Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ocean Exploration in Polar Regions  (Ocean Exploration in Polar Regions)

Outline
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration (OE) coordinates and funds interdisciplinary voyages of discovery to explore and map the ocean at new scales, to develop a more thorough understanding of ocean dynamics and interactions at new levels, to develop new sensors and systems, and to share the excitement of discovery with the public. During 2007 and 2008, OE plans to support multiple projects in both the Arctic and Antarctic in conjunction with the International Polar Year (IPY). OE expects to solicit specific projects for IPY via Federal Register announcements in calendar years 2005, 2006, and 2007. The type and level of support provided will be project-specific (e.g. OE may provide funds for an add-on exploratory component to an existing research cruise or other ship of opportunity. OE may coordinate ship and submersible time for multiple OE-funded projects as part of one or more large explorations.) OE welcomes requests to support Arctic and Antarctic exploration projects recognized by the IPY Joint Committee. All submissions should be designed to expand our knowledge of the ocean’s physical, chemical, biological and archaeological characteristics, processes, and resources. Submissions must focus on unknown or poorly-known areas of the polar oceans. To date, OE contributed funds to the following polar projects (project-specific information available at www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov): · Canada Basin Census of Life: 2002 · Chukchi and Northwind Ridge Mapping Expedition: 2003 · Russian-American Long-term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA) – 2004

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Though specific advances can not be anticipated until projects are selected for funding, typical OE-funded projects target the following themes: · Characterization of seafloor and pelagic structure and habitats; e.g., efforts that focus on describing habitat and species/habitat relationships. Efforts could focus on large regions or specific topographic features. · Ocean Mapping (in conjunction with larger exploration activities); e.g., low resolution (<10m) surveying and mapping areas that have never been surveyed, or high resolution (<10m) surveys of areas that have only been surveyed at low resolution. · Marine life inventories: vertebrate, invertebrate, macro-organisms and micro-organisms; e.g., efforts that describe and quantify species population, diversity, distribution, and life history at regional to site-specific scales. · Marine archaeology; e.g., searching for suspected submerged cultural resources, and characterizing them once found. · New ocean resources; e.g., efforts that locate, characterize, and collect organic and inorganic materials, and assess their commercial potential.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
OE expects significant international collaboration in funded projects associated with the IPY. Specific collaborations are dependent upon the projects ultimately funded. Previous OE-funded projects included significant collaborations with Russian, Canadian, Chinese, and Japanese scientists.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
OE expects to fund projects in the polar oceans. OE typically funds and coordinates projects in ocean depths greater than 100m. Previously-funded Arctic explorations focused on both the deep basins and the Bering and Chukchi Seas.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/2007 - 10/2007      05/2008 - 10/2008      
Antarctic: 01/2007 - 02/2007      11/2007 - 02/2008      11/2008 - 02/2009

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Significant logistic support/facilities requirements will be determined on a project-specific basis. OE is prepared to assist in the procurement of ship and submersible assets if needed. OE is willing to share facilities with other IPY projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
This will be determined on a project-specific basis.

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
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

Though OE does not operate an icebreaker, it is prepared to work with US or international operators to secure and fund icebreaker time.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
All projects must pass a strict peer review process. OE may select projects that both have and have not been officially endorsed as IPY projects at the national or international level.

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?
Exp
A combination of new and/or existing initiatives are possible. OE does anticipate partially-supporting the NOAA RUSALCA initiative in 2008.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This will be determined on a project-specific basis.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
All major OE expeditions involve significant education and outreach components. These may include but are not limited to K-12 lesson plan development, professional development institutes for teachers, and daily updates on NOAA’s award-winning Ocean Explorer web site (www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov).

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
All major OE expeditions involve significant data management contributions. PIs will provide metadata, e.g., number and type of data, and description of the data collected, in a manner defined by NOAA, within one week of completion of a project cruise. PIs will provide OE and the public access to acquired data sets and associated products as soon as practical and, in no case, later than one year following the completion of the cruise unless an extension is specifically granted by OE.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
FundFunding levels are dependent upon OE’s annual appropriation and project requests. OE may be the sole funding source for a project or provide funding in collaboration with other organizations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Please see www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov for more information about previous OE expeditions.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr Jeremy Potter
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
1315 East-West Highway SSMC 3 RM10221
Silver Spring, MD
20910
USA

Tel: 301-713-9444 x136
Mobile:
Fax: 301-713-4252
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information