing processes as internal waves interact with sloping boundaries, especially near (and north of) the critical latitude (74.5N) for semidiurnal (M2) frequency. Getting to grips with convection: Resolving the modes of convection in the winter Greenland Sea. SIMOP: Development of a full depth Sea Ice Mounted Oceanographic Profiler for use in the polar seas. STABILITY: Examination of the stability of floating glaciers of northeast Greenland in an era of increased wave height and diminishing sea ice conditions. Waves across the Antarctic: Monitoring of Antarctic sea ice thickness by buoys and remote sensing. CAMPARI: Mapping the present state and past history of the Arctic ice cover at critical locations by two international ice stations. ICECAM: Use of vessels of opportunity for cryospheric marine monitoring. POLEMIC: Investigation of the ecological and biogeochemical role of polar pelagic microbes. ARCTIC ZOOPLANKTON AS TRACERS: Relationships between zooplankton ecology and changing hydrographic regimes in the Arctic. NGS-ABYSS: A comparative survey of benthic communities in the deep basins of the Norwegian-Greenland Seas using modern sampling techniques in order to determine current status and establish a quantitative baseline for detection of future climate-driven ecosystem change. SEDARC: Arctic Gateways; high latitude thermohaline circulation, sediment transport pathways and ice sheet dynamics in Fram Strait (74ºN-85ºN). TRANSARC Pollutants: The effect of changing climate on the long range transport of pollutants to the Arctic. The SAMS Northern Seas Programme (NSP) will achieve an enduring legacy within Arctic science, by contributing to fundamental knowledge of European Arctic physical and biogeochemical systems, strengthening on-going international collaborative linkages, and support of new infrastructure and time series observations for polar research.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
A multidisciplinary study into the biogeochemistry and planktonic/benthic ecosystem response to climate variability (i.e. changes in physical oceanography, sea ice cover, insolation, water balance, atmospheric transport, pelagic and benthic ecology) in the fjordic/shelf seas of the European Arctic, adjacent basins and polar oceans. -Collection of time series data from observatories, fixed moorings and drifting ice buoys in order to validate and improve coupled ice-ocean circulation models of Arctic Ocean and its coastal seas. -Reconstruction of environmental change from sediment palaeohistories within the marine environment and correlation with terrestrial lacustrine records. -Coordination of education, training and field opportunities for students and young scientists in polar marine environmental science.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International collaboration with 15 institutes and 10 universities involved in Arctic science, including: Alfred Wegener Institute, Norwegian Polar Institute, Akvaplan Niva, Norwegian Air Institute, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Institute of Oceanography – Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Tromso, University Courses on Svalbard, the International Marine Laboratory Kings Bay consortium; University of Bergen, Norway, University of Sopot, Poland, and European and international partners on a range of funded and proposed polar programmes.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
A variety of Arctic sites exemplified by fjords as Kongsfjorden, Krossfjorden (Svalbard), the Fram Strait and East Greenland margins, the Barents Shelf and Yermak Plateau, the tectonic ridges of Knipovitch Ridge and perhaps Gakkel Ridge, and the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean. Experimental studies will be carried out in the new Arctic Marine Laboratory, and lake sites on Svalbard. Some projects also include an element of Antarctic comparison.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: March and Aug 2007 –2011 (each year)            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Several research platforms such as (1) the James Clark Ross (requested for 1 month in 2007, 2009) and collaborative programmes involving Norwegian vessels and possibly icebreaker class vessels for Arctic Basin work; (2) satellites (Cryosat, passive and active microwave) 3) Experimental Marine Laboratories at Svalbard; (4) Arctic moorings and sea bed observatories (multi-instrumented for biological and physical parameters; (5) AUV and ROV (Autosub and Isis, if available) (6) Intelligent drifting buoys and ice mounted platforms. Logistic resources will be shared.

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 – The deployment of intelligent systems on ice which will have a multi-year lifetime beyond the IPY.

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

SAMS has access to infrastructure for Polar Operations from several collaborating institutions.

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?
Expansion
The SAMS Northern Seas 2 programme is a coordinated approach to multidisciplinary marine studies in the European Arctic. Details may be found on www.sams.ac.uk. This core strategic programme provides a vehicle for additional specific projects (see separate submissions from SAMS) 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 programme is coordinated and operated by SAMS, based at the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory (UK). Logistic coordination is carried out with the British Antarctic Survey, Norwegian Polar Institute and Kings Bay Company. Individual components of the programme are managed by Operational Group Leaders and Principal Investigators in SAMS coordinated by the Director, Professor Graham Shimmield. Shimmield is also Chair of Research strategy for the University of the Highlands and Islands, a member of the Arctic Universities consortium and the European Census of Marine Life.

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. Data will also be stored at the appropriate World Data Centers. 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?
The SAMS Northern Seas Programme is funded by a 5-year core strategic grant from the UK Natural Environment Research Council. Additional funding is obtained from competitive grant capture from NERC, and the EU Framework programmes. SAMS is a consortium partner in projects funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

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

Prof Graham Shimmield
Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory
Oban
Argyll
PA37 1QA
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1631 559272
Mobile: 07768 271895
Fax: +44 (0)1631 559001
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information