Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Norwegian Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions Study  (NSASSI)

Outline
NSASSI is the Norwegian contribution to the submitted international SASSI project. NSASSI will contribute to the SASSI objectives in two specific sections in the Weddell region. This is the Greenwich section, including activity related to Maud Rise and the Fimbul ice shelf, and sections around 40° W north of the Filchner Depression. Main foci include (1) the Ice Shelf Water overflow from the Filchner Ice Shelf and its contribution to Antarctic Bottom Water formation (2) Open ocean convection at Maud Rise and its influence on the Weddell Deep Water warming, and (3) Fresh water input from melting the Filchner-Ronne and Fimbul ice shelves. SASSI objectives in compact format: 1. A circumpolar synoptic view of Antarctic shelf and slope oceanography. 2. Inflow of warm, saline deep water onto the continental shelf. 3. Onshore heat transport and role in melting sea ice and ice shelves. 4. Determine formation of dense Shelf Water and Antarctic Bottom Water. 5. Assess the importance of ice shelves in the net freshening process. 6. Understand the dynamics of the coastal current and slope front systems. 7. Quantify freshwater transports around Antarctica. 8. Validate coupled ocean-ice models represent the shelf system 9. Design a long-term monitoring system over the Antarctic continental margins. 10.Identify key Antarctic shelf/slope processes that should be included or parametrised in future climate models. NSASSI approaches: Short synoptic CTD sections of closely spaced stations will be occupied north of the Filchner depression in cooperation with SASSI partner British Antarctic Survey, as well as along the Greenwich meridian in cooperation with the SASSI partner Alfred Wegener Institute. Hydrographic stations will also be occupied on the Fimbul ice shelf as a southward extension of the Greenwich section using hot water drilled access holes. The activity on the Fimbul ice shelf is a part of the FIMBUL project submitted as a separate international project. We will also contribute with moored instruments along each section to measure temperature, salinity, current velocities and sea level for at least one year. Turbulent mixing measurements of the upper layers will be performed using a Micro Structure Profiling system (MSS). Numerical models will be applied to study the overflowing dense Ice Shelf Water (ROMS model) and melting of Fimbul ice shelf (POLAIR). Participate in deployment of ice-hardened surface ocean drifters. Swath bathymetric surveys of the complex shelf and slope terrain in the Weddell Sea.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Theme 1: SASSI will provide a unique synoptic snapshot of the Antarctic continental shelf and slope environment, including physical (iAnZone), biogeochemical (GEOTRACES, SOLAS, IMBER) and biodiversity (CoML, GLOBEC) measurements: a legacy against which to measure future change. Theme 2: SASSI aims to understand and parametrise the continental shelf and slope processes that are currently absent from climate models, yet are critical to understanding global climate variability. Theme 4: SASSI will make observations in regions never previously studied. The first sub-ice observations, through moored instrumentation, under-ice floats, and AUV/ROVs, are likely to radically alter our view of the Antarctic system.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
SASSI has been devised by an international programme, iAnZone, with close links to SCOR, SCAR and CLIVAR. The planning workshop involved scientists from 9 nations. NSASSI will be the Norwegian physical oceanography part of the international bipolar project BIAC adressing bottom water formation in the bipolar Atlantic Ocean. q2_1_Location : The Antarctic continental shelf and slope in the Weddell Sea and along Queen Maud Land; ocean, sea ice and ice shelf environments.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Antarctic continental shelf and slope in the Weddell Sea and along Queen Maud Land; ocean, sea ice and ice shelf environments.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 01-03/2008 primary sections      03/2007 - 03/2009 moored instrumentation      03/2007 - 03/2009 under ice floats and surface drifters

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Shiptime, ice strengthened research ships, shared with IPY projects (SASSI, BIAC, and CASO). On the Fimbul ice shelf helicopters, snow terrain vehicles, and fuel depots (shared with IPY project FIMBUL). Field work on Fimbulisen may also be supported by the Troll station and fixed wing transport aircrafts.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
SASSI will leave a legacy of a design for a climate observing system on the Antarctic continental shelf and slope.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
NSASSI is the national Norwegian part of SASSI. SASSI is endorsed by iAnZone, contributes to CASO, and is the outcome of a workshop with participants from 11 nations. NSASSI addresses many of the scientific priorities stated by the Norwegian Antarctic policy platform document 2005-2009, and contributes to the southern endpoint of the bipolar BIAC project.

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

(Norwegian) SASSI is a new iAnZone project but follows a series of successful international collaborative iAnZone projects to address different aspects of science in the Antarctic zone, including Ice Station Weddell, AnzFlux, DOVETAIL, ISPOL and AnSlope.

How will the project be organised and managed?
iAnZone has organised collaborative Antarctic projects before and the organisational infrastructure is already in place. iAnZone has a regularly-rotating SCOR-approved steering committee with current members from Japan, Finland, New Zealand, China, Italy, USA, Brazil, Germany, Australia and Russia, currently chaired by the UK. The iAnZone biennial meetings, workshops and mailing list are open to all.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Participation in the NSASSI sections provides ideal training for Norwegian students and young scientists. The iAnZone website will be maintained and developed. The iAnZone mailing list will remain open to all subscribers.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
iAnZone has reached agreement with the CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Ocean Panel that CLIVAR will manage the SASSI data sets.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
NSASSI will apply for all of its funding to Norwegian sources. EU funding will be explored in cooperation with SASSI international partners.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
NSASSI and SASSI provides a framework for close cooperation and collaboration with other programmes, primarily the bipolar BIAC and the regional FIMBUL projects. SASSI is also working with other international programmes such as GEOTRACES, SOLAS, GLOBEC, CoML and IMBER to develop complementary biological and chemical components. For example, SOLAS will make measurements of the carbonate system along the SASSI sections. There will be a workshop to develop the SASSI project at the next iAnZone biennial meeting, to be held in Venice in October 2005. The full SASSI proposal document is available on the iAnZone website http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/fac/physocean/ianzone/

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Lars H. Smedsrud
Geophysical Institute, Alle gaten 70
University of Bergen, Norway
5007 Bergen
Norway

Tel: +47 55582638
Mobile: +47 92488449
Fax: +47 55589883
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation