Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Change and variability of the Arctic Systems – Nordaustlandet, Svalbard  (Kinnvika)

Outline
We will mount a series of research expeditions during IPY to Nordaustlandet, the northernmost island in the Nordic Arctic sector which is 90% ice covered. The multi-disciplinal and multi-national initiative is composed by 26 projects, having individual goals, but well integrated common themes (www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/projects). The spectrum of projects from geosciences to the humanities, investigates how the environmental and anthropogenic dynamics have changed recently in comparison with past records of change from expedition logs, proxy climate data from ice-, lake- and sea-sediment cores, and dynamic studies both on terrestrial as marine ice, comprising more than 80 PI’s (www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/personnel). We will monitor atmospheric, terrestrial and cryospheric chemical and physical fluxes continuously over, and beyond, the period of the IPY. The activities will be integrated to existing research and monitoring in Svalbard as well as to relevant IPY –projects to which Kinnvika base will serve an important add on site. Historical remains hunting, exploration and research traditions are abundant on Nordaustlandet. These remains are artefacts that can help us understand the historical relation between society and the importance these Arctic frontiers had as supply sources of, and as strategic outposts for northern European societies. Earlier research expedition data viewed through modern surveys and data gathering will provide data on the degree of change and variability in this particular system. Proxy-records from a variety of natural archives will bring a time-dimension to more process-focused or monitoring studies. Special attention will be paid to the response of the cryosphere to past climate and environmental changes. This is closely linked to geological assessment of glacial history and monitoring of atmospheric pollutant transport pathways. Advanced statistical methods and numerical models will be used to elucidate linkages between the systems and global teleconnections. We aim to provide a platform for broadband scientific endeavour into a relatively poorly investigated part of the Svalbard Archipelago. The plethora of instruments and methods we plan to unleash are required to fully measure change and variability in the Arctic system – both from the human use, and abuse, to the resonances within the natural system. For synergies sought between different research fields, see (www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/synergies).

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
#numbers refer to projects listed at www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/projects Theme 1: Monitoring campaigns: aerosols, heavy metals, radiation, carbon, nitrogen, sea ice, climate, landscape dynamics, plankton dynamics, snow chemistry, (#1-5, 7, 15-17, 20, 22). Theme 2: Process studies: air/snow, terrestrial ecosystem, paleoclimate, archaeological and bibliographic archives, permafrost thawing, ice and landscape dynamics, and numerical experiments (#2, 6, 8-11, 14, 19-20, 23-24, 26). Theme 3: By finding statistical relations between variability found at the studied site and global phenomenon, (#2, 8, 9, 11, 14, 26). Theme 4: Novel techniques: Remote sensing for landscape evolution, (#12, 19, 21). Theme 6: Site examinations, bibliographical archives and interviews (#23-25).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
86 PIs in 15 countries: Finland (22), Norway (11), Sweden (21), other countries are:Canada (2), Estonia (3), France (1), Iceland (1), Japan (1), Germany (3), The Netherlands (1), Poland (4), Russia (4), Switzerland (1), UK(6), USA (5). (For reference see www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/projects/members)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The island Nordaustlandet of the Svalbard Archipelago, with logistical focus on Kinnvika, the bays and fiords surrounding Nordaustlandet and the ice caps Aust- and Vestfonna

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/06 – 07/06      04/07 – 05/07 & 07/07 – 08/07      04/08 – 05/08 & 07/08 – 08/08 & 2009
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Summer 2006: Ice strengthened research vessel, Fuel and Food depots, ~ 20 pax.; Spring 2007: Ice breaker/Helicopter input of equipment, Snowmobiles ~ 20 pax.; Summer 2007: Ice strengthened research vessel for input of equipment to erect base @ Kinnvika (remains of a IGY field station), ~ 50 pax in shifts, helicopter lifts Kinnvika – nearby heliports, and Small boats/Zodiacs; Spring 2008: Helicopter, Snowmobiles 5-10 pax; Summer 2008: Helicopter, Ice strengthened research vessel, 5-10 pax; Spring 2009: Helicopter, Snowmobiles 3-5 pax; Summer 2009: Ice strengthened research vessel to bring out camp (some instruments will be left for monitoring over the period to several years ahead, visits after 2009 tba

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The base at Kinnvika, established in 1957, will be renovated as a consequence of the expedition activities. Allowing continued usage as a base for research after IPY – consistent with requirements of Environmental Impact Assessment and limitations of working in the Nordaustlandet Nature Reserve. The Kinnvika Base will provide another concrete platform for Nordic cooperation in the High Arctic

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

We are seeking support from Nordic polar operators. The project has been proposed to the Committee on Northern Research, Finnish Ministry or Trade and Industry and preparatory funding has been sought. An application will be submitted to the Nordic Council of Ministers

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
YES, Endorsed by the Finnish IPY committee on 19 November 2004 and the Netherlands IPY committee by 7 January, 2005. Will be submitted to the Norwegian and Swedish IPY committees simultaneously with the submission to IPY 14 Jan, 2005. Acknowledged as a priority project by a meeting on International Polar Year and Nordic priorities and perspectives ( September 30 – October 1 Research Council of Norway, Oslo) attended by the directors of Nordic polar/arctic institutes/secretariats (not Iceland)

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
A plan was initiated in November 2002 and the scientific interest towards it has been high. There is also an interest to establish a Finnish research presence in the high Arctic. The project is directed to the historic site of the Swedish-Finnish-Swiss IGY expedition in 1957. When the IPY was announced similar ideas arose in Sweden. Both plans were then merged with Norwegian activities in the area. In essence the plan is new, but elements in the plan have already been activated, and are existing. The proposal is also part of the future plans of the internationally open research network of The Swedish Programme for Social Science Research in the Polar Regions, which is a part of an ongoing work since 1997.

How will the project be organised and managed?
A Project Steering Committee has been set-up: Paula Kankaanpää (Chair), Veijo Pohjola, John Moore, Piotr G?owacki, Dorthe Dahl Jensen (or substitute), Urban Wråkberg, Jon Ove Hagen and Ólafur Ingólfsson. We will encourage synergies and promote a cross-disciplinarity culture e.g. by fully-inclusive workshops. Finnish logistics and science coordination will handled by the Arctic Centre, Rovaniemi, Finland. A logistics person will be appointed for 3 years, and will work in close cooperation with FINNARP logistics personnel. Swedish activities is to date coordinated by personnel in Uppsala University, with expected future close contact to the Swedish Polar Secretariat, while Norwegian activities may be handled e.g by Norwegian Polar Institute.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Arctic Centre is a multidisciplinary research institute and science centre having long expertise on education and popularisation of science to wide public and school pupils. The Information Service unit will set up a website for the expedition which enables schools and media to follow the trip. A travelling exhibition will be prepared from the expedition. Interactive participation in projects from schools in particular in Finnish Lapland, and in the Nordic countries in general, will be combined with wider expertise e.g. from the Swedish Natural Historic Museum / Geologins dag, and through the Swedish Programme for Social Science Research in the Polar Regions Website http://www.spkp.se. We will also globalize this effort later. The expedition has considerable media value due to the historical value of the Kinnvika Site.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Arctic Centre hosts several Arctic databases and has an Information Service currently comprising 9 members including Arto Vitikka, Finnish member of the JCADM. We will be active in, and subscribe fully, to the IPY DIS plan. We will be able to create new databases and provide data dissemination to other specialist international data repositories appropriate for each field of research undertaken by the expedition

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The scientific work will be funded mostly through the participating institutes through salaries and research equipment. Extra funding for research is being sought from national research councils and foundations. The logistic funding will be based partly on the existing national equipment by the countries and the running costs will be applied from Nordic Council of Ministers and domestic ministries through national polar committees.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The project ties in with the aims of other IPY initiatives: IASSA-IPY social science themes, AOSB-CLIC proposal for monitoring Arctic Seas, CARE proposal on climate sensitivity of the Arctic, CPC circumpolar contamintants, GLACIODYN and CIRICA the dynamic response and sensitivity of Arctic glaciers to global warming, COMAAR initiative for monitoring in Artctic, POLAP pollution of atmospheric pollution in the Arctic, PolarPACE (permafrost), NARAC (satellite ground-proofing) and the Islands of Artic Life initiative.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Paula Kankaanpää
University of Lapland
Box 122
Rovaniemi
FIN-96101
Finland

Tel: +358 341 2768
Mobile: +358 40 7777 825
Fax: +358 16 341 2777
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information