Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

A study of the water mass transformation north of Svalbard  (SOFIADEEP)

Outline
Fram Strait is a major gateway for the advection of subtropical Atlantic Water into the Arctic Ocean. Advection of Atlantic Water is an important component of its heat budget and through mixing with other source waters contributes substantially to the modification of water masses in the whole water column. Mixing with fresh water leads to the formation of the upper Polar Water layer, the Atlantic Water itself is the main component of the warm intermediate layer, and mixing with brine enriched shelf waters forms the deep waters of the Arctic basins. The heat carried is also used to melt ice, and the climatically most important aspect of Atlantic Water is probably its influence on the regional ice conditions and coverage.The first encounter of the Atlantic Water with the Polar environment takes place in and north of Fram Strait and this is the region where we propose to carry out our study. Ice coverage north of Svalbard is characterised through large variability, determined by the seasonal melting and freezing cycle. This cycle provides an input of freshwater and brine into the ocean and covers the thermodynamic aspects of the system. Advection and lateral eddy fluxes in the boundary current provide heat and salt. They also interact with the vertical fluxes associated with shelf-slope convection. Finally mixing in the interior is forced through buoyancy fluxes at the surface and through the action of tides, which are particularly strong in the region. The region north of Svalbard is also a region of intensive air-sea-ice interaction. Meso-scale storms, which are often not forecasted or analysed in operational models but visible in satellite images, play an important role for this interaction. Their potential for the water mass transformation will be explored. We propose to study this highly non-linear regime and the relevant processes for the transformation of water masses with a suite of observational and modelling approaches. Moored instrumentation will cover the advective and eddy fluxes over a seasonal cycle and synoptic surveys using research vessels will provide detailed information on the processes involved in the mixing. Ocean circulation models in combination with detailed process models will cover the system with high temporal and spatial resolution. The focus will be on coupled atmosphere – ice – ocean models that cover the local feedback loops between these spheres. It is envisaged that the combination of these two approaches will allow quantifying a regional heat and freshwater budget and providing boundary conditions for basin wide studies of the Arctic Ocean.In addition to the modelling work we propose to carry out two synoptic summer cruises with RV Maria S. Merian in northern Fram Strait and in Whalers Bay over the Svalbard Shelf and Sofia Deep. During the period in between the cruises oceanic parameters will be monitored using an array of self-contained moorings.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Themes 1 and 2: Comprehensive synoptic snapshot of one of the entrance gates to the Arctic Ocean.Quantification of air-ice-sea exchanges and its impact on the three spheres.Quantification of the contribution of processes in Sofia Deep to the deep water formation in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Collaboration with related IPY proposals such as ASOF and projects presently proposed to the European Union. Within this experiment itself co-operation with research groups in Finland and Norway is planned.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Fram Strait – Sofia Deep - Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean – and adjacent shelf seas.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Summer 2007 – summer 2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice strengthened ship - RV Maria S. Merian Research aircraft.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project will be part of a special research project of the German National Science Foundation that is funded until the end of 2007. The proposed experiment is not yet part of this work plan.

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

The project will be a component of the special research project of the German National Science Foundation. Non German partners will seek funding from their respective national agencies.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be a organized within the special research project of the German National Science Foundation at the University of Hamburg.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education and outreach issues will be addressed within the ongoing programmes within the University of Hamburg and its Centre for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management will be along the guidelines of national and international data centres.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding is proposed to come through national agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
For information on the University of Hamburg’s Special Research Project see http://www.sfb.uni-hamburg.de/sfb512/index.html

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof. Detlef Quadfasel
Institut für Meereskunde, Centre for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences University of Hamburg
Bundesstr. 53
Hamburg
D-20146
Germany

Tel: +40-42838 5756
Mobile: no
Fax: +40-42838 7477
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation