Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Proposal of Integrated International Stations in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica  (International Stations in East Antarctica)

Outline
Our activity during the IPY 2007-2008 mainly consists of the following items:1. To start a survey for constructing international stations in Dronning Maud Land area, East Antarctica. These stations are equipped with comprehensive observation capability, such as, upper atmospheric science, meteorology, glaciology, geoscience, bioscience, and polar engineering. In order to start the survey, we will begin collaborations with a few counterparts from several countries, including Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE) and the member countries of the Asian Forum for Polar Science (AFOPS) during the IPY 2007-2008 year. We will collect proposals for research internationally and try to integrate them. Also we will contact with Antarctic Research Institutes of several countries for the possibility of having an international stations.2. To develop the network of the unmanned observatory in East Antarctica. We will start with an unmanned system at the candidate site of the international station during the IPY 2007-2008 period. The unmanned system will be equipped with some observational instruments to measure geomagnetic field, meteorological parameters, atmospheric minor constituents, solar radiation, and earthquakes, collaborating with pre-existing and planning manned and unmanned observational equipments both by Japan and by other countries.3. In the sense of outreach, we also accept proposals from wide variety of people who are interested in the activity using these international stations. This includes proposals from university students, high-school students and the public.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Our project will contribute to the understanding the current status of earth environment in many fields. This includes understanding of the upper atmospheric environment, ozone depletion mechanism, global warming mechanism and its effect to the polar region, earth interior characteristics. These international stations realize and enhance international scientific collaboration on earth science. Also the stations are used as a mother station or base for various field surveys, such as geology, geomorphology, biology and meteorite searching.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
An international air network in Dronning Maud Land (DROMLAN) is an essential means of transportation for this program. Japanese Syowa station and a new international station planned by Belgium are main platforms for station observatory. Scientific programs are based on several international projects, such as SuperDARN, the Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC), and Antarctic Arrays for seismology. New programs may proposed by the member countries of the Asian Forum for Polar Science(AFOPS), and Belgium and other European countries.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The candidates for the international stations are Syowa Station, the new Belgian International Station in the Sor Rondane Mountains, and possibly Thala Hills in Ebderby Land together with several unmanned stations in the inland area of DML.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 11/07– 02/08      11/08 – 02/09      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
We need the support from the Dronning Maud Land Air Network (DROMLAN) including feeder flights for transporting people and instruments. Also, supports from ice-breaker for transporting heavy items are needed. Other requested facilities are snow vehicles, fuel depots and observatories. Use of the new Belgian International Station is under discussion with Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE) and International Polar Foundation (IPF).

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The international stations will be served as a legacy of IPY 2007-2008 for future collaboration.

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

Japanese Ice-breaker “Shirase” will be retired by 2008. The Japanese ship transportation in 2008-09 season is under consideration.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project is endorsed by the Japanese National Committee for IPY 2007-2008, Science Council of Japan.

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?


It is a new autonomous proposal integrated by some existing programs and activities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project is organized and managed as one of three major Japanese proposals for IPY 2007-2008 endorsed by the Japanese National Committee of IPY 2007-2008, Science Council of Japan. National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) is responsible for the logistics collaborating with other countries.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This project addresses the education and outreach by collecting research proposals from students and the public. The first Students Forum was performed in December 2004 and it will be held once a year until 2008. Some scientific proposals will be carried out in the polar region by the expedition personnel and, in future, by the students.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The acquired data will be archived and distributed to international community through data centers including World Data Center, JCADEM, WCRP, and so on.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We are going to apply for several funding resources to realize this project: Project funds by Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition and National Institute of Polar Research, Scientific Research Fund by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Research Fund by Ministry of Education (MEXT) and other governmental funds.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Yoshiyuki Fujii
National Institute of Polar Research
Kaga 1-9-10
Itabashi, Tokyo
173-8515
Japan

Tel: 81-3-3962-4871
Mobile: no
Fax: 81-3-3962-5741
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation