Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Comparison of Air-Sea Fluxes of CO2 in the Southern Ocean and the western Arctic Ocean  (CFCSOA)

Outline
The polar oceans covering a larger area (20-25% of the global ocean), through their coldest water masses, sea ice cover, ice sheets, and deep-water-ventilation sites, have the potential to influence global climate over a broad range of timescales (Walsh, 1983). The Arctic Ocean has been found as a rapid changing region with thinning and retreating of the sea ice due to its sensibility to the global warming and would play a more important role for atmospheric carbon dioxide absorption as a sink. The Southern ocean exerts a major control on atmospheric carbon dioxide content, and thus global climate. Previous work has shown that the Subantarctic Zone (40°S to 50°S) had low carbon dioxide levels in surface waters, and was therefore regions where uptake could occur. Therefore, it is considered as an important region in the world oceans to delicately know the CO2 uptake capacity in the Southern Ocean for atmospheric CO2 and required paying more intention to researches on ocean chemistry, physics and biology, especially to determine the geographic and temporal extent and variability of CO2 uptake in the Southern Ocean, and the relative roles of biological and physical processes in its control. This knowledge would help to understand the rate of greenhouse warming, and to be possible to predict the nature of future carbon dioxide uptake by the ocean, and to understand past variations. However, because of their harsh and inaccessible conditions, polar oceans still belong to regions few data sets available, especially lack of a long term observation of air-sea CO2 fluxes. China has a polar icebreaker of Xuelong (Snow Dragon) who has annual cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic region traversing ocean areas where only limited pCO2 observations available. The goals of this program are: 1) to develop a high-resolution underway pCO2 system; 2) from underway measurements of atmospheric and surface water pCO2 and related chemical, physical, meteorological parameters, to achieve a quantitative understanding of the variability of sources and sinks of CO2 in the Polar and Sub-polar Regions, and of the processes control the pCO2 variations; and 3) to provide observational information for evaluating the role Polar regions plays in global change.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The development of a high-resolution underway pCO2 system to be installed on the Chinese Icebreaker on board in MV Xuelong. To provide spatial and temporal distributions of pCO2 in atmosphere and in surface seawater of the Polar and Sub-polar Zone, and corresponding air-sea CO2 fluxes. The effect of key biogeochemical processes on the air-sea exchange of CO2 in the Polar and Sub-polar regions.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
In FY2005, GCC is seeking to augment the observational network in the ocean and atmosphere to fill in critical spatial and temporal gaps. SOLAS for the study of carbon, nitrogen etc in the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The ship has annual cruises Antarctic region traversing ocean areas and two years a track to the Antarctic circumnavigates the Antarctic continent offering a near synoptic view of surface water pCO2 levels in this region. The MV Xuelong will conduct a special cruise to meridionally transects bipolar waters in 2007/08 during IPY.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Transect cruise 07-08,      Antarctic circumnavigates 09-10      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
An automated system to measure partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) to be installed on the Chinese Icebreaker Xuelong.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The automated system to measure partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) will be left on the Chinese Icebreaker Xuelong to continue investigation of pCO2.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own support
Other sources of support

Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration has the Xuelong icebreaker to make yearly voyage to the Antarctic waters and specially survey to the Arctic Ocean.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The cooperative project to investigate air-sea pCO2 fluxes in polar regions has been "endorsed" at national level by CAA, China and by NOAA, 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?
Yes

This project is a new autonomous proposal.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Field activities are organized by CAA and investigation responded from technicians from GCMAC, NOAA in US will response the automatic underway pCO2 system

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
CFSSOA will invite US side scientists to China to train Chinese technicians and to give lectures to Graduate students in the initial stage.

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 Polar Data Center and NOAA Data Center.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Mainly through national funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Liqi Chen
Key Lab of Global Change and Marine-Atmospheric Chemistry, SOA
178 Daxuelu, Xiamen
1 Fuxingmenwai Av., Beijing
361005
P.R. China

Tel: 86-592-2195353
Mobile: no
Fax: 86-592-2195982
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation