Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Paleo-Ice Streams in the Canadian Arctic  (CANSTREAM)

Outline
Paleo-ice streams and their role in overall ice-sheet dynamics (Kleman, Stroeven De Angelis, Stea) Ongoing mapping of glacial lineations zones in the central Canadian Arctic (place names in here) have documented a previously unsuspected complexity of flow of ice streams that drained the northwestern sector of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. A large number of ribbon-like lineation zones crosscut and partly overlap each other, suggesting that shifts in location within topographically defined ice stream "corridors" occurred repeatedly. Major ice streams are inferred to have operated in near LGM-time, because they terminated at, or close to the shelf edge. Landforms created by minor deglacial ice streams are superimposed on the older landform systems, and can due to deviating patterns and termination far inside the LGM margins be crudely labeled as deglacial in age. Geomorphological mapping combined with field sampling of erratics for exposure duration measurements will give insight into the evolution and timing of these massive ice discharge systems, which at the height of glaciations likely fed major ice shelves in the Arctic Ocean, thereby also providing a major source of lithic material to the Arctic ocean, and playing a substantial role in the global ice budget.. The methods employed will be detailed geomorphological mapping in Landsat ETM+ imagery, aerial reconnaisance, and field sampling of erratic rocks (shield lithologies).

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed project focuses on understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of the largest ice supply system for Arctic Ocean ice shelves, which potentially will provide a major step towards a better understanding of sources for ice-rafted detritus to the Arctic Ocean, timing of ice shelves in the Arctic, and the global ice budget during the Late Quaternary. The project will thus make significant contributions to particularly IPY themes 2 and 3.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The proposed project represents scientific collaboration between Sweden, and Canada. This includes planning, financing, field work with acquisition of data and samples, scientific evaluation of data and samples, and co-publication of results. The project will contribute to the proposed IPY program Arctic Palaeoclimate and its EXtremes (APEX).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The proposed fieldwork consists of aerial reconnaisance and field sampling of rocks for cosmogenic dating. Logistics will be provided by commercal operators of floatplanes and helicopters in the Central Canadian Arctic, using Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island as the main base.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 08/2007 to 09, 2007            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
(1) Helicopter support from Commercial operators in Cambridge Bay (and, if possible, other villages in Nunavut)

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

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

Logistics is required from: (1) Swedish Polar Research Secretariat (SPRS), icebreaker Oden (2) Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and Southampton Oceanography Centre (SOC), Autosub (3) Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), airgun reflection seismics (4) Stockholm University (SU), coring tools and core curation.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This letter of intent has been submitted to the Swedish IPY Committee. No formal endorsement yet exists.

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

The project builds on, and adds to, the existing VR-funded project SPATIO-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION AND SEDIMENT DYNAMICS OF OCEAN-TERMINATING PALEO-ICE STREAMS IN THE LAURENTIDE ICE SHEET VR= Swedsh Research Council

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be lead by prof Kleman, Stockholm University. Yearly project meetings will be held.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The PI has a past educatiuon and career as a journalist, and we will draw on this in developing a comprehensive web site, and publishing articles in the popular press, .

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All project data will be georeferenced and handled in a GIS system at Stockholm University, in order to ensure compatibility and easy data transfer to other researchers.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Within Klemans proposed VR project 2006-2008. Additional funding will be applied for from relevant agencies and other sources

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Our project is focused on understanding the ice discharge system that drained the Inuitian and Laurentide Ice Sheets towards the Arctic Ocean, and therby gain insight into the land-ocean linkage in the Arctic during Quaternary glaciations. A fully devloped icestream network draining northwards, and the present ice-free conditions in the area, represent two extreme end-members in Arctic glacial-interglacial cyclicity. Therefore, we anticipate that our project could contribute to the proposed IPY program Arctic Palaeoclimate and its EXtremes (APEX). PROPOSER DETAILS

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Johan Kleman
Dep. of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology
Stockholm
106 91 Stockholm
Sweden

Tel: (+46)-8-16 48 13
Mobile: (+46)-70-7968203
Fax: (+46)-8-16 48 18
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation