Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The combined effects of ultraviolet radiation and climate change on the biological pump: A temporal and latitudinal study.  (BIOP)

Outline
Research on ultraviolet B radiation (UVB, 380-320 nm) and climate change are two main subjects of interest in the international scientific community. Both factors can act synergistically on ocean plankton communities modifying their contribution to the dynamics of carbon fluxes between surface waters and the deep ocean. It is assumed that physical processes control the fluxes of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ocean. However, part of this incorporation is fixed by phytoplankton photosynthesis within the water column. It should be noted that most of the estimations of biological carbon sequestration are based on phytoplankton photosynthesis and chlorophyll a, and a great uncertainty remains regarding both the magnitude and the contribution of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration of the plankton community to carbon dynamics. Consequently, for a comprehensive understanding of the role of biology on carbon fluxes to the deep sea (the “biological pump”), it is necessary to account for the metabolic balance of the whole plankton community, i.e. the balance between autotrophic production and autotrophic plus heterotrophic respiration. Experimental results with mesocosms show that exposure of the plankton community to enhanced UVB changes the community structure from large cells supporting large grazers to a community dominated by small cells based on dissolved organic carbon cycling (i.e. microbial food webs). The main consequence of this is that most of the organic carbon is recycled at the plankton community level, with low downward fluxes of particles (i.e., low efficiency of the biological pump), contrasting with the more productive, diatom-based herbivorous food webs. We expect different biological communities to respond differently to the scenarios presented above as ecological adaptations and genetic composition influence the degree of response to the changing physical and chemical environment. The intensity and extent of these modifications and their consequences within the frame of global warming remains unknown.This project will be developed onboard the ship SEDNA, which will navigate from Canada to Antarctica within the frame of the “Mission Antarctique” project (already presented as a project to the Canadian IPY secretariat and with own financial support approved). This mission represents a unique opportunity to test a series of scientific hypotheses derived from the above points because present-day biological processes along a latitudinal gradient mimic temporal changes that happen or are expected to occur due to climate change. Moreover, the results of this project will be of valuable help to do a cross-ecosystem intercomparison (temperate – tropical - polar). First, we will take advantage of the trip from Canada to Antarctica to study the different communities and their relationships with water column characteristics (i.e. physical structure and dynamics, chemical composition and bio-optics), within a latitudinal-biogeographical perspective. The structure and composition of plankton communities, as well as the dynamics of carbon transfers within the water column (photosyntesis, respiration, grazing, carbon export and allocation within the different components of the community) will be studied in detail. We plan to deploy, whenever possible, sediment traps to measure the vertical transport of particles. UV radiation will be measured on board and correlated to stratospheric ozone and clouds. We will characterize also the optical properties in the water column (UV and visible) and in the planktonic communities to relate light distribution and utilization to carbon dynamics and trophic structure. These studies will be extended to remote sensing of potential UVB effects. Determination of photosynthetic pigments, particle absorption and quantum yield of photosynthesis will be determined along the transect. On the other hand, the overwintering of the ship will allow us to understand the above points on a yearly basis. Research onboard SEDNA during 2005/06 will represent a pre-IPY (International Polar Year) project, and is expected to be continued during the IPY in 2007 in collaboration with new added partners (see below). Researchers from Argentina, Canada and USA will participate in this pre-IPY phase, including several students who will work on the ship and on land-based stations.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will directly address IPY themes 1, 2 and 3. In particular, we will try to answer the following questions: “How do polar ecosystem structure and function vary through space and time and how much of this variation can be attributed to anthropogenic change?”; “How are climate, environment, and ecosystem in the polar regions (including high latitude oceans) changing?”; “What role do the polar regions play in the global carbon cycle?”; “What are the linkages between the physical, chemical and biological systems in the polar regions?”; “What are the interactions between the polar regions and lower latitudes including linkages through climatic, ecologic, and hydrologic processes?”; “How do actors, institutions, relations explain changes at a variety of levels both globally and within the polar regions?”.This research will focus on the first levels of the marine food web, which are the main gate of entry of matter and energy to the marine ecosystem. It will also allow the study of biodiversity patterns along a latitudinal gradient. Wide dessemination of the scientific activities, as well as results and direct exchange with the public, will be assured by the media component of the expedition. Educational activities will be achieved through the participation of students, and particular emphasis will be paid to the formation of human ressources.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Five institutions (IAA, ISMER, UNLP, SIO and IOS) from three countries (Argentina, Canada and USA) will participate in this project, including a large group of experienced scientists in polar science. We expect to continue this study during 2007-2008 coupled with another project already presented to national secretariats of Argentina, Germany, USA and Korea (CLICOPEN), focusing on water column physical-biological processes at the planktonic level.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
During the spring-summer 2005-2006 a ship survey will be done in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula, after an inter-hemispheric transect from Canada to Antarctica. This phase will be continued by another one during the winter 2006 in the vicinity of a coastal station, tentatively Jubany Station (Argentina).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: September - October 2005: Transect onboard SEDNA from North America to the Southern Ocean      November 2005 – January 2006 : Subantarctic islands (Malvinas, Georgias, Cabo de Hornos, Diego Ramirez, Elephant Island)      January – April 2006 : Navigation around the Eastern and Western Antarctic Peninsula.May – October 2006: Overwintering of the ship SEDNA in the Western Antarctic Peninsula (place to be confirmed)November – December 2006: trip back to Canada.

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The project will be shared with argentinean projects already running at the station within the framework of an Argentinean-German coooperatio n(ECOS, UV-BENTOS)This project will take advantage of the Mission Antarctique expedition onboard the SEDNA. The ship will provide the necessary facilities for the development of the scientific activities, as well as connection with schools and public media in real time. Logistic suppport will be provided by Argentina (in negociation): Ice-breakerHelicopters Ship recovery of buoys etc Existing field stations Snow terrain vehicles. Fuel depots Observatories (1)Proposed ice-breaker candidate with helicopter facilities: Almirante Irizar (Armada Argentina). The icebreaker will provide losistic support for cargo and personnel transport, and eventually for sediment trap recovery and instrumental deployment at sea.(2)SEDNA will overwinter close to a coastal station. A proposed candidate is Jubany station (Argentina). The station would provide security and logistic support, as well as support from the meteorological observatory.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No legacy of infrastructure is expected for this project. However, the modeling tools which will derive from this research, as well as the database to be produced, will represent a legacy for the understanding of long-term changes to be used in the future. Furthermore, as this project is constituted by two components strongly linked (science and education/medias dissemination), a huge amount of documentation of IPY science is expected to be addressed to the whole community.

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

A consortium integrated by one PI from each of the participating institutions will be constituded. Organizational and scientific workshops and discussions will be planned by the consortium. Logistic support to the expedition is in negotiation with Argentina.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes, The scientific project was endorsed at national level by the Argentinean IPY Committee.

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?


This is a new and autonomous project, which comes from the association of two groups, one dedicated to science (BIOP) and the other one focusing on education/medias dissemination of science.

How will the project be organised and managed?
BIOP will be structured and managed by a scientific-logistic committee, integrated by all PI’s and by Mission Antarctique representatives. The committee will be responsible for the preparation and submission of the full proposal to the national agencies. Workshops, logistic planning and national/international liks will be their responsibility.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Our national and international media partners will allow us a wide dissemination of the scientific results at a global planetary scale. Furthermore, the participation of students at the scholar and universitary levels from the different countries participating in the project will help to increase the perception of global problems in the community.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All physical, chemical and biological data will be included in a data repository managed by IAA and ISMER. The scientific committee will decide the guidelines to be followed, ideally some corresponding to well established programs (like IGBP).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Financial support applications for science will be submitted to NSERC and NSF. Partial support will be provided by the Mission Antarctique project. Logistic support will be provided by IAA. Most of the financial support for the media/dissemination part of the project is already approved.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This project, in association with Mission Antarctique, represents a new and original concept implying the simultaneous development of scientific activities and dissemination of the activities to the public, including media and schools. Video conferences and information exchange will be done in real time using internet facilities. Both associated projects will benefit from the wide polar expertise of their members, as well as from the excellent infrastructure of SEDNA.

PROPOSER DETAILS

PhD Gustavo Adolfo Ferreyra
Instituto Antártico Argentino – Institut des Sciences de la Mer
Cerrito 1248
Buenos Aires
1010
Argentina

Tel: 54-11-4812-1689
Mobile: 54-11-5326-9823
Fax: 54-11-4812-1689
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation