Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Sea-Ice-Atmospheric Signals of Mid latitudes-Antarctic Linkages  (SIAS)

Outline
Within the framework of the scientific SCAR Programme AGCS (Antarctica and the Global Climate System), it was identified the need to increase our knowledge with respect to the coupling between the Sub-tropics and Antarctica. It has been recognised that South America imprints environmental changes in the Antarctic ice-sheet through the atmospheric transport of water vapour, heat, organic and mineral microparticles. On the other hand, the Antarctic continent exerts significant influence over the South American climate and on the tropical marine productivity. The total extent of this relation has yet to be uncovered and a joint effort towards a consistent answer is necessary. Herein we will focused this question on the geochemical-meteorological approach. Within the Brazilian Antarctic Programme and the possibility of including other countries, a joint project is proposed to investigate two integrated research lines in the above area: (1) the ocean-sea-ice-atmosphere interactions; (2) the ice-record of man-made activity and proxies of environmental changes. The specific objectives of this proposal are outlined below:A.Monitor elemental composition of fine and gross aerosol modes from the tropical region to the Antarctic Peninsula (XRF, EPMA and MEV+EDS) owing to identify its crustal, marine and anthropogenic components;B. Monitor minor gases (eg.: N2O, NH3, O3 and CH4) pointed out in the IPCC 2002 report; C.Monitor the effective optical thickness of the atmosphere due to the calibration of satellite images of the sea and transport mechanisms;D. Integrate simultaneous numerical transport models and back trajectories analysis with gases and aerosols database;E.Use the 222Rn atmospheric tracer to validate numeric models;F.Monitor the MSA aerosol and marine productivity of the sea;G.Monitor CO2, N20 (nitrous oxide) and NH3 (ammonium) in seawater and the above atmosphere in order to estimate their fluxes at the ocean-atmosphere interface; In the atmosphere, nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas and contributes to the consumption of O3 in the stratosphere. In the lower atmosphere, ammonia forms fine particles of ammonium sulphate and nitrate and can be transported to long distances;H.Monitor the aerosol black carbon together with PAHs and total aerosol composition due to the extension of the atmospheric impact attributed to the industrial activity and the large-scale biomass burning of South America;I.Monitor stable isotopes of sulphur as a tracer of industrial activity and the large-scale biomass burning of South America;J.Develop ice-coring at the Antarctic Peninsula and at the Ross Ice-shelf in order to investigate the air-ice exchange, stable isotopes and microparticle elemental composition; use the MSA and Chlorine content on dated snow and firn as proxies of ocean primary production and sea-ice extent variability;K.Investigate the atmospheric microbiological apportionment to the Antarctic ice.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The goals are to gain insight into key issues concerning the relationship between mid-latitudes and the Antarctic climate as “what are the mechanisms that transfer the tropical climate signals to Antarctica?”; “ to what extent signals of large-scale biomass burning events and urban activities are transferred to Antarctica?”; “what are the holes of the atmospheric minor compounds over the South Atlantic and Antarctic Peninsula as climate forcings at that regions?”; “detail proxy-records related to the atmospheric temperature, sea-ice extent and primary ocean production”; “construct a database of the recent Antarctic climate and the tropical climate owing to characterize causes and feedbacks”.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The Micro and Trace Laboratory of Belgium collaborates with the Brazilian atmospheric group. It is also expected that research groups from Italy, Germany, Finland and China (all contacted during the last SCAR meeting in Bremem), andNOAA be gathered. Concerning glaciology, Brazil, Chile, Argentine and France have been actually cooperating. q2_1_Location : 1.Atmospheric Monitoring: the South American margin, the Drake Passage and the Shetland Islands.2.Glaciological study: the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross ice-sheet.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
1.Atmospheric Monitoring: the South American margin, the Drake Passage and the Shetland Islands.2.Glaciological study: the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross ice-sheet.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Oct/2006 – Mar/2007      Oct/2007 – Mar/2008      Oct/2008 – Mar/2009

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Our intention is to improve the existing Brazilian logistic mainly adapting 2 containers of the Ary Rongel Ship in laboratories. Ice strengthened research ship, snow terrain vehicles, and ice drilling capability will be required to field logistic support.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave a legacy of infrastructure since we propose to change the characteristics of the scientific support by ship. We propose the adaptation of 2 freezer-containers into 2 laboratory-containers for ocean-atmosphere studies. The containers could be placed into other scientific ships to explore new frontiers in Antarctica.

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

The Brazilian Antarctic Programme is currently funded by several Ministries, and logistically supported by the Brazilian Navy and by the Brazilian Air Force. Brazil operates a Research Station year around and a polar ship during 5 months in Antarctica.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
It was already recommended by the National Committee for Antarctic Research, which is submitted to the Ministry of Science ad Technology, Ministry of Environment, and the Brazilian Sea Resources Inter-Ministry Secretary (SECIRM).

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 project is the improvement of an existing scientific network (REDE 1) of high priority in the Brazilian Antarctic Programme. It addresses environmental changes at the Antarctic Peninsula and the climate teleconnections between Antarctica and the mid-latitude environment.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The selection of proposals, scientific orientation and management of the approved projects are under the responsibility of the Brazilian Antarctic Programme (PROANTAR) that belongs to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), through the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The complete logistics will be managed by a scientific staff of PROANTAR/SECIRM, together with the Brazilian Navy (responsible for the oceanographic cruises) and by the Brazilian Air Force, responsible for the airborne logistic.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
A WebPage will be constructed with the recent advances of the Brazilian Antarctic Science concerning our research. Emphasis on the importance of Antarctica to the economy, terrestrial/marine life and climate of South America will be presented. Participant institutions are going to collaborate in dissemination the scientific information to the society.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Initial plans involve the compilation of data enclosing the South Atlantic-Antarctic Peninsula region. Through the international committee of the IPY we intend to join our database to other sea-ice-atmosphere databases obtained by other scientific groups acting simultaneously in other sites of Antarctica.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The Brazilian Antarctic Programme provides funding and logistic support to accepted proposals. Funds will be requested from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), regarding complementary instrumentation for sea-ice-atmospheric studies as well as the skies for the Hercules C-130. SECIRM (Brazilian Navy) would provide the laboratory containers frames.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Our proposal is an attempt to improve the knowledge on the mid-latitudes-Antarctic region teleconnections with respect to the atmospheric geochemistry and sea-ice-atmosphere exchange, which is one of the goals of the AGCS/SCAR Programme. A former scientific network has been established within the Brazilian Antarctic Program since 2002 and the IPY is a unique opportunity to consolidate the first results. In this proposal we intended to gather all (or almost all) competences of the Brazilian sea-ice-atmosphere research groups that have acted in Antarctica during different periods and different contexts. Our proposal clearly opens opportunities to bring together other scientific groups within the research theme.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Heitor Evangelista
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/LARAMG-Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa da Cunha
Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, Maracanã
Rio de Janeiro – RJ
20550-013
Brazil

Tel: ++55 21 2568 9664
Mobile: ++55 21 99228166
Fax: ++55 21 2254 3532
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation