Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic ice thickness and drift measurements. Atmosphere pressure change monitoring at fixed location.  (The Ice Snake)

Outline
We plan the deployment of a few measuring devices at fixed location. The equipment consists of five pressure sensors located inside a flexible silicone pipe called in short as the Ice Snake. The flexible rope is a snake-like floater, which by buoyancy is pressed up to the moving drift ice. Its head is pulled down to a deep not reached by the deepest ice keels. It can provide Eulerian measurements of ice drift and other upper ocean physical parameters when it is fixed to the bottom below drifting ice. Time series of data from pressure sensors along its body and a built in compass provide estimates of ice thickness and drift (velocity and direction). This works since the pressure sensors have to pass over irregularities of the bottom of sea ice. The time series of pressure data from the array of pressure sensors along the snake exhibit a temporal pattern shift from which ice drift can be calculated. The pressure sensor chain is an autonomous device. We plan of fulfilling the sensors ad hoc installation from a boat with the following recover at late date.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed concept is a new approach to the ice drift and thickness measurements. Being deployed at some crucial Arctic region points (e.g. Fram Strait, Barents sea, Kara sea, Svalbard ambient waters), the pressure sensors provide ice thickness and drift monitoring + the atmosphere pressure fluctuations. Their data will address the Global Warming challenges. The concept has advantages of the existed methods e.g. Upper Looking Sonars and in situ ice thickness/drift records. Finally, the sensors can be easily deployed from helicopters and RVs.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project involves participants from Russia and Norway. Russian part is presented by two institutions: the Arctic and Antarctic Research institution (AARI) and water problems ins. whereas norwegian part is presented the Norwegian Polar ins. (NPI).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The preliminary pressure sensors deployment place is Svalbard shelf, north of Ellesmere island and russian drifting polar ice camp SP’35.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07 – 09/07      04/08 – 10/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The logistic requirements are a boat, surviving suites, data logger with (optionally) satellite communication (IRIDIUM), heavy sinker (recoverable) and a rope exceeding a sea depth at a point of deployment.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The legacy is the same as for Eol 40: The goal is that the legacy of this project will be a long-term monitoring system for the Arctic. In addition to existing ice thickness and drift methods the proposed concept provides direct measurements with high precision.

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

The required logistics is assumed to be shared with other polar activities in frame of the IPY research plans.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The proposed research project is a part of a main field works plan endorsed for the next russian polar ice camp SP’34.

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 preliminary plans are the logistics support provided by the norwegian polar institute (NPI) and AARI. The research is closely joined with activity assumed by Eol N 904.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project management is a responsibility of two institutions: WPI and AARI. It is anticipated that the sensors as well as supporting equipment will be delivered to AARI for its disposal spring 2007. Two of them are directed to Russian polar ice camp SP’35 and the rest (two) are sent to NPI. After a short preparation the sensors will be ready for deployment.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
It is anticipated that the pressure sensors records will be available via web. Their data will fill up the records of Arctic Buoys Program funded by NSF.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The planned data are ready for the analysis at the stage of their extraction. Moreover, our pressure sensors provide ice thickness and drift measurements in real time.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project is funded privately.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Senior Researcher Denis Zyryanov
Water problems institute (WPI), RASG
ubkina st. 3, 119991, Moscow
119991
Russian Federation

Tel: 7 495 135 4735
Mobile: 7 910 476 9529
Fax: 7 495 135 5415
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation