Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Polar Earth Observing Network  (POLENET)

Outline
The polar regions have unique geodynamic environments where the solid earth, the cryosphere, the oceans, the atmosphere and the global climate system are intimately linked. The aim of this programme is to investigate systems-scale interactions within the polar earth system and polar geodynamics by deploying autonomous remote observatories, on the continents and possibly offshore. The principal components of these observatories will consist of continuous GPS and seismometers, with the potential addition of meteorology packages, geomagnetic observatories, tide gauges (at coastal sites), and bottom pressure gauges (at offshore sites). Remoteness and environmental challenges have resulted in a dearth of observational systems in the polar regions of Earth, which this programme will overcome. Geodetic studies, including GPS measurements of crustal motion, tide-gauge measurements of relative sea-level change, and gravity measurements of mass change, constitute essential elements in developing an understanding of the stability and mass balance of the cryosphere and of ongoing sea-level change. There is a critical need to understand the contribution to sea-level change due to changes in mass balance of the major ice sheets of the world, most importantly the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. Accurate measurement of millimeter-scale vertical and horizontal crustal motions is possible in only 2-5 years if continuous GPS trackers are deployed. Deployment of C-GPS stations in optimal positions with respect to historical and modern ice mass changes, and at sufficiently high spatial resolution, provides robust constraints on ice models, improving our ability to predict sea-level change. Deployment of C-GPS stations across tectonic blocks and boundaries allows crustal motions due to global plate motion and intraplate neotectonic deformation to be measured and velocity fields to be mapped and modeled. Seismological data from the observatories will provide the first relatively high-resolution data on the Earth beneath the polar seas and ice sheets. Advanced techniques to image the Earth’s deep interior, such as seismic tomography, will be used to place constraints on the planet’s internal processes. Seismic imaging of the crust and mantle will assess causes for anomalously high elevations in East Antarctica, linked with ice sheet development, will provide information on heat flow and mantle viscosity that are key factors controlling ice sheet dynamics and the Earth’s response to ice mass change, and will provide constraints on the magma sources for polar volcanism. The axial vantage points of the poles will allow unprecedented studies of Earth’s inner core, contributing to our understanding of the initial differentiation of the Earth, the Earth’s thermal history, and the physics and variability of the Earth’s magnetic field. Enhanced seismic station coverage will vastly improve the detection level for earthquakes and permit evaluation of seismotectonic activity and associated seismic hazard across the remote high latitudes. POLENET is coordinated with the AntarcticArray seismological initiative to establish a permanent backbone sensor network, a lattice seismic array at South Pole (CRYSTAL), evolving regional array deployments, process-oriented experiments, and active-source seismology.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Expected outcomes from POLENET include: - Measurements of vertical and horizontal solid-earth deformation at mm/yr accuracy, providing first comprehensive view of bedrock motions across polar regions. - Prediction of mass fluxes of polar ice sheets, improved models of glacial isostatic adjustment, and better modeling and prediction of sea-level change - First tests of glacial isostatic adjustment models for the Antarctic interior achieved during IPY from repeat measurement on existing SCAR, WAGN, TAMDEF sites. - Integration of geodetic observations with complementary seismic imaging studies - First higher-resolution images of lithospheric structure across high latitudes - First higher-resolution seismic tomography images beneath polar regions - Understanding crustal and mantle dynamics that cause earthquakes and volcanoes, including the nature of links with ice-mass change - Improved understanding of the Earth’s inner core - Improved understanding of secular variation of Earth’s magnetic field, and core structure and dynamics, including quantification of rapid field decrease that may signal a reversal of the Earth’s field. - Establish a legacy framework for ongoing international geophysical observation network.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Well-established international collaboration through SCAR is being expanded to set up a consortium of researchers who together will deploy a polar network of solid-earth observatories across the Antarctic and sectors of the Arctic. Discussions to date have involved 18 nations, and outreach to additional nations is underway. Coordination with Cryo-Seismic Telluscope Antarctic Lattice (CRYSTAL EoI), Temporary Antarctic Network of Geophysical Observatories (TANGO EoI), Geodetic Observatories in Antarctica (GOIA EoI), and additional observatory initiatives is planned.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Antarctic: a pan-Antarctic network is planned, with new capabilities developed at existing stations and deployment of autonomous remote observatories across the Antarctic interior. Arctic: Sites around Greenland, and selected localities around ice-load centers [e.g. Hudson Bay; Scandinavia] exist or are planned.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/2005 - 10/2006      07/2007 - 10/2008      07/2008 - 10/2009
Antarctic: 10/2006 - 02/2007      10/2007 - 02/2008      10/2008 - 02/2009

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Antarctic: deployment of autonomous remote observatories will depend heavily on Antarctic operator-provided fixed-wing aircraft support, supplemented by helicopters and snow terrain vehicles. Access to existing bases by ice-breakers and research ships. Arctic: local charter fixed-wing transport aircraft, helicopters and research ships/icebreakers; with ground infrastructure as locally available. These resources can be shared, payload permitting.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
This programme will deploy autonomous observatories at systems scale across the Antarctic and Arctic. This valuable infrastructure will provide an ongoing measurement capability for the future, including crustal deformation measurements, global geodetic reference frame contribution, local geodetic control for process-oriented experiments, atmospheric water vapor observations (GPS-MET), ionospheric and space weather observation (GPS-IONO), and enhancement of the Global Seismograph Network, including improved real-time monitoring capabilities.

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

Logistics for station deployment will be allocated through national polar programmes and agencies, using assets of polar operators, the military and contractors, as determined by the national polar operators. These logistics will be sought through proposals submitted by project proponents in each nation. q2_6_Endors : Endorsement is being sought from national IPY committees in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, and USA; and will be sought from additional countries in future.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Endorsement is being sought from national IPY committees in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, and USA; and will be sought from additional countries in future.

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

Several existing and proposed research projects will be integrated, and expanded, to create the POLENET programme. For example: the SCAR geodetic community (GIANT) has conducted coordinated campaigns for many years; SCAR-ANTEC has advocated expansion of Antarctic GPS and seismic arrays; AntarcticArray is advancing seismological deployments; integrated Arctic studies in Greenland, Scandinavia and Canada are underway; individual PI-driven efforts are in progress.

How will the project be organised and managed?
An international steering committee will be established for POLENET, and international sub-committees to oversee Antarctic and Arctic arrays will be instituted. These SC will interact with IRIS, UNAVCO, SCAR, IASC, and national polar operators to promote participation of the widest possible array of nations and researchers, to ensure coordination of technologies and logistics, and to establish open data archiving and access. Annual workshops will be held to review, assess and exchange results, and to promote integrated interpretation and modelling efforts. Thematic symposia will be planned at international meetings, with resultant publications. Funding for the SC coordination activities will be sought by project proponents from their national programmes.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Initial discussions are underway to develop themes related to POLENET within the well-developed E&O activities of IRIS and UNAVCO. We envision ‘adopt-a-site’ programmes where schools have access to real-time meteorological and ‘state of health’ of remote stations, and possibly WebCams at selected sites. Teachers will be engaged in developing programmes to utilize the various data products in the classroom.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
POLENET data streams will be archived at established international data centers, including IRIS, UNAVCO, SCAR. An open-data policy will be established for continuous-operating POLENET sites and a data management working group is envisioned to develop a comprehensive data management plan for raw data, metadata, and data products. A web-based data interface is anticipated.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Proponents and national consortia of proponents will seek funding from their national funding agencies for polar research and from the European Union.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This effort is complementary to national/international programmes studying the dynamic earth: e.g., Geonet (Japan, New Zealand); EarthScope (USA), GGOS (IAG). The results of an observatory programme will bring polar regions into the global geodynamic framework and will allow cutting-edge analysis methods developed in the context of these national programmes to be applied to the polar regions. The GPS, seismic and meteorological data envisioned will be used by a global community that extends beyond the traditional polar community. POLENET, which will establish autonomous, geographically distributed research platforms with power and telemetry, would also be a logical platform for hosting additional sensors in the future as new technologies develop.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Terry Wilson
Dept. of Geological Sciences
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
43210
USA

Tel: 16142920723
Mobile: no
Fax: 16142921496
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation