Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Snapshots From Space  (Snapshots From Space)

Outline
Satellite observations are revolutionizing our ability to observe the poles and polar processes. No other technology developed since the IGY of 1957 provides the high-resolution, continental-scale, frequent-repeat, and all-weather observations available from spaceborne sensors. The utility of that technology is evidenced by associated scientific advances including measurements of long term trends in polar sea ice cover and extent, the realization that the polar ice sheets can change dramatically at decade or less time scales, and the quantification of relationships between processes at the poles and at mid and equatorial latitudes. There are many examples of successful spaceborne observations from pole to pole for scientific, commercial and governmental purposes. These successes encourage the use of the capabilities and consequently, the competition for access to resources from the international constellation of satellites becomes increasingly more intense. Frequently, this means that there are only limited opportunities for conducting large-scale projects that consume a significant fraction of system capabilities for some dedicated period of time. An example of a large-scale coordinated effort is the Radarsat Antarctic Mapping Project that required months of dedicated satellite and ground support time to achieve its objective of obtaining near instantaneous snapshots of Antarctica to serve as gauges for measuring future changes. Large-scale coordinated-experiments will continue to be important for polar scientists seeking to understand the role of polar processes in climate change, the contribution of the polar ice sheet to sea level, ice sheet and ocean interactions, and the dynamics of ice sheets and sea ice. These future missions will be further enhanced if complementary observations and data analysis from different satellite sensors can be coordinated (for example IceSAT and Cryosat laser altimeter observations of ice sheet surface topography with EnviSAT SAR observation of ice sheet motion). That coordination is challenging in part because of resource allocation issues and in part because space programs are operated by a host of national agencies. To overcome those challenges, the international polar science community needs a common rallying point. We propose to develop an international science plan for coordinated, spaceborne and in situ observation of the polar regions and polar processes as part of the proposed International Polar Year. The goal is to advance polar science by obtaining another critical benchmark of processes in the Arctic and Antarctic during the IPY. The technical objective would be to coordinate polar observations with spaceborne and in situ instruments and then to make the resulting data and derived products available to the international science community. Acquisitons would be tailored to concentrate on those science problems which would best be served by a focused, time limited data acquisition campaign and/or those problems which would be served by having a diverse but integrated set of observations. A possible expansion of this idea would be to include ice covered regions from pole to pole that are known to be important contributors to current sea level change.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will develop a multispectral, multisensor satellite data set for capturing the state of the polar ice sheets during the IPY.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We have discussed opportunities for participation with representatives of several nations that currently or will soon be operating Earth Observing Satellites.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
None anticipated as part of this activity. However, we fully expect to integrate these results into other IPY field programs so as to obtain as complete and as accurate picture as possible.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: O3/07-10/07      03/08-10/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Access to the international constellation of earth observing satellites.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
We recommend that such a project focus on two classes of products that characterize the polar regions during the IPY. The first consists of mapped data from different sensors and provided in a common format. These products would form the most basic contribution from the project – namely a benchmark for future comparison. The format may include Geographic Information System links to facilitate incorporation and comparison with in situ data. The second class consists of geophysical variables derived from the map products. These might include properties such as ice sheet elevation, velocity and strain rate fields, accumulation rate fields, and sea ice extent and concentration.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Discussions with US funding agencies and various national flight agencies are in progress.

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?
New

This project builds on successes of past and existing programs such as the Radarsat Antarctic Mapping Project and various NASA EOS activities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
We envision the project to be coordinated by an international steering committee responsible for crafting overall science objectives, deliverables, and requirements. The steering committee will also be responsible for transmitting this information to the various flight agencies or vendors and for monitoring the overall coordination of the campaign. At a working level, individual teams of investigators will be asked to work directly with mission operations groups and to take ownership of the development of these products for delivery to data centers. The final result will be a coordinated, integrated data set that captures a detailed snapshot of Earth’s poles.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project intends to pursue outreach activities, again building on relationships developed as part of the Radarsat Antarctic Mapping project including the National Geographic Magazine Cartography division.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Discussions for the project began in 2002 during when a presentation was made during the Fall American Geophysical Union Meeting. International colleagues have since been contacted by email. We have encouraged discussions between different flight agencies and recently approach DLR about IPY activities and plans for TerraSAR-X.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Costs for US participants will be submitted to national funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Kenneth Jezek
Byrd Polar Research Center
1090 Carmack Road
Columbus, Ohio
43210
USA

Tel: 614 292 7973
Mobile: no
Fax: 614 202 4697
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation