Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Study of the Separation between Antarctica and South America: its geological and biological implications.  (SEASOAM)

Outline
A detailed knowledge of Antarctica's past and present status is globally significant for predicting how its future may affect the Earth's System. Comparisons between Antarctica and other fragments of Gondwana, the study of climate change, and anthropogenic influences to the Antarctic environment are critical for understanding the evolution and present biological community structures in Antarctica, and their connexions with the biota outside the polar front.The ultimate separation of Antarctica from South America happened during the Oligocene, and was responsible for the Antarctic isolation, northward flow of the AABW, formation of the Southern Ocean, and existence of numerous unique geological processes observed along the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula (e.g. an active spreading centre in the Bransfield Strait, ridge trench collision and gas hydrates on modern sediments). The combination of isolation and climate change has lead to an Antarctic biota rich in endemic taxa, and a strong contrast between marine, terrestrial, and limnetic biotas. In cooperation with other countries, the Brazilian Antarctic Programme proposes to act in two phases: 1) allowing the continuity of relevant research that investigate signals of global and regional changes in Antarctica, also gathering all available metadata collected through the programme into a format that can be linked to major world databases; and 2) an exploring phase integrating geophysics, geosciences and life sciences. The latter shall contribute to the following: A. Study the timing of separation between South America and Antarctica and the creation of the AABW; opening of the Drake Passage, and implications for faunal distribution across continents (past and present). Sediment deposited along the South American margin will be used in this study, and the impact of the AABW will be investigated through microfossils present in the sediments. B. Study the timing of the opening of the Bransfield Basin using stratigraphy observed in some of the islands, seismic profiles, and other geophysical tools. The precise time of opening may bear direct correlation with the final separation of Antarctica. C. Study the consequences for marine, terrestrial and limnetic ecosystems function of the Antarctic separation and the impact of past, current and predicted environmental change on biodiversity. Study the nature and extent to which interactions between changing abiotic conditions change biotic responses. D. Sample across the Bransfield Strait spreading axis, which is tectonically active and has an expressive bathymetric range, and explore patterns of gene flow along its bathymetric range.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The study of Antarctica's isolation from other continents by the Southern Ocean and its basins is relevant for understanding circulation patterns in the world oceans and atmosphere, and how biological communities have responded to past and present environmental changes. This interdisciplinary project involves an area of Antarctica that is currently subject to one of the fastest rates of regional climate change on the planet. The project will contribute to the Earth's history; add relevant information that can be applied to models for predicting future changes in the environment, and feed information into the Circum-Antarctic Census of Marine Life (CAML).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
There is already collaboration with the Spanish Programme on geosciences, and a possible link with the Argentinean and Chilean Programmes has been articulated. Brazil and Peru have the intention of collaborating on the geophysical and biological components of the project. Besides, Brazil is directly involved in the CAML steering committee.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
1.South American margin (drilling and biological samples from the Brazilian margin will be used)2.Drake Passage.3.Bransfield Strait, and Shetland Islands.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Nov/2005 – Nov/2006      Nov/2006 – Nov/2007      Nov/2007 – Nov/2008

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice strengthened Research Vessels, helicopters, box corer, rock dredges, and other filed geology equipment. Yes, it is possible to share with other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
A comprehensive volume containing the results of all projects associated with this project is planned. Also a database and GIS will be established to make sure nothing is lost for future work.

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 National funding agencies (several Ministries), and logistically supported by the Brazilian Navy. Brazil operates a research vessel that serves both logistics and science. A possible scientific link with Peru, Argentina and Chile may allow cooperation in the use of their research vessels.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes. The project has been endorsed by the National Committee for Antarctic Research and submitted to the Ministry of Science ad Technology, Ministry of Environment, and the Sea Resources Inter-Ministry Secretary (SECIRM - run by the Brazilian Navy).

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?


Studies of signals for environmental changes in Antarctica are already part of the Brazilian Programme. Data from these and other past investigations will feed a GIS, and contribute to the CAML. However, an exploring component will be required for integrating bio-geological information to achieve the specific objectives of this project.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Brazilian Antarctic Programme (PROANTAR) runs since 1982. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), through the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), is responsible for the selection and following up all Brazilian scientific activities in PROANTAR. The logistics of the project will be organised and managed by PROANTAR (SECIRM). The oceanographic cruises have been conducted onboard the Brazilian Navy RV Ary Rongel, which normally sails to Antarctica at beginning of November and returns approximately March every year. The scientific activities related to this proposal will be led by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Brazil.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Open lectures, WebPages, and television programmes have been used to reach schools, companies and general public. A lobby has been prepared at the Ministry of Education to increase Polar Regions studies in primary and secondary schools. National Agencies have provided fellowships to undergraduate and post-graduate students focusing on Antarctic themes.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The project has started by a compilation of existing data and selection of key areas for field work. More formal international collaboration are being established, and supported by the National Antarctic Committee in order to optimize the exchange of scientific knowledge, data, equipment, and possibly ship time during the IPY.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The activities planned for the IPY 2007-2008 will be primarily obtained through Brazilian funding agencies. The Brazilian Antarctic Programme usually provides funding and logistic support to all successful proposals.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Antarctica's biodiversity has high conservative value because of its relative pristine state, its high adaptation, and sensibility to environmental changes. How climate change and anthropogenic impacts affect critical habitats for several organisms that depend on energy generated in Antarctica; latitudinal gradients towards the south versus proximity/distance of Antarctica and other continents; also, natural versus anthropogenic impacts in relation to spatial/temporal variability in biodiversity are important issues addressed within this project to facilitate the comprehension of the connections between Antarctica and South America. Here, the main objectives are within the framework of important SCAR research projects: ACE, EBA (CAML), and AGCS.

PROPOSER DETAILS

PhD Lúcia de Siqueira Campos
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
IB, Av. Pau-Brasil, 211 – Prédio do CCS - Bl. A – Sala A1-072
Ilha do Fundão - Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
21941-590
Brazil

Tel: +55 21 2285-3571
Mobile: +55 21 98881287
Fax: +55 21 2560-5993
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