Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #264: Winter oceanographic and filming exploration of an Offshore Arctic ecosystem – assisted by Narwhals  

Outline
Climate- induced changes in offshore Arctic area’s that are non-uniform and highly variable. One region that shows divergent trends from the general pattern of Arctic warming is offshore Baffin Bay. Over the past 50 years, this region has demonstrated considerable cooling in air and surface temperatures and sea ice concentrations have increased. The oceanographic conditions of Baffin Bay have been studies sporadically and only opportunistically through fisheries surveys. In addition data have only been collected during the summer due to field logistics in dense sea ice cover, frigid temperatures and winter darkness. In recognition to IPY’s commitment to exploration of poorly known areas of the arctic, our proposal takes a novel approach to explore offshore Baffin bay by using an over-wintering top predator as an oceanographic sampling platform. Narwhals will be instrumented with satellite-linked time-depth-temperature recorders collecting temperature profiles in the winter pack ice to >1,500m depths on daily foraging dives. Oceanographic date collected from Narwhals will be calibrated and combined with in situ pack ice CTD measurements in the near surface zone (<200m). Locations of narwhals from satellite and sonic tags will be combined with remotely sensed observations of sea ice conditions to characterize narwhal-pack ice habitat and examine fine scale compensatory movements in shifting leads and cracks. This integrated approach creates synergy between ecologists and oceanographers offers high-resolution real time oceanographic data from off shore Baffin Bay in winter and provides important ecological information necessary to elucidate forcing factors on narwhal-pack ice relationships. The science expedition will be filmed and produced into a TV program and a real time online display of narwhal movements in Baffin Bay will provide high profile education and public outreach for this dynamic and novel approach for arctic deep sea exploration.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This study will provide insight to three important aspects of the unexplored parts of offshore Baffin Bay. Data collected from diving narwhals wearing satellite tags will provide information on water column temperature to over 1500m, depths which temperature data have never been collected from in Baffin Bay. Such temperature profiles are of importance for assessing the influx of warm North Atlantic water into the deep basin of Baffin Bay, as changes in deep water temperatures are related to an altered course of the Gulf Stream and global climate issues. Narwhal winter habitat selection will be explored by examining dive depths, temperature preferences, and fine scale compensatory movements in shifting leads. The unique regional cooling situation in Baffin Bay resulting in increasing ice conditions over the past 50 years necessitates the first ever fine-scale studies of narwhal winter habitat use. Consequently, for reasons ranging from global circulation and climate change, to species-specific habitat issues, the Baffin Bay ecosystem is an important region of the Arctic that necessitates ocean exploration efforts. It’s a first of it kind exploration of an exciting ecosystem utilized by a charismatic and fascinating marine mammal. The film production component of the project will bring cutting edge science and fascinating images of the popular Narwhal to the an international public audience through television and the internet.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources The National Science Foundation The National Geographic Society Arctic Exploration Fund

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Baffin Bay is a large basin adjacent tot he North American continent with a maximum depth of approximately 2,500m. The bay extends northward from the Labrador Sea to the Smith Sound, and is bordered on the west and east by Baffin Island and the West Greenland coastline. (approx. 66N to 77N and 54W to80W).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/06      03/07      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Helicopters hired out of Greenland will be needed.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Not yet. How is this done?

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?


The project exists as a new autonomous proposal, but will benefit from the knowledge and expertise gained from the current and past Narwhal tagging programs done by biologists with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources.

How will the project be organised and managed?
PI Dr. Kristen Laidre’s reseach is focused on how climate-based ecosystem changes impact Arctic top predator life history and behavior at various spatial and temporal scales (http://faculty.washington.edu/klaidre). Dr. Laidre has extensive expertise in narwhal biology and her work has produced over 10 publications on narwhal ecology in the past 3 years. C0-PI Dr. Heide- Jorgensen is a senior scientist at the GINR since 1992. His expertise is in the eclogy of cetaceans in Greenland and his work has produced over 100 peer-reviewed publications on Arctic top predator biology. (www.natur.gl.). Both PI and co-PI will be directly involved in field work. PI Kirsten Laidre will be responsible for data analysis. Peer reviewed publications will be prepared by both the PI and co-PI in 2007. Arctic Exploration Fund is a non profit organization dedicated to documenting arctic animals responses to climate change. Filmmakers Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson founders of the fund are renowned arctic film producers and will be responsiable for filming on location and producing and distributing a television production. All three parties have collaborated in the past on other science/film projects in the Arctic.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The resulting documentary made by The Arctic Exploration fund and the National Geographic TV Channel will give much needed publicity to a charismatic arctic mammal and its little know winter environment. An ocean environment that could be directly related with climate change in North America. The film will highlight Scientists at work in the field and behind the scenes giving insight into some cutting edge and exciting field science being done in the arctic. In addition to the film a interactive web site, www.narwhal.com will enable schools and users to follow the movements of tagged Narwhal.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Both Principal and Co-investigators are required by their contracts with GINR to publish peer reviewed documents. These would appear in 2007.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Science Funding :for March science field work is proposed to come from a combined committed effort from the Greenland Institute of natural Resources, National Science Foundation and a pending application for funding in at NOAA.. Principal and Co-investigators already are engaged with their salaries and tagging equipment funded by the prior two organizations.The amount covered by these agencies is $200,00USD Additional funding of $77.000US is required for the science field work and is being sought from NOAA and Canadian IPY funds. Funding for education and Outreach: Funding support already commited for education and outreach will be supplied by Arctic Exploration fund and is earmarked at $50.000 USD. This sum pays for equipment, salaries and some logistical support for two cameramen to film on location. National Geographic Society is interesting in editing the film for their television network contributing an approximate additional $150,000USD. An additional $50,000 is been sought through the application of IPY funds to assist paying for filming logistical costs on location and supplemental film work to include in the documentary.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
CV’s for all expedition members is available on request.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Producer Sarah Robertson
Arctic exploration Fund
2900 Tudor Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
V8N 1M1
Canada

Tel: 250 721-1965
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation