Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Franz Josef Land Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program  (FEMAP)

Outline
The Franz-Joseph Land (FJL) archipelago is located at the extreme north (between 80 und 82 °N) and constitutes one of the northernmost pieces of land at the border of the summer sea ice extent. While Ellesmere Island, Svalbard and N-Greenland at similar latitudes are integrated in many international research efforts (e.g., AMAP, CALM, ACIA, ITEX), research initiatives are sparse on FJL, although this archipelago would be an important link for many circumpolar research questions. We therefore propose a joint Russian-Austrian research activity designed to shed light on the geodynamic evolution and to determine the present environmental status on the FJL archipelago and access past and present change in its natural environment. The overall goal of the proposed research activity is to fill the existing regional gap in research thereby contributing to existing research efforts and networks. Based on the reactivated research station on Hayes Island (Krenkel station) we will use both remote-sensing and in-situ approaches to cover the whole archipelago covering an area of approximately 16,100 km2. A series of high-density spatial and temporal measurement campaigns during the period of the IPY 2007/2008 are planned that should constitute a thorough characterization of the present (initial) state of the system, both for prospective and retrospective comparisons and analysis. The proposed research activity is structured in the following research foci Focus 1: Geology and Geodynamic + Lithospheric structure of FJL + The High Arctic Large Igneous Province (HALIP) + Seismic and neotectonic activity of FJL Focus 2: Climatology and Meteorology + Climate time-series analysis for FJL region + Energy balance at surface + Temporal evolution of snow-cover distribution and height + Chemical transformation and deposition of atmospheric compounds Focus 3: Glaciology + Mass balance of glaciers and glacier-climate relation + Chemistry of snow cover and glacial deposits + Sea ice monitoring and glacier-marine interactions Focus 4: Hydrology + Ice and snow melt monitoring and modelling + Water balance and soil moisture + Changes in permafrost regimes and active layer dynamics Focus 5: Ecology + Microbial and algal communities of snow and glacier ice + Monitoring of vegetation changes (mosses, lichens and vascular plants) + Biodiversity and population dynamics of Arctic organisms + Interactions of terrestrial, limnic and marine ecosystems + Effects of climate change on carbon storage and export Focus 6: Geoinformatics and Spatial Data Infrastructure + Establishing a database of maps, imagery and observations + Georeferenced framework according to open access requirements + Set-up of an architecture for a SensorWeb real time network + Dynamic visualisation of study region and related geo-information

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed multidisciplinary activity will substantially contribute to the assessment of the present environmental status of the arctic by closing the gap that FJL currently constitutes (Theme 1). This assessment study will be used to establish a long-term observation system for changes of climate, cryosphere, hydrosphere and terrestrial ecosystems of the archipelago (Theme 2). Recovery of historical data (aerial photographs, satellite imagery, climate instrumental data) will be the base to reconstruct regional changes of the last century (Theme 2). New scientific frontiers will be achieved by interdisciplinary approaches and the use of advanced techniques of remote sensing and geoinformatics (Theme 3).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This is a joint Russian-Austrian initiative (see 4.2.). Additional cooperation partners are: National Water Research Institute (NWRI) Environment Canada Burlington. Cooperation with Norwegian scientists and with IASC's Glaciodyn Project is being discussed.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The proposed field work will be carried out across the entire Franz-Josef-Land archipelago (44°50’– 65°25’ E, 79°50’ – 81° 50’ N).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/2007 – 10/2007      03/2008 – 10/2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The proposed activity will be based on the reactivated Krenkel station on Hayes Island and on the reactivated Austrian field camp on Ziegler island (operated between 1993 and 1996). Additionally support by ice-going vessels and helicopters (Russian operators) is required.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave meteorological stations, monitoring sites for vegetation changes, active layer dynamics and a glacier observation network on different islands of the FJL archipelago integrated in a SensorWeb system. A baseline reference geodatabase integrating all georeferenced data and imagery will be made available to the scientific community.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Another national polar operator
Commercial operator

Logistic will be supplied by the Russian partners: VICAAR (commercial operator, St. Petersburg) Roshydromet

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The Austrian Academy of Sciences (IUGG committee) and the Central Institute of Meteorology and Geodynamics (Austrian permanent WMO representative) has endorsed the project. Endorsement by the Russian National IPY-committee is under consideration.

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 is a new autonomous proposal. However it will contribute to several existing (e.g. ITEX, CALM) and planned activities, such as the IPY-Proposal GLACIODYN (IASC).

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project is structured into 6 workpackages (WP) corresponding to the 6 research foci (see 1.3.) and three horizontal activities (EOC, data management and logistics). The project committee will consist of the project PI, the leaders of WPs and horizontal activities, representatives of contributing Austrian and Russian research funds and one representative of each national IPY-committee. The scientific activities will be overseen by an international advisory board.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education and Outreach: The project will focus on secondary education level by a “virtual classroom” concept, allowing school children remote participation in research experiments. Opportunities for teachers to participate in field work will be also provided. Additionally the project will act as a partner of Herodot.net. The proposed activity will include a program for research and field experiences for graduate students and a joint Russian and Austrian PhD program for polar research to attract young people to polar research themes. Communication: The general public will be targeted via the Austrian Broadcasting Company (ORF), major print media and an interactive internet platform (“ask a scientist”).

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data management is a horizontal activity of the project and will be lead by the project data manager. He is responsible for the project internal and external data exchange as well as data archiving and dissemination. Identified data centers are: + WCRP for climate data + NSIDC and WGMS for cryospheric data + Biological data will be stored in a national Austrian LTER data base (MORIS).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding for the overall program including infrastructure and logistics will be requested from the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development. Additional funding for subprojects and associated projects will be applied by the Austrian Science Fund, Austrian Academy of Sciences and EU funding opportunities (INTAS, FP6-IP)

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Austrian arctic science has a strong geographical and historical relations to FJL. In 1873 the archipelago was discovered by the Austrian expedition of Julius Payer and Carl Weyprecht (who was also the initiator of the idea the first polar year). They did some first geographical mapping and measurements of meteorology and oceanography. This scientific tradition was reactivated in the 1990s with a Russian-Austrian cooperation for environmental research in FJL. Based on a summer research camp at Ziegler island research projects in glaciology, ecology and geology were performed.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Wolfgang Schöner
Hohe Warte 38, Vienna


A-1190
Austria

Tel: 43-1-36026-2290
Mobile: 43-664-5302818
Fax: 43-1-36026-72
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information