Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Glacier benchmark network for monitoring mass-balance and validation of remote sensing based methods on Antarctic Peninsula.  (GLABENAP - Glacier Benchmark Network on Antarctic Peninsula)

Outline
Climatic studies reveal that northern Antarctic Peninsula (AP) and surrounding areas have been reacting to a consistent differential warming trend in the last decades. Temperature values are considerably larger than the mean Antarctic trend (+1.2 ºC/century), and this region has been indicated as case of study for better understanding of regionally specific climatic processes (Vaughan et al. 2001). According to regional warming trend significant changes in ice masses are occurring on Antarctic Peninsula. Recent disintegration of several ice shelves suggest that modulated temporal reaction of inland glaciers is likely to occur. Nevertheless, responses are also controlled by local environmental settings. Therefore, consideration of additional parameters to characterize properly the status of selected glaciers and to recognize their dynamic behaviour is required.There is a lack of systematic measurement of glaciological parameters in most parts of Antarctica. This is particularly true in the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, as demonstrated by lack of reports in the World Glaciological Monitoring Service (WGMS) database. According to Turner et al. (2002) one of the main problems to investigate changes in precipitation and mass balance across the Antarctic Peninsula is the limited amount of data in both parameters. Their exhaustive compilation of measurements does not include any record northward of 64º S. In addition, the knowledge of glacier mass-balance variations allows to estimate the contribution of ice sheets to global sea level rise. Present-day surface mass balance knowledge is indispensable to understand past and future changes of the Antarctic ice sheet in relation to sea level. Recent estimations are limited for spatial resolution of data and do not provide any indication of the state of mass balance of glaciers at low elevation along the coast (Rignot and Thomas, 2002; Rignot 2002).This situation represents the opportunity to establish a network of benchmark glaciers in selected places on northern Antarctic Peninsula region. This should provide the required basic data for glaciological studies in a region suggested as sensitive and where early responses to climatic changes are already occurring. Using classic methods representative glaciers can be intensively studied to understand the effects of climate on glacier mass changes and the resulting effect on stream-flow. Complementary dataset will be recorded with the aim to calibrate automatic and semi-automatic methods to extract information using multi sensor satellite data.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Measurement in selected benchmark glaciers will permits to asses their mass balance. These measurement and other standardized glacier data will be informed to the WGMS and GLIMS international projects. A legacy of glacier benchmarks will be created in Antarctic Peninsula region, whose will be also in the future measured under a regular schedule in order to contribute to monitoring the state of cryosphere.A web based database will be implemented in order to report status of benchmark glaciers. Additional contents will give a background and communicate results to the general public. Graduate students will be included in the project activities.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Effective international cooperation involve active members of Antarctic Programs from Argentina, Brazil and Chile.Close cooperation with the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) and Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) international projects is expected.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Our proposal consider the definition of benchmark glaciers in places reasonably close to all-year-round operation Comandante Ferraz Station on King George Island and Bernardo O’Higgins Station, on the Antarctic Peninsula. Vega island, where glacier mass-balance measurements have been carried out since 1999 will be also included.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 11/06 – 03/07      11/07 – 03/08      11/08 – 03/09

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Logistic support from the investigator’s Antarctic Programs will be required. Permanent stations lodgement will be occasionally needed at Comandante Ferraz and Bernardo O’Higgins stations. Field camp deployment (desired by helicopters) and logistics to operate (snowmobiles) will be needed on glaciers in surroundings of Admiralty Bay, Trinity Peninsula and Vega Island.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
A network of glaciers located in different parts of the northern Antarctic Peninsula will be established permitting to incorporate Antarctic glaciers in the reports of the WGMS and serve for future recording of glaciological parameters and study of polar environment.Setting of permanent and seasonal automatic weather stations (AWS) will be installed.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency
Military support
Own support
Other sources of support

Satellite data will be acquired under GLIMS project and agreement with the DLR.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Chilean NC endorsed this activity (proposal ID 410c, ANNEX 9 -List of Ideas Submitted by National Committees)Argentina has endorsed this activity through a letter of the Director of Instituto Antártico Argentino.At present Brazil has not a National Committee but it is expected to get the endorsement on time.

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
Is an autonomous proposal under the concept to define a network of benchmark glaciers to be established for future records of mass balance in the Antarctic Peninsula. Nevertheless, it is compatible with other initiatives currently submitted (Understanding the relationship between Ice Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level, ID 335h, SCAR)

How will the project be organised and managed?
Presently researchers from three countries are part of this project. They will carry out activities in specific selected glaciers located in at least three different places. Planning meetings will be carried out in order to define activities, agree on a common protocol to perform recording and sampling of glaciological parameters, coordinate resources, etc. It is envisaged to promote the interaction between groups with yearly meetings for planning, communication of results and conditions permitting a common field activities. Administration of resources will be done at a local level.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Graduate students will be incorporated in field and office activities.A web page of the project will be published to allow management of data, exchange of documentation, participants interaction, and to communicate outreach to general public.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Metadata will be submitted under JCADM recommendations to correspondent National Antarctic Data Centres and to the Global Change Master Directory - Antarctic Master Directory Portal.Data will be reported to the WGMS and GLIMS international Projects.Raw data will be stored in a web based database.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
AppApplication to national and international founding calls will be submitted. Limited logistic and operative support is currently allocated from each national Antarctic Programs. Support for activities will be requested independently to regular announcement opportunities (CONICYT, INACH, IAA, etc). Applications to regular and special international founding opportunities will be submitted as a consortium for not covered items.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr Ricardo Jaña
Scientific Department, Chilean Antarctic Institute
Plaza Gobernador Benjamín Muñoz Gamero 1055
Punta Arenas
620-0965
Chile

Tel: (49-761) 2039129
Mobile:
Fax: (49-761) 2033596
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information