Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic Palaeoclimate and its Extremes  (APEX)

Outline
It is clear from existing research that the Arctic region plays a critical role in the global climate system. For example, the present perennial Arctic sea-ice cover strongly influences the Earth's albedo and exerts an important cooling influence to the earth's climate system. Recent research indicates that this sea-ice cover is reducing, but its longer-term history and role during past climate conditions remains largely unknown. The timing and extent of Northern Hemisphere glaciations is another component of the Arctic system which is fundamental to our understanding of the Earth's palaeoclimate yet remains relatively poorly understood. The Arctic land and ocean sediments, glaciers, and landforms are key environmental archives to the palaeoenvironment and climate history. However, only by integrating results from terrestrial and marine studies will it be possible to develop a comprehensive understanding of Arctic's role in the global climate system. It is necessary to provide an international scientific framework for the synthesis and integration of Arctic palaeoclimate research. Such a framework will provide the opportunity for close co-operation between numerical modellers and field scientists, and be a means of coordinating field and laboratory research conducted by individual research groups. To address these challenges during the International Polar Year, we have developed a new research programme known as APEX - the Arctic Palaeoclimate and its EXtremes. This programme, builds on the outstanding research legacy of two previous European programs (PONAM (POlar North Atlantic Margins) and QUEEN (QUaternary Environments of the Eurasian North). By "Arctic Extremes", we mean conditions that occur at the end points of magnitude/frequency behaviour, such as maximum and minimum ice extent, extreme ice flow, maximum and minimum air temperatures, or rapid changes in palaeoceanography. Our motivation for studying these extremes is that they establish boundary conditions that constrain our understanding of the Arctic and the Arctic’s role in global climate change. These extremes are highly relevant to predictions of our future Arctic and global climate and also for understanding the mode of operation for the Earth system. From a modelling perspective, extremes also provide excellent targets that will help us achieve close cooperation between modellers and field scientists. In addition to studying the physical environment APEX will address the human occupation in the Arctic during the Ice Age and the impact of extreme climatic conditions. Our intention is that APEX will form a key umbrella program for European Arctic activities related to palaeoclimate studies during IPY 2007/2008.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The main goal for APEX is to act as a catalyst towards the development of a holistic understanding of Arctic's role in the global climate system. This would make significant advances concerning the IPY defined themes 1 to 3. We will investigate and sample scientifically unexplored areas of the Arctic (Theme 4). An improved understanding of the palaeoclimate and its extremes are important to improve and test prognostic climatic models which are used to predict living conditions (incl. economics, fishing, sea routes etc.) in the Arctic regions and, thus, contribute to advances regarding IPY themes 5 and 6.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International collaboration lies at the heart of APEX. Scientist from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Russian, Sweden, and UK are already committed to APEX through their own IPY projects. We expect international collaboration in training, field work, laboratory analysis, model development, and in securing grants and writing publications.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The geographical area for the projects that so far have agreed to participate in APEX encompasses west, east and north Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, northern Russia from the Kola Peninsula to eastern Siberia, the Barents, Kara, Laptev and East Siberian seas, and the eastern and central Arctic Ocean.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: APEX projects would extend over the two Arctic summers of IPY 2007/2008 and in some cases beyond            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
APEX in itself does not require any additional field logistical support other than what is provided through the participating institutions which run or have access to field stations, research vessels etc. These facilities will also be used for other IPY activities than APEX.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will continue beyond IPY as a European Science Foundation initiative committed to the promotion of international research in polar regions, using a the model previously advocated by PONAM and QUEEN. The infrastructure legacy will include intellectual advances, institutional collaboration, and training of the next generation of polar scientists.

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

APEX is a proposed umbrella programme for the integration of Arctic palaeoclimate research during IPY. The required field logistics for the participating individual APEX projects will be addressed in their respective “Expression of Intent”.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This expression of intent has simultaneously been submitted to the APEX Steering Committee member’s respective National IPY Committees.

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?


APEX is an initiative for a new ESF programme which is planned to run over the usual 5 yr term of ESF programmes and thus beyond IPY.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The proposed APEX Steering Committee consists of one representative from each of the participating countries. Additional representatives will be included as the project expands. The current Steering Committee is as follows: Martin Jakobsson (Chairman). SwedenIgor Demidov-Russia. Kurt Kjaer-Denmark. Gerhard Krinner-France. Antony Long-UK. Juha Pekka Lunkka-Finland. Robert Spielhagen-Germany. John Inge Svendsen-Norway. The Steering Committee will organize workshops and publications in special volumes of peer-review journals. The administrative work will mainly be carried out by the chairman and an appointed secretary.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
An APEX web page will be hosted at Stockholm University; synthesized results will be assembled as maps and computer visualizations and made available through this web site. We anticipate that a large number of master and PhD students will be recruited to work on APEX defined scientific challenges.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The initial plans for data management include the use of the PANGEA database hosted at the University of Bremen.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
An APEX proposal will be submitted to the European Science Foundation (ESF). All APEX participating projects will be funded through their national or cross-national funding agencies. APEX will seek to provide funding for APEX meetings, workshops, publications in special volumes, and outreach.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The following six themes form the basic structure for APEX activities: Cold extremes: Arctic marine and terrestrial glacial maxima, sea level minima and sea-ice maxima, Arctic Ocean palaeoceanography, ice shelf extent, past atmospheric circulation Warm extremes: interglacial environments, sea level maxima, sea-ice minima, Arctic Ocean palaeoceanography, ice shelf extentHydrological extremes: Fluvial-marine interaction, freshwater budget and ice-dammed lakesPermafrost extremes: Maximum and minimum extent, rates of change, response to climate changeGlacio-dynamical extremes: Ice sheet instability, palaeo-ice stream dynamics and feedback mechanismsBiotic change: The evolution of the Arctic marine and terrestrial biosphere and their response to extreme palaeoclimatic conditions

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr (Associate Professor) Martin Jakobsson
Department of Geology and Geochemistry
Stockholm University
Stockholm
10691
Sweden

Tel: (+46)-8-164719
Mobile: no
Fax: (+46)-8-6747897
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation