Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

High Altitude Glaciology Scientific Expeditions-Parallel Expeditions to Pole Regions  (HAGSE-PEPR)

Outline
High altitude mountain regions in mid to low latitude are experiencing the most rapid rates of environmental change in the world under the background of global warming. To understand the natural modes of variability and the potential impact of human impact on climate and environment, ice cores from polar ice sheet and alpine glacier are an ideal archive, which can extend the record of climate and environment variability in the past on time scales from years to millennia. Mt Qomolangma region ranges from about 4000m to 7000m a.s.l, where there are a lot of glaciers. Much information from nature and from mankind activities could be stored in, especially from mid to low latitude, Northern Hemisphere, where more than half people on the world live there. Several countries have extensive experience undertaking scientific programs in Mt Qomolangma Region. But there are still a lot of things unclear. Past and Present Climate and environment variability in Mt Qomolangma region New effort will stress on atmosphere-snow/ice process monitoring to better interpret the ice core data and ice core drilling to extend past climate and environment change record. We will pay more attention to the conventional parameters retrieval from ice core, as well as new parameters, such as organic matter and microorganism, etc, to enhance our ability to get more information from ice core. We also carry out multidisciplinary expeditions (e.g. biosystem and biodiversity) all around this region to provide useful information of the environment variability. Water resource The glaciers in Mt Qomolangma region is the source of some river that provide water for agriculture in the downstream region. Glaciers retreat will influence water source and result in the changes of live style of local people. Burst of ice lakes also damage lives and wealth of people downstream. We need to assess the influence of global warming on glacier change and the trend of glacier resource in this region. We also need to know what extents of the local people were influenced by glacier retreating over the last several decades and the potential of ice lake bursting in the future. Comparison study on climate and environment variability in high latitude and high altitude Comparison study on ice-core record from high latitude and high altitude will enhance the understanding of regional and global climate and environment change thus, improve our ability to predict the climate change and anthropogenic impact assessment.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will address themes 1, 2, 3 and 6. The expedition will address multidisciplinary measurements in Mt Qomolangma region from both northern and southern side of the highest peak in the world. Internationally cooperation is a prime measurement strategy for this project. The project provides the opportunity to explore the holistic conditions of this region, including climate and environment variability, water resource, ecosystem, present process of snow and ice et al.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Only an international effort can provide the necessary logistic to study the Mount Qomolangma region by all kinds of instruments. Several countries are involved: China, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Nepal, United States.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
China, France, Korea, United States: Northern side of Mount Qomolangma region. Italy, Japan, Nepal: Southern side of Mount Qomolangma region.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Not Polar - Northern side of Mount Qomolangma region : 07-08, 08-09      Not Polar -Southern side of Mount Qomolangma region : 07-08, 08-09      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Many scientific objectives and then scientific facilities are shared with other projects: drilling instruments, automatic weather stations, permanent or semi-permanent stations, hydrological instruments…

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
It is planned to install permanent or semi-permanent atmospheric observatory, Automatic Weather Stations, snow accumulation stakes, meteorological tower that will be surveyed in the following years for scientific groups or climbers. An Automatic Weather Stations will be installed in the highest site in the world and weather data will be transmitted through Global Telegram System (GTS).

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

Many countries have already studied in this region for many years. China, Italy, Japan, Nepal…

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has been "endorsed" at national and partly at international level USA).

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?
No
This project is a continuation with extended scientific objectives of many countries that have studies in the Mount Qomolangma region.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Scientific Committee chaired by Prof. Ren Jiawen will meet at least once a year. The SC will be in charge of coordinating the international effort, to insure data delivery and education outreach. Each participant nation will be organized with its own co-ordinator committee: All the coordinators (one per country) will be member of the international SC

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Permanent or semi-permanent atmospheric observatory will serve as a platform for communication and education outreach: permanent contact with scientific and with involved countries. Invited journalists or students could visit to the expedition activities for short periods. Graduate students will take part in all the expeditions. Web sites will be created with on line information about expedition

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data repositories will be maintained at Chinese Academy of Sciences, integrating all physical and chemical data collected as part of field activity, laboratory studies. Data policies will follow EPICA and ITASE guidelines and will be made available.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Mainly through national funding agencies open in some cases to private sources. Specific fundings will also be searched at the WMO levels.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Jiawen Ren
Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
260 Donggangxi Road,
Lanzhou
730000
China

Tel: 86-931-8272452
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Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information