Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Mobile pole-to-pole monitoring of airborne semivolatile organic pollutants  (MAMON (Mobile Air MONitoring))

Outline
The project is intended to complement stationary air monitoring stations in the Arctic and Antarctic with mobile air monitoring activities. The stationary stations are included in the full proposal ATMOPOL. The data collected within this subproject will give a better picture of the global distribution of the target pollutants. This is important as background information for models of long-range transport to the Polar Areas. It is important to get data also from mid and low latitudes as these are assumed to be source areas of semivolatile organic pollutants to the Polar Regions. The mobile air monitoring will be ship based. Sampling will be performed during transit from Europe to Antarctica and Arctica and also on ships operating in the respective Polar Region. Whenever possible, air sampling will be complemented with water sampling, which to study the air-water gas exchange. This will add to the usefulness of the data to model the global transport processes.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project is intended to link the Polar Areas by obtaining data from ships sailing from pole to pole or in the high latitudes of one of the Polar Areas. Data from low latitudes are important to understand the global processes of long-range transport and

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project is proposed to be part of the full proposal ATMOPOL. Additional international collaboration will be sought in the ship-based work.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Fieldwork will be ship-based, in part on ships travelling pole to pole in the Atlantic, and in part on ships in the respective Polar Areas.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The project is dependent on available ship space. We will apply for space on various research vessels operating in appropriate areas.

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?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support

We will primarily use ships that are already scheduled for expeditions. In some cases ships will be used while in transit to the Arctic or Antarctic.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Not yet. Endorsement will be sought at the next appropriate 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?


The project is a new project, but will be component, together with other projects, in the ATMOPOL 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). These activities 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?
Funding will be sought from the Norwegian Research Council or other national research funding bodies at the appropriate call for proposals.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
An agreement has been reached with the ATMOPOL project lead, Dr. Roland Kallenborn, as well as with other participants that MAMON fits well into the framework. We have already contacts in Germany to do sampling on the Polarstern during transit. We will also apply for ship space on other expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.

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