Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Paleo-perspectives on Environmental Change in the High Arctic  (PaPerECHA)

Outline
During the first International Polar Year, a U.S. expedition, led by A.W. Greely, established the northernmost outpost of the IPY, on northern Ellesmere Island at Fort Conger. This led to the discovery of Lake Hazen and the adjacent Ice Cap, and the first comprehensive meteorological & natural history observations from the region. In the third International Polar Year (IGY-1957), a major multi-disciplinary research project (“Operation Hazen”) was based at Lake Hazen and on the ice cap discovered by Greely. At that time, glaciological studies provided an ~50 year perspective on the climate of the region, and many other studies established a baseline for future monitoring of environmental changes. Today, with new techniques, we can greatly extend that short perspective on High Arctic climate and place the changes of the last 50 years in a much longer-term context. We therefore propose a multidisciplinary study of environmental change in the High Arctic. This will have three major elements: ·an ice core to bedrock from the northern Ellesmere Island Ice Cap near Mount Oxford, together with a set of shorter cores along a transect to the margins of the Arctic Ocean; ·a long sediment record from Lake Hazen. ·a comprehensive 3-D geophysical survey of the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf These records will shed light on the following questions: ·how have temperatures (especially the ecologically important summer temperatures) in the region changed in recent decades compared to the past (when was it warmer, if ever)? ·what evidence is there for abrupt climate changes in the past? ·what was the climate like when people (of the Independence I culture) first occupied the region? ·how has snow accumulation changed with an increasingly open Arctic Ocean? ·to what extent has contaminant loading from air pollution increased in the High Arctic? ·has runoff and erosion increased in recent decades? ·how has the ecology of Lake Hazen changed in the 20th century? ·how has the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf changed since past surveys were undertaken, and is it likely to break up?These will be the main research foci of PaPerECHA but, as with “Operation Hazen”, we anticipate collaboration with other scientists to expand the research focus, to include modern environmental processes, paleoecology and regional modeling of High Arctic climate. Such collaborations will be sought explicitly during planning of the project, and will no doubt develop via international networks that become established as part of the IPY.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Our current perspective on environmental change in the High Arctic is limited because of very short meteorological and other environmental records. High- resolution studies of paleoclimatic archives (ice, lake sediments) can place recent changes in a long-term context. This is especially important considering the significant changes observed in Arctic Ocean ice cover in the last few decades. We will provide insight into the nature of recent changes and any evidence of similar conditions in the past. We will also provide a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf on the north coast of Ellesmere Island, the largest ice shelf remaining in the northern hemisphere. These studies mainly pertain to Themes 1 & 2, but they are also relevant to theme 3.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Research will involve collaboration with scientists from the Geological Survey of Canada and the British Antarctic Survey

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Lake Hazen Basin and adjacent ice cap of the Grant Land Mountains, northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/06 – 09/06 (preliminary surveys)      04/07-09/07      04/08-09/08
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Aircraft support (Twin Otters on skis, and helicopters) will be based out of Resolute & eureka, Nunavut, Canada.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No—much of the work will be within a National Park—but a network of ablation stakes will be established for long-term monitoring

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

Logistical support is anticipated using Polar Continental Shelf (Ottawa) aircraft and facilities (under contract) as a logistical base of operations (starting in Resolute).

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Expression of interest is in the process of being considered by the US National Committee for IPY

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?
Yes

How will the project be organised and managed?
Primary responsibility for the project will be by scientists from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A Scientific Steering Committee made up of principal collaborators from other U.S. universities that are involved, and of Canadian colleagues will be established to provide oversight and communication in all aspects of logistics and scientific analysis.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Research will involve educational outreach to Inuit communities in Nunavut, and establishment of web-based educational materials. Undergraduate and graduate student training will be an implicit part of the project, and the involvement of journalists in the field program is anticipated.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
All relevant data will be provided to the National Snow & Ice Data Center & the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology (Boulder, Colorado).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
It is anticipated that funding will primarily be from federal agencies of the US government (mainly the National Science Foundation), with additional support from the government of Canada.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Raymond Bradley
University of Massachusetts
Dept of Geosciences
Morrill Science Center, UMASS. Amherst
01003-9297
USA

Tel: 413-545-2120
Mobile:
Fax: 413-545-1200
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information