Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Development of Comprehensive Data Products for Arctic Environmental Studies  (Comprehensive Data Products for Arctic Environmental Studies)

Outline
The last decade has been a period of rapid change in the Arctic environment. Several changes have been documented, such as: the influx of warm Atlantic waters, a decrease in the annual mean sea level atmospheric pressure, increased melting of the Greenland ice sheet, continued retreat of Arctic glaciers, an overall decrease in hemispheric snow cover, and the significant reduction in sea ice. In order to understand the rapid changes underway in the Arctic environment, it is crucial to have spatially and consistent data sets for several cryospheric variables. Satellite observations are still the most efficient means to obtain high spatial and temporal resolution of several geophysical variables that are crucial to understanding environmental change in the Arctic. However, many of the data sets are developed for a specific region. Because of this, previous studies have looked at trends in individual cryospheric variables such as ice extent, melt area or snow cover extent. The lack of hemispheric-wide cryospheric variables on a common grid and at a common spatial and temporal resolution limits the ability to study concurrent changes in several of these variables at the same time. In other instances, hemispheric-wide grids of some cryospheric variables have been developed, but they have not been continued past the grant that produced the original data set. For example, the AVHRR Polar Pathfinder Product (APP) provides hemispheric-wide estimates of surface albedo and temperature, but the data set only goes through 2000 and no plans exist to update the time-series beyond 2000 or to extent it into the EOS-era sensors such as MODIS. Thus, there is a real need for the community to come together and work towards developing spatially, temporally and internally consistent data sets of some of the critical climate variables that cover the entire Arctic region. Critical variables to be included in this effort are the following: surface albedo, surface temperature, melt (onset, freeze-up and extent for snow, sea ice, and ice caps), snow depth, cloud cover, and sea ice area, thickness, and motion. We propose to combine data sets from the above parameters into a consistent, coherent, complete data set that would be useful to study important climate issues such as the surface energy balance of the Arctic. The relevant parameters will be compiled from existing data, much of which is already archived at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, along with new data acquired during IPY.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will provide a comprehensive data set of important environmental variables covering the entire Arctic region, which are internally consistent and are produced at common spatial and temporal scales. We will provide a framework (common grid and data standards) that will foster the inclusion of many variables, either from within this project or provided by other PIs through their IPY research. The framework will also allow the continuation of future data acquisitions beyond IPY and research in new or improved parameters, thus facilitating the ongoing accumulation of consistent timeseries of critical parameters necessary to understand Arctic change.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We have not planned any specific international collaboration. However, we will actively seek out partners who have data or algorithms to share with the community, either as validation data sets or to contribute to the comprehensive data products.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
No field work is proposed, though again, we hope to collaborate with researchers in the field to provide data towards our proposed products.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
We plan to take advantage of the data archival facilities and expertise at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, particularly in its proposed role as an IPY data information services center/portal.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes. The project will leave a legacy of infrastructure to add future data sets to the comprehensive products.

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

We plan to submit proposal to NASA, NSF, and also seek out other potential sources of support.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Proposals are being prepared to submit to NASA and NSF.

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?


This is a new autonomous proposal, but is based on previous efforts (e.g., Polar Pathfinder) and will use products from previous efforts, while adding new data and new approaches.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The PIs have scientific expertise developing new and refined data products and working with scientists on development of other innovative approaches to producing cryospheric parameters from satellite. NSIDC has expertise providing data in common grids and formats that are then useful to a broad user community, as well as in data management, user services, and outreach. The two PIs will be the primary managers for bringing in the data sets and converting them to the common data framework. The data will be managed and distributed through the NSIDC's proposed role as a data information services center for IPY.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
A comprehensive, consistent data set will greatly ease understanding of the data and the interconnections between the different parameters and regions (land, oceans, ice). For example, the proposed data products and data framework could easily be incorporated into a GIS web-based server to overlay and intercompare the different cryospheric variables.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data will be archived and distributed at NSIDC, which has considerable expertise in data management. If NSIDC is selected as a data information services center/portal for IPY, the data produced through this activity will be incorporated into this IPY data management system.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Proposals are being prepared to request funding from NASA and NSF.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Walter Meier
National Snow and Ice Data Center, Univ. of Colorado
UCB 449
Boulder, CO
80305
USA

Tel: +1-303-492-6508
Mobile: no
Fax: +1-303-492-2468
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation