Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Permo – Triassic Rift OpeningThe Permo-Triassic Early Atlantic Opening and its Impact on Major Rift Systems of Northern Pangaea – a GATEWAY originated from the Arctic  (PeTRO)

Outline
The present-day Arctic environments are not only key regions for the understanding of the earth’s dynamics by means of global climatic changes of the recent past. Moreover, the precursor of the present-day Arctic Ocean, the Boreal Ocean situated north of the Permo-Triassic supercontient Pangaea, was by that time influencing the configuration and infill of the North Atlantic and European sedimentary basins even down to the area of the Alps.This project focuses on the investigation of the Permo-Triassic sedimentary sequences in Eastern Greenland and on Svalbard. The initial development of the syn-rift basin fill during the opening of the early Atlantic Ocean took place in the northern boreal part of Pangaea, the present-day Arctic. To understand the key role of this area it is of special interest to trace the impact of controlling mechanisms like eustasy, tectonics and palaeoclimate through the successive stages of rift development and from north to south along the rift-axis. A key question is how far the Permo-Triassic Arctic or Boreal Ocean was the pacemaker of sequence development in the Greenland Rift and further south through the North Sea Graben Systems into the Central European Basin?The methods applied in this project address the tasks of correlating of continental with shallow marine sequences by tracing of marine base-level signals (maximum flooding surfaces) and the characterisation of major unconformities by geochemical fingerprinting of palaeosoils and correlative horizons. The project intents to integrate and correlate the regional arctic stratigraphies with advanced techniques of basin analysis that combine field, core and available seismic data.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Theme 3, 4, 5: The project intents to integrate the regional geological expertise with state of the art techniques of sedimentary basin analysis. The envisaged outcome of the project is to take the Arctic as a vantage point for the development of sedimentary basin models of global significance.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Fieldwork on Svalbard in close cooperation with Norwegian Polar Institute,Fieldwork in Eastern Greenland in cooperation with Geological Survey of Denmarkand Greenland

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Svalbard: Kap Linné, Hornsund, Eastern IslandsEast Greenland: Jameson Land

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/2007 – 08/2007      05/2008 – 08/2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Svalbard:HelicoptersSnow terrain vehiclesKap Linné (Isfjord Radio), Hornsund (Polish Station) (joint effort with A. Hormes, EoI RISE); Eastern Islands (supported by Norwegian Polar Institute)East Greenland:HelicoptersSnow terrain vehicles

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The proposal is connected to the POLARGATES (ID 200) initiative lead by Karsten Gohl.

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 Project, but connected to current research in the frame of the SPP 1135 priority program “Dynamics of Sedimentary Basins” of the Germany Research Foundation.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be organised and managed by the proposer in the frame of a PostDoc or Assistant Professorship. Application for financial support will be directed to the German Research Foundation (DFG). Two PhD-candidates will be involved in fieldwork and data interpretation.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education – two PhD studentsOutreach – publications in peer-reviewed journalsCommunication –presentations at scientific meetings and workshops

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
PANGAEA - Network for Geological and Environmental DataICSU World Data Center System

How is it proposed to fund the project?
PostDoc-Proposal to the German Research Foundation (DFG)

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Dirk Radies
RWTH Aachen University
Wuellnerstr. 2
Aachen
52062
Germany

Tel: +49 241 80 93616
Mobile: +49 162 906 0823
Fax: +49 241 80 92151
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information