Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Northern High Latitude Climate variability during the last millenium  (NORCLIM)

Outline
Global temperatures are rising at increased rates, particularly in parts of the Arctic. However, at the same time distinct areas can be indicated where present day cooling takes place. The report presented at the ACIA meeting in Reykjavik (9-12 november 2004) reveals that many processes and feedback mechanisms related to climate change are as yet not fully understood. Marked natural climate variability in the Arctic has been demonstrated to lead to large uncertainties in (regional) climate prediction modelling. Our preliminary proposal in the framework of the IPY focusses on natural climate variability during the last millennium with special emphasis on the permafrost/sea-ice relation and on contrasting climatic trends (south)west of Greenland when compared with the NE Atlantic region.The proposed period is of particular interest because it encompasses wellknown climatic excursions such as the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age. In a historical context this is the period during which the Vikings settled on the Faroer, Iceland and Greenland, while the second part of the millennium were the heydays for dutch whaling expeditions. The latter implies that a wealth of historical data (ship’s logbooks) on climatic and sea ice conditions are available. Evidence for climatic variability will be gathered from marine/terrestrial sedimentary records (sedimentological, chemical and biological parameters), geomorphological evidence and historical archives (whaling, archeological data). Material will derive from past and future cruises and fieldwork. Our previous work around Greenland (offshore SE Greenland; Disco Bay) has yielded high resolution sediment cores showing evidence of climatic forcing by solar variability. Because of its historical context, the topic of the program is excellently suited for public outreach/education.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The past millenium is a period of repeated rapid natural climatic/environmental change. This proposal aims at a direct correlation between such changes as observed in high resolution cores and the historical records to assess the effects of rapid climate change on human societies in the Artcic and, vice versa, the degree of anthropogenic influence on the climate system.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project involves scientists from Denmark, Norway including Spitsbergen, Iceland and the Netherlands. We expect collaboration in training, (offshore) field work, laboratory analysis, and in securing grants and writing publications.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The geographical area for the project encompasses selected study areas in West and East Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard and northern Scandinavia, both offshore and onshore.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: NORCLIM will be coordinated with relevant activities of the APEX project and fieldwork is planned for the two Arctic summers of IPY 2007/2008.            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No additional field logistical support other than what is provided through the participating institutions which run or have access to field stations, research vessels etc., i.e. the project envisages to make use of ice-classified research vessels of participating Scandinavian institutions

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will be coordinated with the likewise submitted APEX project, or, alternatively, may be organised under the umbrella of the latter project. This project will continue beyond IPY as a European Science Foundation initiative committed to the promotion of international research in polar regions, according to a comparable model as 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?
Own national polar operator
National agency

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This expression of intent has been submitted to and approved by the dutch National IPY Committee (see 3.6)

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?
Exp

The project is a continuation of the danish/dutch cooperation existing since 1997 in the Greenland offshore area. Contacts established during the 2004 ACIA meeting in Reykjavik extend this cooperation, including thus also the participation of icelandic an

How will the project be organised and managed?
See the APEX proposal

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project will be beneficial to both national and international cooperation and bridge various disciplines, i.e. climatology, (paleo)oceanography, geomorphology, archeology, and (whaling) history. An important benefit is that because of its historica

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Dear Dr. Troelstra, With this letter we confirm that we have taken notice of the concept IPY Expression of Intent entitled "Northern High Latitude Climate variability during the last millenium", which is to be submitted to the IPY Joint Committee before January 14th 2005. The lead contact for this proposal is dr. Simon Troelstra from the Department of Paleoecology and Paleoclimatology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam in The Netherlands. The Netherlands national IPY committee herewith officially endorses this Expression of Intent and agrees to be mentioned as such in the final version of the Expression of Intent. It is our intention to attract additional Dutch finances for IPY, and we hope to be able to organize an extended call for proposals in the Netherlands Polar Programme (NPP), including refereeing and budget allocation sometime in 2005 or 2006. However, at this moment we cannot give any guarantees on financial support for the Dutch contribution to this project. If you wish to receive a signed copy of this endorsement letter please contact dr. Marianne Walgreen (walgreen@nwo.nl) and we will provide you with a signed version (in hardcopy or electronically in PDF-format). Sincerely, Dr. Han Lindeboom and Dr. Ad Huiskes Chairpersons Netherlands IPY committee

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Simon Troelstra
Dept. of Paleoecology and Paleoclimatology
FALW, VU
De Boelelaan 1085
1081HV, Amsterdam
Netherlands

Tel: 020-5987292
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation