Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Atmospheric Concentrations of POPs and the ROle of Sea-Surface microlayer on their air-water exchanges.  (CROSS)

Outline
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in recent decades have attracted the attention of scientific and policy maker communities due to their persistence, their capacity to bioaccumulate in the food chain and their toxic properties. Organic contaminants are transported to the Arctic environment through different pathways such as river run-off, water mass circulation and long range atmospheric transport, which is considered the most important pathway. Various studies have focused their attention on levels of POPs in the atmosphere, sea-water, ice and snow, but no such corresponding measurements have been made in the sea-surface microlayer which represents the boundary layer (thickness 50-100µm) between the atmosphere and the ocean. POPs are known to hyper accumulate in the sea-surface microlayer (SML) resulting in an enrichment relative to the underlying water column, so SML represents both a sink and a source for POPs as well a very important driver enhancing air-water exchanges. The SML is also enriched in bacteria biomass and activity which could play a key role in the transformation or breakdown of organic contaminants (such as POPs). Despite this, little is known on the structure of biological communities inhabiting the SML, on biological processes occurring at this layer and on interactions between chemical and biological compartments. SML is also exposed to strong UV radiation which photo-chemically alters the dissolved organic matter (DOM) leading to the formation of photo-oxidants. So UV radiation exerts an important role in photodegradation processes, which might lead to the formation of even more toxic compounds and stress to the microorganisms (membrane and DNA damages). Aims of this research are: 1. to establish the current levels of Arctic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and the emerging PBDEs in sea surface microlayer (SML), underlyng waters and air; 2. to estimate POPs air-sea exchanges and fluxes taking into account the influence of physical environmental conditions such as temperature, wind speed and mixing depth; 3. to elucidate what role the microlayer plays in the distribution and trasformation of man-made contaminants in the Arctic marine environment taking into account both microbial communities and phytoplankton biomass related parameters such as biomass and growth rate; 4. to study the effect of UV radiation on the transformation of specific POPs; 5. to use our results to improve existing air-sea tranfer models of POPs which do not include the SML; 6. to collaborate with national and international centres to better understanding atmospheric transport of contaminants and air/sea-water exchanges.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Determination of POPs atmospheric concentrations and fluxes at the air-sea interface. The fate of POPs taking into account the sea surface microlayer in transfer models in comparison with existing air-sea tranfer models of POPs which do not include the SML . An advance on the knowledge of chemical and biological properties of SML and its role in the biogeochemical fluxes.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project is part of the international program OASIS (Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Snowpack Interactions). OASIS is an internationally multi-disciplinary collaborative efforts involving researchers from U.S.A., U.K., Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Poland, France, Greece, Russia. Specific focus of OASIS is on the study of the impact of AIR-Surface Interactions and chemical exchange between Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Snowpack in Polar Regions.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Field activities will be conducted at the Italian Arctic Station Ny-Älesund (11°56'E - 78°55'N - Svalbard).

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The project will need: a pier access where a air-sampler will be located; power supply at the sampling site for air sampler operation; a small boat to control the sea-suface microlayer/sub-suface water sampler which is a radio-controlled catamaran. Logistic support will be necessari in all the operational phases of sea-surface microlayer samplings. The project would need the Italian Arctic Station Ny-Älesund (11°56'E - 78°55'N - Svalbard) support which can be shared with other projects. A refrigerator /freezer for keeping the samples cold/frozen. We plan to perform a monitoring campaign during the 2007 summer and 2008 spring season. During the campaigns the presence of two researchers is required in order to change adsorbents and filters in the air sampler daily, and collect and process water samples using specific protocols.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave a data base of air/sea fluxes of POPs (PAHs, organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and PBDEs) which will be available to other researchers to improve the air-sea transfer models and the future climate change assessment studies. The project will help scientists to improve and to develop methods for sea-surface sampling and monitoring.

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

The project will be submitted to the National Program of polar Research for funding and will be coordinated internationally with the OASIS program as described above.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - The project will be submitted for endorsement. The CROSS project proposers act as participants of the OASIS Eol which has been endorsed by the IGBP programs IGAC (AICI) and SOLAS programs.

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?
Yes

This is a new activity proposed for the 2007-2008 IPY activity. This project is part of the OASIS program.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project wil be coordinated and managed by Dr. Cincinelli (University of Florence), Dr. Stortini (CNR-Venice) and Dr Gambaro (CNR-Venice) . Together they have the interdisciplinary experience of managing a research program and previous experiences of in scientific campaigns in remote areas. Logistical coordination will be carried out with the National Italian Arctic Program and the CNR Artic base.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
University undergraduates and postgraduates will be enrolled in this project in order to improve their knowledge in Arctic studies and processes between different environmental matrices. Dissemination of all results through the use of a easy web site access. Dissemination of the results of this study via web site, publications and reports, meetings, workshops, Environment-Day for schools will allow us and others scientists to provide important information on the air-water exchange prcesses of POPs and their transport pathways.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data obtained during the CROSS project will be made available through a website and data bank to facilitate information exchange between all OASIS program members, after which data will be made public.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The CROSS project will be submitted for funding to the Italian Polar Research National Programme.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Alessandra Cincinelli
Department of Chemistry- University of Florence
Via della Lastruccia 3- Sesto Fiorentino (Florence)
50019
Italy

Tel: +390554573324
Mobile: no
Fax: +390554573385
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation