Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Teleconnection between equatorial and Polar climatic variability  (TEP)

Outline
Role of this project is to investigate the effects of variability in tropical atmospheric and oceanic conditions on Arctic and Antarctic climate to examine the nature of the atmospheric and oceanic linkages between the rest of the Earth system. Objectives of the program consist of: 1.Understanding how the variability in tropical and mid-latitude atmospheric and oceanic conditions modulates the Antarctic and Arctic climate 2.Effects of variability in Arctic and Antarctic climate on tropical and mid-latitude atmospheric and oceanic conditions 3.Mechanisms that transfer the tropical signals to the Arctic and Antarctic 4.Impact of the changes of El Nino-Southern Oscillation over recent decades on Antarctic environment and 5.To analyse the linkage between intraseasonal activities like QBO, TBO with Arctic and Antarctic climatic variability. The output from global and regional coupled atmosphere-ocean climate models, reanalysis data from NCEP and ECMRWF and in-situ meteorological and oceanic data will be used to understand the means by which signals of tropical climate variability reach the Antarctic, and high latitude climate signals are exported northwards. The emphasis will be on synthesis and integration of existing data sets and model output.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This program will be a valuable contribution to the International Polar Year planned for 2007 to 2008, especially their themes 1,2 and 3 dealing respectively with environmental variability, change and teleconnections. We plan to use the IPY as special Observing Period to test the models and high-low latitude climate signal transfer functions.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The proposed project is in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey under Dr. John Turner.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
No fieldwork. This project is going to use the reanalysis data over South East Asia, South China Sea , Southern Ocean, Arctic and Antarctic Continent.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No logistic support needed for this project.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Establish a numerical modeling laboratory in National Antarctic Research Center of University of Malaya.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
National agency

The proposed project is a part of The Antarctica and the Global Climate System (AGCS) program that is approved by SCAR in which Malaysian Antarctic Program (MARP) is a member.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The proposed project is a part of The Antarctica and the Global Climate System (AGCS) program that is approved by SCAR in which Malaysian Antarctic Program (MARP) is a member and this project is endorsed by National IPY committee.

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

This project is an extension of Modeling and Observational Studies of Antarctic Katabatic (MOSAK), which is approved by SCAR.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project will be organised and supported by MARP.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Greater understanding of high/low latitude climate linkages -Papers in peer reviewed journals -Advances in the understanding of the teleconnection of high latitude processes with low latitude process in climate models -Data sets of Antarctic and Arctic climate variability that will be of value to other researchers.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
This program is under MARP, which has its own infrastructure to handle data management issues.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Project will be funded by National Agency.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
No.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Pro Azizan Abu Samah
National Coordinator;Malaysian Antarctic Research Program
Institute of Post Graduate Studies;University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur
50603
Malaysia

Tel: (603)7964638
Mobile: no
Fax: (603)79675504
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation