Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Monitoring Seasons Through Global Learning Communities  (GLOBE Seasons and Biomes)

Outline
APREN will be carried out through an international network of scientists, educators, graduate students, and GLOBE schools from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and United States. The research objective is to detect climate variations in ecosystems at latitudes greater than 60º N and determine how these changes affect biotic indices, specifically vegetation phenology. The research integrates: (1) vegetation phenology observations; (2) automated weather stations; (3) phenology metrics derived from satellite data; and (4) historic climate data. There is a strong educational component in all aspects of this project. In each country, GLOBE students will monitor the vegetation phenology at or near their schools and will establish and maintain centrally located automated weather stations. Scientists will work closely with these schools and derive phenology metrics from AVHRR and MODIS vegetation indices to link to students’ phenology measurements and weather data. In addition, sequential t-test analysis of regime shifts (STARS) developed by Rodionov (2004) will be applied to each country’s historic climate data. Unlike other statistical methods that require a substantial amount of data to perform the statistical test, STARS treats all incoming data in real time and does not require a fix on the number of observations. Thereby, STARS allows for early detection of shifts within a particular regime (e.g. climate) and subsequent monitoring of the magnitude of those shifts. All countries have climate data from at least 1960. Both satellite and students’ field data will then be compared to the corresponding climate shifts to determine if these shifts have had any effects on vegetation phenology. When available, historic phenology data from other sources will be used for climate variations that occurred prior to the collection of satellite and student data. GLOBE students have been collecting phenology data since 1999 and more than two decades of AVHRR data exists. The education objective is to engage primary and secondary students in scientific research as a way of learning science, and learning about the changes in the polar arctic region. APREN will enhance their understanding of global linkages as they study the connections between climate variations and vegetation phenology not only locally but also in other countries. Standardized measurement protocols and learning activities) developed by GLOBE scientists and educators, will be used. Students will have the opportunity to conduct their own investigations in addition to contributing data to the overall project, and to share their findings at regional or international workshops.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
APREN will contribute to increased understanding of the current state and changes in the polar arctic region and the global linkages and interactions. APREN will also help develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and scientifically literate decision makers that include underrepresented groups and minorities e.g. Alaska Natives, by engaging primary and secondary students in arctic vegetation phenology research and facilitating discussions on climate change issues relevant to their communities. Outreach to the public in this multination project will be enhanced through information-sharing and active involvement of school-age children who will be the conduits to parents and other community members.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This research and education project will be carried out through an international network of scientists, educators, graduate students, and GLOBE schools from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and United States.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
This research and education project will be located in Circumpolar North countries e.g. Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and United States, at latitudes greater than 60º N.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 08/05 – 08/10            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The research scientists will provide the training and subsequent logistical and technical support to the GLOBE schools for setting-up and maintaining the automated weather stations and monitoring vegetation phenology at study sites at or close to schools.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
An international phenology network will be established from this project. This network has a strong educational focus that will encourage continued phenological and weather monitoring beyond the duration of the project.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own support
Other sources of support

The required logistics for establishing and monitoring automated weather stations will be secured and carried out through the project scientists in collaboration with the international GLOBE country coordinators, scientists and teachers and students.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This expression of interest is in the process of being considered by the U.S. National Committee for IPY.

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?
Expansion

APREN is a component integrating polar research and education (established over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of GLOBE - an international science and education program involving scientists, pre-college students, their teachers and other educators in Earth system studies. Phenology is among GLOBE investigation areas, with standardized measurement protocols and learning activities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Project coordination will be done through the University of Alaska Fairbanks (home of the senior scientist and coordinator of GLOBE Arctic USA), and with GLOBE Country Coordinators in the Circumpolar North for the recruitment and participation of pre-college students, their teachers, graduate students, and other scientists in vegetation phenology and climate observations and measurements. The organization and management is patterned after a four-year GLOBE Arctic Persistent Organic Pollutants Project that involved seven countries and at least two schools per country. International workshops at the beginning and end of the project will be held and regional/national workshops in-between (dependent on funds).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education is an integral part of APREN. Students will be engaged in phenology and climate research as a way of learning science and mathematics. Teachers will learn measurement protocols and inquiry-based teaching to guide students in the project and conducting their own investigations. Communication will be handled through emails/websites.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All data will be made available through various research and education data centers including the National Snow and Ice Data Center, GLOBE Data Archive and Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE), University of Alaska Fairbanks Long Term Ecological Research website, Norway Research Council website and other GLOBE country websites.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
A proposal on this project ( three-five year project) will be submitted on January 24, 2005, to the National Science Foundation Arctic Research Opportunities Program Solicitation NSF 05-514. We will seek funding from international funding agencies to ensure full support of the international participants especially during workshops/conferences.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The lead person in the project is a research associate professor, a GLOBE scientist and GLOBE Arctic USA coordinator who has worked with other scientists, other GLOBE country coordinators, with teachers and students in Alaska, the United States and other countries and in the GLOBE Arctic POPs project that involved teachers and students from seven countries. Jessica Robin has similarly worked extensively with teachers and students as a GLOBE trainer in the soils investigation both nationally and internationally. David Verbyla is a professor of remote sensing and GIS, is well published in the field and is a former GLOBE scientist.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Elena Bautista Sparrow
University of Alaska Fairbanks
SNRAS, 303 O’Neill Building, P.O.Box 757200
Fairbanks, Alaska
99775-7200
USA

Tel: 1-907-474-7699
Mobile: 1-907-460-7676
Fax: 1-907-474-6184
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation