Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

NORTHERN CIRCUMPOLAR SOIL ATLAS  (NORSOL)

Outline
The idea to develop the “NORTHERN CIRCUMPOLAR SOIL ATLAS” was agreed during the last International Union of Soil Science (IUSS) Congress in Philadelphia (July 2006). The necessity was recognized to produce a document which will raise awareness and educate the general public, policy makers and other soil scientists of the global perspective and importance of soil in northern latitudes (e.g. Canada, Europe, USA, Russia, Greenland and Iceland), particularly, for global climate change and the carbon cycle. The atlas will link the theme of soil with other relevant IPY activities and at the same time support the goals of the EU Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection in conserving a threatened natural resource that is vital to human existence. The atlas is planned to be published at the beginning of 2008 and will be launched at the IPY Conference (2008) and at the EUROSOIL 2008 Congress in Vienna. The atlas will illustrate the diversity of soil in the permafrost and seasonally frozen environments through a series of maps supported by explanatory and easily readable texts, high quality photographs and descriptive graphics. The atlas will present the reader with a series of maps that show the variation of soil properties in a circumpolar context and from a polar perspective, allowing comparisons to be made across international boundaries. In addition, larger scale maps will show the distribution of major soil types by regions with descriptions of the major issues. The maps will be produced through the elaboration of harmonized soil databases for the northern circumpolar areas by Geographic Information Systems software (GIS). Through supporting texts, the atlas will describe the major soil types found in northern latitudes, together with their principal properties and characteristics, the main soil forming processes, the importance of soil classification and the use of soil. Special attention will be given to impact of cold climates on soil characteristics and on the relationship between climate change and soils properties (e.g. carbon dynamics, carbon sinks and sources, methane emission). In addition, the atlas will illustrate how soil can be used as indicators of past climate change and present examples local and regional perspectives of the importance and functions of soil for society as a whole and particularly for indigenous northern cultures The atlas will be an international collaboration, coordinated by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (Ispra, Italy). The atlas will draw on the knowledge and expertise of soil scientist from all northern latitude countries.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The Northern Circumpolar Soil Atlas is the first document of its kind to bringing together soil data for all the northern countries in a style designed to better understand and protect soil resources in these areas. The project will foster cooperation between several countries and bridge the gap between soil science, policy makers, educators and the general public.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Cooperation between soil science community of Europe (EU Member States1, Norway, Iceland), Russia, Canada, Greenland and the United States of America. 1 Sweden, Finland, Denmark, UK, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:

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?
The atlas will be an educational product combining soil data for the northern circumpolar environment with supporting ancillary data within a Geographic Information System. These data will be available for public use at the completion of the project through a dedicated web portal.

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

Core funding will be provided by the EU Joint Research Centre. Supporting contributions funding would be welcome.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - The Project is seen as a major contribution from the EU Soil Science Community and has been endorsed by the European Soil Bureau Network, a collection of major European soil survey organisations and soil scientists. Core support provided by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).

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?


This project is a new initiative by the JRC as a contribution to the ISY within the EU’s programme to establish a Global Soil Information System and to support the EU’s Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The development of the atlas will be organised and managed by the JRC’s Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Land Management and Natural Hazards Unit, Soil Team. The atlas will be put together through an editorial panel of internationally recognised experts on northern soil issues from Europe, Canada, USA & Russia.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The principal goal of the atlas is to educate and raise awareness amongst the general public, policy and decision makers of the role and importance of soil in northern environments and the delicate relationships between soil in these areas, human activity and climate change.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Produce and updated version of the northern circumpolar soils database and ancillary datasets.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Core funding will be provided by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). Supporting funding would be welcome.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Vladimir Stolbovoy
European Commission Joint Research Centre
Inst. For Environment & Sustainability
Via Fermi , Ispra (VA)
21020
Italy

Tel: 0039 0332 786333
Mobile: no
Fax: 0039 0332 786394
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation