Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

West Antarctic Links to Sea-level Estimation  (WALSE)

Outline
The glaciers and ice streams of the Amundsen Sea Embayment are thought to be the part of the Antarctic ice sheet most vulnerable to collapse, with the potential to raise global sea level by around 1.5 m. There is an urgent need to establish and communicate the level of scientific consensus on the likely causes of recent thinning of the ice sheet in this area, and its probable implications for our predictions of sea level rise in coming centuries. We propose to follow up on a recent, collaborative UK-US airborne geophysical survey of this region by convening a workshop to bring together an interdisciplinary, international team of experts to explore these issues and report their findings.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
We will provide an updated and more unified assessment of the future risk that is implied by the recent thinning of the portion of the West Antarctic ice sheet known as the Amundsen Sea embayment. By involving experts in a wide range of scientific disciplines we will draw on a unique pool of skill and understanding. This assessment will provide a succinct summary that will be available to researchers outside the immediate field, and will inform public debate on the risk of sea-level rise in coming centuries.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The workshop is jointly funded by UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and University of Texas, Austin, and is primarily an activity to promote UK/US collaboration. It will involve roughly equal numbers of participants from each country, and likely one or two invited participants from other countries.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The activity does not involve fieldwork, and will be held at University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

No logisitics are required

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - The project will be run as a part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet programme – Coordinator, R.A. Bindschadler, NASA Goddard, USA. It will also be a component activity with the British Antarctic Survey core programme, GRADES (Glacial Retreat in Antarctica and Deglaciation of the Earth System – PI, D.G.Vaughan, BAS)

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 workshop is autonomous, but will help define future research activities within the West Antarctic Ice Sheet research umbrella (see item 2.6 above).

How will the project be organised and managed?
The workshop will be managed by convenors: Prof. David G. Vaughan British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 0ET d.Vaughan@bas.ac.uk +44 1223 221643 f. +44 1223 221226 Dr John W. Holt University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geoscience, University of Texas at Austin 4412 Spicewood Springs Rd., Bldg. 600, Austin, TX 78759 jack@ig.utexas.edu Dr Donald Blankenship University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geoscience, University of Texas at Austin 4412 Spicewood Springs Rd., Bldg. 600, Austin, TX 78759 blank@ig.utexas.edu

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The workshop will include a half-day public/media outreach event.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
No data will be collected by this activity.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding has been secured from UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and University of Texas, Austin

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The workshop is scheduled to be run 26-28/3/2007

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof David Vaughan
British Antarctic Survey
High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge
CB3 0ET
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1223 221643
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation