Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Tara Arctic 2007 – 2008 – Polar drifting ice station  (Tara)

Outline
Tara Arctic 2007-2008 is a French based program relying on a well known polar schooner called “TARA”. This vessel was previously named “Antarctica” for 8 years and then “Seamaster” with Sir Peter Blake. Since 2 years, Tara undertook several expeditions in Greenland with the GREA and the help of the DPC, or in South Georgia with the BAS. The main purpose of “TARA” is to communicate on the global climate changes by providing a platform for scientists, artists, journalists and opinion leaders. Tara Arctic 2007-2008 is a specific project for IPY of a more global one called Tara Expeditions. For this project Tara Arctic 2007-2008, the boat will undertake a Nansen-like crossing of the Arctic Ocean, drifting from the north of Siberia to the Fram Straight during almost two years. The boat trapped in the ice will be the heart of a secure two-years-round ice station reachable by aircraft and ice breakers. Tara will show in situ footage of the Arctic, web cams, web-based daily reports and will produce documentary films to highlight the Arctic activities of the IPY such as DAMOCLES. Regarding education, Tara will provide topics and showcases on climate changes and climate studies. Moreover, the Tara Arctic ice station will provide permanent facilities for science fieldwork, in-situ observations and maintenance possibilities of probes and automated buoys. Tara Arctic is already a third party of DAMOCLES but will also welcome other programs on the ice station.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Tara Arctic will provide a manned ice station on a 2 years basis in one of the most remote area in the world. Helping science fieldwork and attracting the world curiosity on the Arctic Ocean situation. Being in the field for two years will lead to a significant amount of observations and datas on the state of the Arctic. The capacity to illustrate and to provide footages, pictures, or real-time webcams will help the educational bodies to explain the climate issues more often called “global warming”

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Tara is supported by the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) on a 2 years basis for his global activities and purposes. Tara Arctic 2007-2008 is now a Third Party of the European integrated project DAMOCLES.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The ship will be set in the ice around the position 82N 150E and will drift during two years towards the Fram Straight area.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 09/06 – 07/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Tara will share the logistic means (icebreaker and helicopter) of DAMOCLES to set the ice station in position in September 2006. Tara will then become a logistic facility in itself for DAMOCLES but also these facilities shall be shared with other programs. An airstrip will be made two times a year (in March-April) and middle October depending on ice conditions to organise airborne transportations and resupplies.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Not directly because of the timeframe of a drifting station, but the project will support the deployment of DAMOCLES network and therefore the IABP.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes -TARA ARCTIC 2007-2008 launch is “endorsed” by the French Republic’ President Mr Chirac.

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?


TARA Arctic is a key player of DAMOCLES planned activity but not only. This project is a private initiative with the aim to communicate. Beside the collaboration with DAMOCLES, Tara will welcome more scientists, journalists, artists, and opinion leaders to promote the sustainable development.

How will the project be organised and managed?
As explained before, Tara is a self-managed private initiative. One of the stakeholders is the managing director of an international firm. The global project Tara Expeditions is running since already two years, this Tara Arctic activity is a new project in the continuity of the previous ones. Our collaboration with DAMOCLES program will have three aspects such as communication, logistics and data sharing. The management of Tara will be totally independent from the DAMOCLES’ steering committee.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Tara has already a website www.taraexpeditions.org . This one will be the basis of the communication plan. We are preparing now collaborations with institutions such as EEF (Environmental Education Foundation), and French based education network. The goal will be to provide illustrated topics and case study on the Arctic polar regions to schoolteachers in at least two languages. We also plan to produce several documentaries on Arctic issues and solutions.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All the climate observations and data will be shared with DAMOCLES consortium on a predefined weekly basis. In return, DAMOCLES will communicate observations, analyses and impacts to all. Any other scientific programs will share the knowledge acquired with Tara and with their own community.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The Tara Expeditions project is running on private funding since the beginning in 2003. Additional private partners and suppliers will participate to the funding of the Tara Arctic project. However, DAMOCLES consortium will provide the probes, sensors, scientific tools and kerosene for their specific field operations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Romain Troublé
Tara Expeditions
17, rue Dieu Paris
75010
France

Tel: 33 (0)1 42 01 38 57
Mobile: 33 (0)6 60 68 97 12
Fax: 33 (0)1 53 38 43 49
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation