Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

An Arctic Ocean Mobile Observatory (AOMO) and related Cyberinfrastructure  (AOMO)

Outline
The intent of this program is examine the feasibility of developing an Arctic Ocean Mobile Observatory (AOMO) which would collect and distribute multidisciplinary data streams in near real-time while tracking and obtaining scientific measurements along the seasonal ice edge throughout the summer melt and growth seasons. Critical to this goal, the development of Cyberinfrastructure for Oceanographic Large Integrated Networks in the Arctic (COLINA) will be required. The project’s goal is to examine the scope and cyberinfrastructure needed for a deployable mobile ocean observing system in the Arctic Ocean, and to ensure that it is complimentary to the IOOS data systems. A field program is planned to test a preliminary observing subsystem, modeling and data analysis subsystem, and data access and communications subsystem.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Understanding processes that control the mean position and the annual march of the sea-ice edge is essential to attempt predicting the fate of the ice edge in a variable and changing climate. The development of a mobile ocean observatory would facilitate understanding these multidisciplinary processes. We envision that when implemented, such a system will quickly shift the emphasis from reliance on current approaches to a cyberinfrastructure that collects, manages, archives and distributes data from spatially extended, intelligent networks of multi-variable intelligent sensor arrays, which can be used to model and simulate events.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International collaboration is welcome.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Current plans are for an experiment in the Chukchi or Beaufort Seas.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: either Fall 2008 - Spring 2009      or Fall 2007 to Spring 2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Development of a high endurance polar autonomous underwater vehicle. Use of icebreaker. Gliders, buoys, unmanned airborne vehicles, satellite data, helicopters and development of cyberinfrastructure to handle data and modeling efforts involved in this program.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
see 2.3

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

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

How will the project be organised and managed?
Program will be proposed to the National Science Foundation. Max Coon of NorthWest Research Associates in the lead Principal Investigator. Miles McPhee of McPhee Research will be Chief Scientist of the field program.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Joint classroom activities with Barrow and Seattle area schools are planed over the deployment winter. Both regions have a strong connection with fisheries and or whaling in the Alaska Arctic region. Near real-time data transmission and modeling of the ice edge and seasonal ice will demonstrate the potential of future observatory systems.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data will initially be distributed in near real-time through developed cyberinfrastructure. Data sets will then be archived at National repositories.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
National Science Foundation

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Max Coon
NorthWest Research Associates
14508 NE 20th Street
Bellevue, WA
98007
USA

Tel: 425.644.9660x332
Mobile: no
Fax: 425.644.8422
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation