Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Reconstructing the Ice Sheet Volume before the Last Deglaciation on Svalbard – Constrained by Surface Exposure Dating  (RISE)

Outline
The key scientific focus of the RISE project is the three-dimensional and chronological reconstruction of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice sheet volume on Svalbard. It is the first attempt to map glacial trimlines and date the upper limit of the LGM ice sheet and periglacial features on Svalbard by means of surface exposure dating (SED) with the cosmogenic nuclides 10Be, 26Al and 36Cl. In general most geoscientific investigations concentrated along the coastlines of Svalbard and not the remote places like the mountain ridges with less accessibility. Large discrepancies between model results of melt water quantity during the last deglaciation need carefully validated data that are so far sparse in the Arctic. The melt water quantity based on a realistic reconstructed ice sheet serves to evaluate its influence on the Atlantic thermohaline circulation. The quantity of melt water is dependent on the volume of the ice sheet and its chronology. The aim of RISE is to quantify the high-latitude meltwater discharge during the last deglaciation into the Arctic Ocean by using the volumetric and chronological reconstruction of the Svalbard ice sheet. The field campaigns, SED and modelling will allow us to (a) decipher the glacial-geological and periglacial constraints of the assumed dating method in the High Arctic and (b) date glacial trimlines in different areas in order to confirm the LGM age, or to get a more differentiated picture of Svalbard glacial history and (c) time the beginning of periglacial processes. First SED data from the northwestern part of Svalbard show that the island Amsterdamøya was ice free above >300 m during the LGM (Landvik et al., 2003). However, within this study the geologic constraints on the dating method itself were not studied. This is very important because in Swedish Lapland there is evidence for bedrock surfaces that were preserved with little erosion through the last glacial cycle (Fabel et al., 2002). Two questions evolve from this finding: (1) Were the investigated areas pre-exposed and the data cannot be used as an argument that Amsterdamøya was ice-free but boundary conditions for cold-based glaciers have to be considered? (2) If Amsterdamøya was ice-free were there additional ice-free areas? Can we map trimlines that give evidence of the upper limit of the ice sheet? If yes, how old are the trimlines and nunataks? Fabel, D., Stroeven, A. P., Harbor, J., Kleman, J., Elmore, D., and Fink, D. (2002). Landscape preservations under Fennoscandian ice sheets determined from in situ produced 10Be and 26Al. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 201, 397-406. Landvik, J. Y., Brook, E. J., Gualtieri, L., Raisbeck, G., Salvigsen, O., and Yiou, F. (2003). Northwest Svalbard during the last glaciation: Ice-free areas existed. Geology 31, 905-908.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Theme 2: contribution to understanding melt water discharge on Atlantic thermohaline circulation; Theme 3: input for atmosphere-ice-ocean coupled models Theme 4: mapping and surface exposure dating of glacial trimlines on Svalbard, surface exposure dating in an Arctic environment and of periglacial features Target education: The proposed project will promote three young investigators – one postdoc and two PhD students. Contribution to the UNIS student course AG-327 'Holocene and recent climate changes in the high arctic Svalbard landscape’.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
1. part of the EOI Kinnvika (http://www.eld.geo.uu.se/IPY/index.htm) 2. part of EOI In Spe (Assoc. Prof. Hanne H. Christiansen, UNIS, Svalbard, Norway) 3. EOI PeTRO (Dr. Dirk Radies, RWTH Aachen, Germany) fieldwork collaboration 4. Dr. Meredith Kelly Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, USA 5. Dr. Andreas Schmittner, Oregon State University, USA 6. Prof. Christian Schlüchter, University of Bern, Switzerland

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The field areas Kapp Linné, Nordaustlandet and Hornsund on Svalbard are chosen by means of existing collaborations during the International Polar Year 2007/2008 and because quartz-bearing rocks suitable for SED are known in these areas.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/2007 – 08/2007      04/2008 – 05/2008      07/2008 – 09/2008
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Helicopters Snow terrain vehicles Existing field station at Kapp Linné – Isfjord radio / shared with EOI In Spe and UNIS course AG-327 Existing field station at Hornsund – Polish research station New field station on Nordaustlandet, preferable at Kinnvika, planned by the EOI Kinnvika.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
In collaboration with the EOI KINNVIKA The base at Kinnvika, established in 1957, will be renovated and modernized.

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

Fieldwork at Kapp Linné will be performed in collaboration with Hanne H. Christiansen andUNIS student course AG-327 'Holocene and recent climate changes in the high arctic Svalbard landscape’

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes, The proposal is part of the Nordic EOI “Kinnvika” submitted to the Norwegian and Swedish IPY committees simultaneously as the submission to IPY 14 Jan, 2005. In Finland the EOI “Kinnvika” was endorsed already.

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?


RISE is a new project but it falls back on the experience of the Ion Physics group at the Ångström Laboratory incorporating accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) that is the only technique for the detection of the long-lived cosmogenic nuclides 10Be, 26Al and 36Cl used in surface exposure dating (SED). The group is active member of the ESF network IAAMS (Isotope analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry in support of earth and environmental sciences).

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project relies on the succession of the geoscientific fieldwork and the integration of expertise of dating with cosmogenic nuclides (Ångström Laboratory, University of Uppsala). The projectmanager/postdoc and one PhD student, which will focus on mapping and dating will be hosted by the Isotope Dating group at Uppsala University. The PhD student will visit the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, New York, in order to broaden extraction and chemical preparation techniques for SED. The other PhD student, which will focus on modelling will be hosted by the Geocentrum and visit the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education – two PhD students and participation in the EOI In Spe Outreach – publications in peer-reviewed journals Communication –presentations at scientific meetings and workshops, Kinnvika web page (part of EOI Kinnvika)

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
ICSU World Data Center System PANGAEA - Network for Geological and Environmental Data

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Application was sent to the EURYI programme of the ESF on the 29/11/ 2004 • Application will be send to the ADVENTURE programme within the NEST (New and Emerging Science and Technology) of the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission) before 13/04/2005

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Logistic support is requested for the fieldwork campaign on Nordaustlandet within the Kinnvika EOI from Nordic national funding agencies. Kapp Linné = Logistic support by UNIS in collaboration with In Spe.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Anne Hormes
Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University
Box 534
Uppsala
75121
Sweden

Tel: 0047 7902 7114
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation