Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Establishing a new base line for glacier change measurements in Arctic Sweden  (Glacier change in Arctic Sweden sta)

Outline
Specific goals: We propose to perform a complete new survey of glacier extent in Arctic Sweden and to use existing data to document the recession of these glaciers during the 20th century. We will provide a necessary reference for continued detection of climate forced glacier changes in the 21st century. Background: The extents of Swedish glaciers have been surveyed previously but results have not been evaluated. The Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) published a glacier inventory covering all glaciers from the Sylarna/Helags Mountains in the south to the Abisko Mountains in the north in 1910 (1). The Land Survey of Sweden performed aerial photography that covered the Swedish Mountains and glacier extents were mapped using these during the 1960s and 1980s. Stockholm University (Department of Physical Geography) and the Norwegian Water and Energy Board produced a “glacier atlas” over Scandinavia in 1975 (2) based on the earlier set of aerial photographs. In recent years high-resolution satellite-based data has become available (e.g. Global Land Ice Measuremets from Space, GLIMS, www.glims.org) that allows accurate estimates of glacier size to be measured. These inventories constitute a unique set of glacier change records that has never been assembled into one data base and evaluated. Sweden has about 250 glaciers many of which are small and remotely located. The impact of the rapid dramatic change in climate and glacier extent is clearly both economical and esthetical and in both cases directly and indirectly influencing tourism and local economy. In the Kebnekaise area glaciers constitute an important aspect of adventure tourism, primarily through the activities of the Sami population and the Swedish Tourist Organization. In the Sarek Mountains, sometimes referred to as the last wilderness area in Europe, glaciers constitute an important environmental aspect of the natural landscape. Swedish glaciers reached a post-glacial maximum around 1910, when SGU made their survey of glacier extents in Sweden (1). A sudden warming of the summer climate occurred in the early 20th century, which caused rapid glacier retreat. During the 1980s and 1990s, glaciers generally seemed to be in a quasi steady state, but in the last 10 years rates of volume loss have accelerated. Mass balance data reveal that the climate response of Scandinavian glaciers is over periods asynchronous. A dramatic increase in winter snowfall caused positive volume changes for maritime glaciers between 1970 and 1990. The current trend, however, is synchronous volume loss likely due to longer and warmer summer seasons. Methods: We intend to produce a glacier status change record based on new and old sources. We need to assemble the data from the SGU survey of 1910 (1), the glacier atlas from 1973 (2) and the topographical map data from the 1980s. New satellite based data and new field documentation will be used to determine the present state of Swedish glaciers. A comparison between these data sets will also allow information about long-term volume change of Swedish glaciers to be derived. A detailed view of the ongoing glacier volume changes will be provided by results from glacier mass balance and terminus measurements provided by the Tarfala Research Station (www.tarfala.su.se). Contribution: The resulting inventory allows us to produce (i) a detailed glacier volume change record for the past 100 years, (ii) a new base line for future measurements and (iii) the basis for future assessments of effects of climate change on glacier extent and volume. This project will contribute with information that will be widely used in future research and therefore contribute to the legacy of the IPY. Results will be reported and published early in 2009 thus contributing early with new information collected during the IPY. Data will be distributed to UNESCO/UNEP:s World Glacier Monitoring Service and will also be published by GRID Arendal. We wish to publish the results in a popular science book. (1) Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning, 1910. Die Gletschers Schwedens im Jahre 1980. SGU Sr Ca 5. (2) Østrem, G., Haakansen, N.& Melander, O. 1973. Bre atlas i nord-scandinavia. Meddels Nr 22 Fra Hydrologisk avdelning, Norges Vassdrags och Elektristetsvesen.. Meddelande Nr 46 från naturgeografiska institutionen, Stockholms universitet.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The deliverables from this project are ? a presentation of the state of the Swedish glaciers 100 years after the first inventory. ? a new base line for future measurements. The results can be used for ? future assessments of effects of climate change on glacier extent and volume. ? evaluation of the coupling between climate forcing and glacier recession in Sweden. ? assessment of environmental change in the Swedish mountains due to a decrease of glacier size and vanishing of some glaciers.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The relatively uncomplicated field-mapping will be performed by Swedish scientists that know the area of investigation well. The application of GIS to gather and synthesise data will be performed by an individual that will be employed in Stockholm. This person may very well be an international student (postgraduate/postdoc). Data will be published through UNESCO/UNEP:s World Glacier Monitoring Systems and UNEPs/GRID Arendal and thus be made available for a wide group including scientists, students, politicians, and the general public.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Abisko Mts 68.2, 18.5 E Kebnekaise Mts 68 N, 18.5 E Sarek Mts 67.2 N, 17.5 E Sylarna/Helags Mts 63 N, 12 E

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Helicopters Existing field stations (Tarfala)

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project uses existing infrastructure.

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

No

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

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 is a pulse of activity during 2007-2009 within an existing programme - monitoring at Tarfala RS

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project group is small and all members are placed at Stockholm University and Tarfala Research Station.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The results of this survey will be published in a popular science book. The results will show the difference of glacier extent over 100 years which is visually easy to present by photographs and maps. The effect of climate warming will be clearly illustrated this way. The results will also be made available to a wide audience by the UNEP/GRID Arendal. We intend to attract the press, government representatives, local Sami population and participants from universities and colleges for the field campaigns.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data will be published by Stockholm University at the Tarfala Research web-site (www.tarfala.su.se). Data is also reported to the UNESCO/UNEP:s World Glacier Monitoring Service that synthesises information from the whole world about glacier status. Data will be pubished by UNEP/GRID Arendal which is an internationally recognised information centre providing decision-makers and the public with improved access to high quality environmental information.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Stockholm University The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) The Swedish Research Council Formas

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The results derived from this study can be used for assessments of the effect of climate change in many different types of studies. For example in ongoing IPY supported studies by the Sami about the effect of climate change on the sustainability of their environment. Access to National Park Areas will be granted by the local authorities. Results from this mapping can be used in the GLACIODYN project Participation in the field campaigns will be possible by journalists, representatives from the government, environmental protection agencies, local Sami population, university students, college teachers and students. This is because field mapping will be performed (the week before the autumn semester starts 2007 and 2008) in northern Sweden mountain range which is relatively easily accessible (compared to the Arctic and Antarctic). Additional comments: The initiative for this project was taken in spring of 2006, well after the deadline after which proposals for IPY endorsement was passed. Many have expressed their enthusiasm for this project as a new baseline for glacier extent mapping in Arctic Sweden is highly necessary and has high priority. This project will attract attention to the effect of climate change in a “non-remote” Arctic area, i.e. Northern Sweden. U sing a GIS application we can use old material from 1910, a documentation in the early 1970’s based on aerial photographs, information from maps produced in the 1980 and new satellite images. The main deliverable will be estimates of glacier retreat over 100 years.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Associate Professor Gunhild Ninis Rosqvist
Stockholm University Tarfala Research Station
Department of Physical Geograpy & Quaternary Geology Stockholm University
S-10691
Sweden

Tel: +468164983
Mobile: no
Fax: +468164818
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation