Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ice Dynamics and Bed Characteristics of the Amundsen Sea Sector of West Antarctica  (ASEP-ICE)

Outline
The Amundsen Sea sector of West Antarctica is experiencing the most rapid and widespread change anywhere on the frozen southernmost continent. Discoveries of these recent changes have been exclusively from satellite sensors and, most recently, from limited airborne measurements. This austral summer a joint US/UK airborne geophysics campaign is underway as the inaugural act in field studies focused on a more complete characterization of the geological setting and glaciological behaviour of this ice sheet. The driving science issue is the stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet. It has disappeared in the geologic past and this sector is presently contributing at least 10% of the modern increase in sea level. We strive to answer the vexing question: “Why?” In broad terms, West Antarctica is a jumble of tectonic microplates, including a extensional rift valley. It is a relatively thin, low-lying ice sheet. New snow delivered by frequent storms entering from the Amundsen Sea and high rates of geothermal heat.flow combine to create a fast-moving outlet glaciers and ice streams. Basic data sets are required. Many, such as surface elevation and velocity, have been collected from satellites, but the ongoing change requires remeasurement and monitoring. Others, such as ice thickness, basal conditions and composition, and internal temperature, are almost completely unknown. Techniques to obtain these data are already well-developed, including surface-based ice penetrating radar, passive and active seismics and ice drilling, but monitoring requires that the challenging polar environment be overcome with innovative instrumentation approaches. The collected data will be used to study ongoing change as well as to provide accurate data in support of an improved predictive numerical modelling capability that is described in an associated activity. This expression of interest represents one of four separate expressions of interest under an “umbrella” description of an international expansion of ASEP (http://igloo.gsfc.nasa.gov/wais/links/ASEP-final.pdf). The other focus areas are: ice-ocean interaction; paleoclimatic records; and a modelling synthesis that incorporates the other three activities into a predictive community model. ASEP was originally cast in 2001 as a follow-on study to a decade of multidisciplinary investigations under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) initiative. It remained a pending project within the US. Now, with IPY on the horizon, the scientific foci of ASEP, participation and public presence of ASEP are all being expanded.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Very little is known about the bed underneath this sector of Antarctica. This represents exploration of the first order. Studies of the basal ice and its interface with the underlying bed will seek to answer why this ice sheet sector is changing so rapidly. The data sets will provide fundamental information to improve predictions of future behaviour and the ice sheet’s impact on future sea level.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We will partner with UK researchers, who have submitted a parallel EoI with broadly similar goals. Additionally, we will actively seek out colleagues in other countries such as Japan, Norway and Sweden to either act as full partners, complete with contributing logistic and financial resources, or as participants on field teams that will be supported from the US/UK base. Because satellite imagery will continue to be an important data source, we will solicit opportunities for international cooperation from Canada (for Radarsat) and ESA (for ERS and EnviSAT).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Amundsen Sea Embayment includes the catchments of Pine Island, Thwaites, Smith, Koehler Glaciers, from the divides to the edges of the floating ice shelves, in West Antarctica. .

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Nov 2007 – Feb 2008      Nov 2008 – Feb 2009      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Surface studies will require significant LC-130 support for base camps; Twin Otter or other durable aircraft to transport field parties to key locations within the Amundsen Sea catchment basin and for airborne geophysical surveys.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
As an area of Antarctica undergoing some of the most rapid changes, these activities will serve to open up this sector to further studies. To date the great distances to established national bases have hampered accessibility for research.

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

Joint NSF and BAS support for logistics with potential for other partners.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
To be submitted to US IPY committee. BAS programs already part of 5-year plan.

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

It is built on the original ASEP, itself an outgrowth of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) initiative. It also includes goals of the recently approved multifaceted BAS program GRADES (Glacial retreat in Antarctica and Deglaciation of the Earth System), in particular the TIGRIS (Targeting Glacial Retreat and Ice-Stream Systems) and IMAGE (Inverse Modelling of Antarctica and Global Eustacy) projects.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Central management will be accomplished by a joint US/UK team of field scientists each working within their own national polar coordinating structures to schedule and execute field studies. If other international partners join, they will be included.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Likely funding agencies (NSF and NASA in the US, NERC in the UK) already require strong education and outreach programs as well as a strong emphasis on demonstrating societal benefit. These outreach efforts will be coordinated to highlight their role in the IPY.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All NSF-funded proposals have strict data archiving and management requirements. We will work with the National Snow/Ice Data Center (NSIDC) for long-term archiving and distribution of the data products. The World Data Centers will also receive archival copies of all collected data.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We will pursue funding for this research through existing programs and IPY budget augmentations. Much of the UK interests have already been approved as components of the 2005-2010, five-year BAS plan.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This proposal anticipates participation by a large cross-section of the international West Antarctic Ice Sheet community who have already expressed interest through participation in the several workshops that resulted in the Amundsen Sea Embayment Project (ASEP) Science and Implementation Plan (http://igloo.gsfc.nasa.gov/wais/links/ASEP-final.pdf).

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Robert Bindschadler
Code 970
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
20771
USA

Tel: 301-614-5664
Mobile: 301-655-2064
Fax: 301-614-5666
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation