Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Aeolian and ice transport and fluxes of matter (including ecotoxicants) in the Arctic  (CRYOEOL)

Outline
The Arctic greatly influences on the environment of the Earth. Very fragile equilibrium between its physical, chemical and ecological parameters (depended on low rates of reduction of biological resources) makes the Arctic an indicator of the global change. The Arctic ocean and its wide and shallow seas are believed to be important chain in understanding modern global climatic system and its variations. Low temperatures and strong seasonality and interannual variability are typical features of the Arctic. It is reflected on the distribution and composition of aerosols and water suspended matter, on the modern sedimentation and on the toxicant (heavy metals etc.) fluxes and accumulation. The aim of this project is to study in details aerosols, snow and drifting ice in the Arctic and to estimate their influence on climate, sedimentation and pollution of shelf seas and the Central Arctic. Arctic aerosol studies: - grain size distribution in the range from 0.005 to 10 um; - optical and scanning electron microscopy; - mineral composition; - multielemental composition (instrumental neutron activation analysis, atomic absorption analysis, X-ray fluorescence, ICP-MS); - isotopic composition of carbon and sulfur; - 7Be concentrations; - atmospheric transparency; - solar radiation; - calculation of back trajectories of air masses and ice drift. These studies could reveal main sources of aerosols and estimate the degree of anthropogenic pollution of the Arctic atmosphere. Study of multielemental composition of lichens and mosses and cores in bogs at the surrounding land to estimate the flux of matter (including ecotoxicants) from the atmosphere and to reveal the main sources of pollution. Snow research: - composition of dissolved phase (ion and chemical elements); - - particulate phase (the same approach as for aerosols); - estimation of fluxes of sedimentary matter and elements with snow deposition. Estimation of iron delivery to the Arctic ecosystem and its role in regulation of productivity of phytoplankton, especially in the ice marginal zones. Study of composition of sea ice and ice-rafted sediments (“dirty ice”) – determination of granulometry, mineral and chemical composition of sedimentary matter, microalgae assembledges and their residues. Study of ice cores on drifting ice-floes. Study of vertical particle fluxes from the drifting ice to the deep water (short-term deployments of sediment traps from the drifting ice and all-year deployments of automatic sediment traps with changing cups).

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Obtaining and updating the base for concentrations and composition of aerosols, snow, ice, sediments, transported by the ice, vertical fluxes of the matter from atmosphere and in the water. - Estimates of pollution of aerosols, snow, ice both in the remote regions, and along the Northern Sea Route and in the regions of reconnaissance and mining of natural resources in the seas and at the surrounding territories. - Estimate of the roles of different natural and anthropogenic aerosol sources. - Estimate of the role of the Arctic region in global balance of carbon and different pollutants. - Refinement of available arctic aerosol and optical models. - Preliminary data on resources of condensation and crystallization nuclei, and atmospheric electricity in the marine boundary layer and over the land surface in the Arctic and sub arctic regions. - Practical recommendations for improving the system of monitoring the Arctic environment.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Collaborations with German, Norwegian and American colleges from Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany; Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromso; Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Kjeller; University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA and with many scientist interested in our project is involved.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The White, Barents, Pechora, Kara, Norwegian, Greenland seas and their coasts (Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, Svalbard) - expeditions onboard Russian, German, Norwegian research vessels. Studies at the Russian drifting stations.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/2006 - 12/2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ships of ice-breaker class will be necessary for transportation of the members and scientific equipment in cases of hard ice conditions.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
In the course of execution phase of the project material and technical supplies of weather stations and posts of hydrometeorological service will be carried out. Necessary data for Northern Sea Route service and for shelf oil and gas exploring and producing organizations will be received.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has been submitted to the Russian National IPY 2007-2008 Committee. It has been "endorsed" by many Russian research institutes, Northern Branch of the Russian Federal Service on Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of the Environment, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

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

This is a new proposal that can become component of the international projects ICARP II, OASIS, LOIRA, Laptev Sea System and others. q3_2_Manage : Studies will be prepared, organized and managed at the national level with permanent coordination with plans of realization of international projects mentioned above (ICARP II, OASIS, LOIRA, Laptev Sea System and others).

How will the project be organised and managed?
Studies will be prepared, organized and managed at the national level with permanent coordination with plans of realization of international projects mentioned above (ICARP II, OASIS, LOIRA, Laptev Sea System and others).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Results of the project will be widely present in reports and publications and can be used in educational aims for distributing of new ideas about the role of the aeolian and ice transport of matter (including ecotoxicants) for the Arctic environment functioning. Students, PhD-students and young scientists from Moscow, St.Petersburg, Arkhangel’sk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk will take part in expeditions and laboratory researches and results interpretation.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
After processing and publication of main research results acquired data will be integrated to international and Russian databases (for example, PANGEA).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project will be funded from funds of budgets of organizations taking part in researches and at the cost of grants of Russian Fund for Basic Research and other organizations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Vladimir Shevchenko
P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology
36 Nakhimovsky prospekt
Moscow
117997
Russia

Tel: 007-095-1247737
Mobile: 007-9163555392
Fax: 007-095-1245983
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation