Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The Mesozoic-Cenozoic climate history of the Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge (central Arctic Ocean)  (AMEX-2008)

Outline
The tectonic evolution as well as the paleoclimatic history of the central Arctic Ocean during Mesozoic-Early Cenozoic times is purely known. In this context, a major break-through was the recent very successful IODP drilling campaign on Lomonosov Ridge (ACEX 2004). For the Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge, however, no long-term, complete paleoclimatic records are available yet. During RV “Polarstern” Expedition ARK-XIV/1a (1998) undisturbed, 4.5 to 7.2 m long sedimentary records were obtained on the Alpha Ridge, probably representing the last about 3 Ma. In only four short cores from the Alpha Ridge, older pre-Neogene sediments were recovered. In general, these data suggest a warmer (ice-free) Arctic Ocean with strong seasonality and high paleoproductivity, most likely associated with upwelling conditions. Differences in sediment composition between the cores may have been caused by lateral and temporal nutrient conditions, oceanic currents, bottom-water oxygen levels, and basin topography. Detailed reconstructions of the long-term paleoenvironmental history from the Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge area representing the transition from Mesozoic-Early Tertiary Greenhouse conditions to upper Tertiary-Quaternary Icehouse conditions, however, are still needed. In addition, high-resolution, well-dated records representiating the late Quaternary (postglacial-Holocene) climate history are also absent from this permanently ice-covered region. Thus, the overall goals of the marine-geological research program are (1) high-resolution studies of changes in paleoclimate, paleoceanic circulation, paleoproductivity, and sea-ice distribution in the central Arctic Ocean and the adjacent continental margin during Late Quaternary (especially postglacial-Holocene) times, and (2) the long-term history of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Arctic Ocean and its environmental evolution from a warm to an ice-covered polar ocean. In areas such as the Alpha-Mendeleev-Ridge, pre-Quaternary sediments are cropping out, which could even be cored with coring facilities aboard “Polarstern” and which would allow to study the Mesozoic/Tertiary history of the (preglacial) Arctic Ocean. Especially the data set for the reconstruction of the long-term paleoclimatic history of the Arctic Ocean is very small and only based on very short sediment cores taken from drifting ice islands (see above). Furthermore, the results will be related to our results obtained from previous expeditions into the central Arctic and the Eurasian continental margin area. Sampling should be performed on transects from the Canada Basin across the Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge into the Makarov Basin. Of interest are areas of high sedimentation rates for the high-resolution studies of late Quaternary (postglacial-Holocene) paleoenvironment and areas where older strata are cropping-out (for studying Mesozoic/Cenozoic sequences of paleoenvironmental change). Coring positions have to be collected carefully using detailed bathymetric mapping and sub-bottom profiling systems (e.g., Hydrosweep, Parasound) to avoid areas of sediment redeposition (turbidites and slumps) and erosion, and to identify areas where older sediments are cropping out.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will allow to study environmental conditions of an ice-free warm Arctic Ocean and its change from Mesozoic-early Tertiary Greenhouse conditions to upper Tertiary-Quaternary Icehouse conditions. Furthermore, Northern Hemisphere glaciations have played a major role in Earth’s Neogene and Pleistocene climate history. A large part of our project is focused on understanding the spatial extent and dynamics of Arctic Ocean glaciations, which potentially will provide a major step forward towards a comprehensive understanding of polar-global climate linkages and interactions (Theme 3). A significant advance in investigating new frontiers will be achieved by bathymetric and sub-bottom profiling as well as sediment coring in the virtually unexplored area of the Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge (Theme 4).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The proposed project represents scientific collaboration between Germany, Canada, Norway, Korea, Russia. This includes planning, financing, field work with acquisition of data and samples, scientific evaluation of data and samples, and co-publication of results. Moreover, this project will contribute to the proposed IPY programs Arctic Palaeoclimate and its EXtremes (APEX), Bipolar Climate Machinery (BIPOMAC), and and Polar Ocean Gateways: The keys to understanding long-term global change (POLARGATES).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The target area comprises the Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge. Mapping and sampling should be performed on transects from the Canada Basin across the Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge into the Makarov Basin.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 08/2008 to 10, 2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
(1) Access to the German icebreaker Polarstern. (2) Support from additional icebreakers needed to fully carry out the planned geoscientific program.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Mainly existing facilities/equipment will be used: icebreaker, bathymetry and sub-bottom profiling systems (e.g., Hydrosweep, Parasound) and coring tools.

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

Logistics is required from: (1) Alfred Wegener Institute Bremerhaven (AWI), Germany, icebreaker Polarstern

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

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

The proposed “Polarstern”-Expedition 2008 (AMEX) which is composed of a geophysics program dealing with seismic site survey aspects and a geology program, will be part of an international approach. The geological and seismic data to be obtained during the “Polarstern” Expedition 2008 will be the base for a more precise planning of a future international (German, Norwegian, Danish, and Korean) scientific drilling within the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP).

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project is a self-managed, free-standing activity organised by a small group of PIs from four academic institutions: Alfred Wegener Institute Bremerhaven, Norwegian Geological Survey Trondheim, and Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. Dr. Ruediger Stein will be the coordinator and bring together the PIs into an effective, communicative group having the overall project goals in steady focus. Correspondingly, plans for the post-expedition science builds on self-management and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The involved institutions all have personnel with accumulated huge experience of education, outreach and communication issues that will be involved. These include: web sites, books, conferences, exhibitions, media interviews and articles in the popular press.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Sediment cores will be curated at the Polarstern Core Repository at AWI in Bremerhaven/Germany. After an initial post-processing and evaluation period, the collected data will be submitted to the World Data Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (WDC-MARE) to be archived in the information system PANGAEA.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Cost for operating Polarstern will be covered by AWI. Funding for post processing and scientific evaluation of collected data will be applied for from the PI’s national research funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Our project is focused on the understanding the long-term and short-term climate history of the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, we anticipate that our project could contribute to the proposed IPY lead programs Arctic Palaeoclimate and its EXtremes (APEX), Bipolar Climate Machinery (BIPOMAC), and Polar Ocean Gateways: The keys to understanding long-term global change (POLARGATES).

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Ruediger Stein
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
Bremerhaven
27568
Germany

Tel: (+49)-471-4831-1576
Mobile: no
Fax: (+49)-471-4831-1923
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation