Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Atmospheric deposition flux into the South Indian Ocean, influence of local riverine inputs  (ADEF-Ker)

Outline
In the remote marine zones, the atmosphere is likely to play a major part in the transport of micro-nutrient from the continents into the ocean. These nutrients are metals (for example Fe, Co, Zn) necessary to the biological metabolism of the marine plankton and are present as dust aerosols in the air. The fresh waters flowing from emerged surface can also bring these nutrients to the marine environment, but on a weaker extent. The southern zone is very badly documented about atmospheric metal fluxes, and we propose within the framework of the IPY, to engage a series of measurement of the quantities of metals present in the air and their fluxes at the islands Kerguelen and Crozet. We wish to carry out a continuous temporal monitoring of atmospheric dust concentrations and atmospheric flows over a 18 months duration (2 summers, one winter) at the same time on Kerguelen and Crozet. Thus we will obtain more informations on the spatial and temporal variations of the chemical composition of the atmosphere at these latitudes. At the same time, we would set up a measurement of metal fluxes by the main rivers of Kerguelen. Time series and fluxes can only be measured on a land based station, and both Crozet and Kerguelen are outstanding places to represent a pure atmosphere/ocean system.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Trace elements brought by the atmosphere may impact on a large extend biological productivity of wide sub-antarctic oceanic zones.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Developped in the cluster where it will included

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Located on Crozet and Kerguelen Island, South Indian Ocean.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 12/07 – 03/09 (basic experiments)      12/07 – 03/08      10/08 – 03/09

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
West side coastal sampling station at Kerguelen and Crozet, one in-land sampling station on high hills also on both the islands. A sampling station is a 5-10 m high mast, a 400 W wind generator with buffer batteries and a place to sleep and work.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No, because we have to clean up the area at the end of the program.

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

No

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - Not yet but to be presented to SOLAS.

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 project is initiated following two existing but completed work intitled AERO-Trace (C. Guieu, LOV, Jean Sciare, LSCE) and KEPHREN (F. Dulac, LISA-LSCE and R. Losno, LISA), both concerning atmospheric deposition. This project can join the GEOTRACE cluster.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project is self-consistent for the sampling and analyses and involves people of a few research teams. It will be carried out by all the associated researchers and local support of VAT especially during winter time. A start meeting will define the schedule of the participant who have to be present on the field during summer. All the data will be put together in a data base. The project leader will ensure a close survey of the ongoing field experiments during winter time by frequent remote contact with the VAT to prevent holes in the time series.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Dissemination and valorisation will be issued by publications and presentation at an international and national level. One Ph-D will be engaged on this project, and also master degrees, ideally one of the operating VAT.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data will be hold in an electronic database and proposed to the WCRP system, but also to the french PROOF database.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
A proposal will be submitted at the next IPEV session (september 2006) for the logistic aspect and at national comitees (PROOF and PNCA, INSU) for the laboratory work.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Rémi Losno
LISA, Universités Paris7-Paris12 CNRS
Faculté des Sciences
61, av. Du Gal de Gaulle
94010
France

Tel: 33 1 45 17 15 98
Mobile: no
Fax: 33 1 45 17 15 64
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation