Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

A Nordic Land-Shelf-Basin Interaction Study along the Siberian Shelf Seas  (Nordic-LSBI)

Outline
A study of the shelf and shelf break along five sections from close to the river mouths out into the deep basins off the Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi Seas is suggested. The study comprises four major elements; physical oceanography, chemical oceanography, marine biology and biogeochemistry; all with the common goal to increase our understanding on how river runoff impact shelf processes relevant for the ventilation of the adjacent deep basin and associated fluxes of biogeochemically and climatically significant substances, the main one being carbon. Our hypothesis is that the observed environmental change of the Arctic with its permafrost thawing, increase in river runoff, acceleration of coastal erosion and increase of terrestrial organic carbon inputs to the Arctic Ocean, will have consequences for a number of processes. These processes include sea ice production, ventilation of the Arctic Ocean deep waters, and remobilization of previously sequestered permafrost carbon, as well as other shelf processes affecting the carbon cycle. Process studies focusing on C flux (primary production and degradation, pelagic-benthic coupling, accumulation etc.) will be carried out for the first time over the entire shelf. Water samples, plankton as well as surface sediments are planned to be collected along the suggested sections and analysed for a battery of complimentary constituents using state-of-the-art techniques. It is also planned for moored instrumentation, over ~1 year at several locations along the shelf, in order to investigate the time variability of some processes. The results of the investigation are foreseen to be included in model simulations of both the upstream drainage basins as well as the Arctic Ocean in order to improve representations of relevant processes and to facilitate prediction of realistic scenarios of future environmental changes. The main elements of this proposal is an intensive field study of the inadequately explored Siberian Arctic Shelves and the results are anticipated to represent major advance in our understanding of the functioning of the Arctic system. These results are further anticipated to be relevant also to the societal impacts that Arctic change has on the human living conditions.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The planned investigation is expected to gather a wealth of information on the present environment that has never been collected in this part of the Arctic in the past. The relation to the river runoff and its associated fluxes of matter help gain insight into the past environment (by the chemical and isotopic signature) and also gives a global link through its impact on the global C and water cycles. An understanding of C flux and its regulation is not at all available from these environments. Furthermore the exchange with the deep Arctic Ocean through the deep-water ventilation, links to the global oceanic circulation system and its sequestration of C. The combination of different scientific disciplines, with focus on the transformation and flux of C, makes this study unique for one of the Globe’s largest shelf seas receiving a sizeable fraction of the Earth’s runoff. Finally the anticipated outcome will increase the predictability of the environmental! conditions and thus the possibility of society to adapt to changes.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The Nordic-LSBI is planned to be a part of the International Pan-Arctic Shelf-Basin Exchange (SBE) programme. It is expected to contribute to the activities of the Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System (iAOOS), the Climate of the Arctic and its role for Europe (CARE) project, the International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC), Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) and other similar bodies. Furthering of already close collaboration with Russian colleagues is also foreseen.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, and Russian sector of the Chukchi Sea, from close to the river mouths to across the continental margin into the deep central basins.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/07 – 09/07      07/08 – 09/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
This project relies on the support of an ice breaking research vessel, and is planned around the resources of I/B Oden. The suggested project will use most of the available ship resources over an approximate 10-week period (including transits). However, a limited amount of mooring work is foreseen, mainly in association with other projects. Discussions are already underway with Russian colleagues to complement the ODEN with a Russian vessel with shallower draft to better access the inner shelf and river mouth regions.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The result of the project will help improve numeric climate and C-flux models by adding to the process knowledge, as well as add to new generations of observation and monitoring

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

The icebreaker logistic support will rely on Nordic polar operators, while the scientific instrumentation will be based on our own available resources as well as on national agencies and private foundations.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The Swedish IPY committee does not endorse any project prior to the January 14 submission of EoIs.

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
The Nordic-LSBI is a new project initiated by the IPY initiative. However, it is a component of the existing International Shelf Basin Exchange (SBE) program of the AOSB.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Nordic-LSBI comprises four scientific sub-disciplines, each having one or several leaders (all project members under 4.2). In order to optimise the total outcome of the sub-projects, the whole project will be coordinated by a scientific steering group (ssg), where each sub-discipline will be represented. The chairmen of the ssg will represent the project in the coordination with other relevant projects and bodies.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Through a support from NorFA a graduate school on “Ecosystems, carbon flux and climate variability in the European sector of the pan-arctic region” has been initiated with the goal to educate young Ph.D. students within the scope of IPY. Trans-Nordic team building of the many Nordic Ph.D. students that will work inside Nordic-LSBI will a major contribution from the graduate school. In addition, Ph.D. students from the ARCTOS scientific trainee school “Arctic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles and climate change in the anthropocene” will contribute to the educational aspects of Nordic-LSBI.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
A web site will be opened for this project, including a meta-data base, where the home of the preliminary data will be given. Processed and validated data sets will eventually be delivered to well-established international data centres which will be responsible for future archiving and distribution.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Except for the logistics (mainly supported by Swedish Polar Research Secretariat) the project is expected to be funded by grants from the Nordic funding agencies and the EU Commission to the leaders of the different sub-projects. Scientific resources in the form of sampling and analytical instrumentation are largely already available to the participants.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This is a resubmission as requested.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Leif Anderson



SE-412 96
Sweden

Tel: +46 31 772 27 74
Mobile:
Fax: +46 31 772 27 85
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information