Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Air-plant exchange of semivolatile organic pollutants in vascular plants  (APEX (Air-Plant Exchange))

Outline
The process of long-range transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from source areas to the Polar Regions involves several processes. Plants may act as temporary or permanent sink for airborne POPs, and as a means of deposition of POPs to forest soils and entry into terrestrial food webs. In particular, the hydrophobic surfaces of vascular plants have capacity to sequester POPs from the air. This has led to discussions on “the forest filter effect”, i.e., that the boreal forests may retain persistent organic pollutants in a way that affects the transport to the Polar Areas. This is particularly important in the Northern Hemisphere where boreal forest belt fringes the Arctic. Thus, understanding the processes by which POPs are exchanged between plants and the air is important for the understanding of the overall processes by which the Arctic is contaminated. We have shown that vascular plants have a much higher capacity to retain organic pollutants than is normally presumed in the dominating models of long-range transport of POPs. This project aims at understanding the processes behind the uptake of airborne organic pollutants in plants. This will be done by obtaining a long time series of concentration measurements of selected pollutants in both air and plants at the same location. The most intensive studies will be carried out in the northernmost boreal zone as the boreal forests are expected to be very important if there is a “forest filter effect” because of the high biomass. The high biomass also allows frequent sampling in a small area without seriously depleting the biomass. Additional sampling will be carried out in the Arctic proper, concentrating on species that we have samples previously in intermittent sampling campaigns in various parts of the Arctic, but in this case concentrating on getting time series for a limited number of sites. Air samples will be taken in parallel with plant material to compare the concentrations in the two media. Of particular interest will be to include determination of endogenous volatile organic compounds, as these in our previous studies seem to affect the seasonal uptake of POPs from the air. The field studies will be complemented with laboratory studies of particular aspects of the effect of the endogenous compounds on the uptake properties of the plants and how this affects the deposition rate of POPs. “New” pollutants will be included in the study as appropriate.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will give a deeper understanding of global transport processes of hydrophobic organic pollutants, such as POPs. In particular, the project will investigate how the boreal forests affect the long-range transport of organic pollutants to the Arctic, and how the terrestrial ecosystems my function as sinks or reservoirs of pollutants. It will also give a new framework in which to interpret existing data on POPs in Arctic plants.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
It is suggested that this project be included in the COPOL full proposal.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
A field station will be established in the boreal forest zone where plant material and air samples will be collected in parallel. Site will be selected at an existing forest research station.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/07 – 12/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Existing field station(s)

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No. Existing infrastructure will be used.

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

Existing forest research station operated by national agency will be selected as sampling site, other logistics can be organised with limited own resources.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Endorsement from national committee will be sought at next deadline.

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?


Contact has been taken with the COPOL framework (submitted 30 sept 2005). Both the leader and other participants in COPOL have agreed that APEX fits into the framework.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Funding from national sources will be administered by an established a national research institute. Direct project management will be by a senior researcher with more than 20 years experience.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project manager has a long record of popular science activities in many forms (articles, lectures, science theatre etc.). These activities include both the own national public and native hunters of the Arctic (Canada, Russia). This will continue within this project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data will be submitted to the national data host for environmental data. Data will be offered to AMAP on a continuous basis.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Proposals will be sent to national research funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The COPOL network give in a full proposal 30 September 2005. An agreement has been reached with the project lead, Dr. Nico van den Brink, as well as with other participants that APEX fits well into the framework.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Dr Henrik Kylin
Norwegian Institute for Air Research
Polar Environmental Centre
Tromsø
NO-9296
Norway

Tel: +47-77 75 03 82
Mobile: +47- 95 44 23 46, or +46-70-683 36 19
Fax: +47-77 75 03 76
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation