Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Physical and ecological environment of the Arctic Ocean north of Greenland  (Physical and ecological environment of the Arctic Ocean north of Greenland)

Outline
The Arctic Ocean north of Greenland stands out as largely unexplored. We propose a multidisciplinary field program consisting of two dedicated ice camps as well as icebreakers of opportunity in order to map the physical and ecological environment of the region. The results will form a basis for assessing the regions response to climate variability and to identify its role in the Arctic Ocean as a whole. Large-scale as well as detailed ice conditions including ice concentration, ice thickness and ice drift will be acquired from a multitude of primarily microwave satellite observations. Simultaneously measured microwave signatures from surface-based and airborne sensors and snow/ice microphysical properties will provide information for validation of recent theoretical advances in modelling of microwave signatures of ice and snow. The proposed camps on floating sea-ice will provide opportunities for both airborne and in-situ ice thickness data collection. Airborne activities will involve combined laser and radar satellite underflights, taking advantage of the ice camps for refuelling. Automatic weather stations that can be operated on sea ice for extended periods of time woll be deployed. Different types of stations will be developed ranging from cheap expendable “minimalistic” stations to full energy balance stations. The principal goal of the oceanographic part of the program is to map the present physical and ecological environment. This will allow an evaluation of the state of the cold halocline in the region and the ventilation rate of Atlantic Water important for the sea-ice state. Dedicated surveys will be carried out from the ice camps to estimate volume transports and mixing processes between the different advected as well as locally formed water masses. A number of sediment cores from this geologically speaking almost unexplored part of the Arctic Ocean will be acquired. The cores will be retrieved from two different parts of the survey area to enable a detailed study of variations in the ice cover and general circulation pattern through time of the Arctic Ocean covering a time span of some hundred thousand years i.e. one or more glacial-interglacial cycles. The biology program will identify and compare pathways of biological and biogeochemical cycling and transformations in sea ice, water column and sediments. Identify sources, sinks and transport processes associated with biological and biogeochemical fluxes.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The Arctic Ocean north of Greenland stands out as largely unexplored. The proposed field program will map the physical and ecological environment in time and space of the region via an intensive observational and multidisciplinary field campaign. The results will form a basis for assessing the regional response to climate variability and to identify its role in the Arctic Ocean as a whole, and possible couplings with the global climate system.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Denmark/Greenland will supply laser surveys (DNSC), satellite studies (DTU, DMI), sediment coring (GEUS), ice biology (GN, Nuuk and DMU, Silkeborg) and oceanography (DMI). The ice camps will be carried out in close collaboration with scientists from the UK, Norway, Germany, Russia, Iceland and Canada. The proposed project comprises the Danish/Greenlandic contribution to the international CAMPARI project.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The areas selected are in the vicinity of 85N65W, some 300km N of Ellesmere Island and 64.5N 25W, some 300km NW of north of Station Nord. This allows easy camp establishment from Alert and Station Nord whilst placing it over a seabed region where cores of the required age have been obtained and where dramatic historic and recent ice changes have occurred.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: April-May 2007 (from st. Nord)      April-May 2008 (from Alert)      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The ice camp will rent Canadian Weatherhaven shelters, as done during GreenICE. A Twin Otter will establish and supply the camps. Facilities can be shared with the US NPEO and possibly Canadian and Danish Law of the Sea projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The buoys and weather stations are solar powered and will transmit as long they remain in the Arctic Basin. Changes in ice dynamics since 2001 suggest that the trajectory may be westward into a reconstituted Beaufort Gyre, allowing potential survival for several years.

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

As in project GreenICE we will collaborate with the US NPEO project for icecamp physical facilities, which will be assembled at Alert and Station Nord. DRDC will provide living facilities at Alert and Station North and PCSP charter opportunities for Twin Otter and helo.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has been submitted to the Danish 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?
New

This is a new project but the project builds upon the success of the EC-funded GreenICE project in the successful deployment of small low-budget ice stations in the Arctic Basin to perform multidisciplinary experiments.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project is part of the international CAMPARI project, and will join the management structure of that.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
While space on the camp is too tight to permit additional students, we will seek to establish an interactive link from camp to universities and schools, especially in Denmark and UK. GreenICE featured on both Danish TV and newspapers.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
A project web page will be established with links to project data. Satellite data will be distributed in near real time through the DTU ice/weather/ocean information system at www.seaice.dk

How is it proposed to fund the project?
National funding, the European Comission, European Space Agency

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr Leif Toudal
Oersted-DTU
Technical University of Denmark
Building 348
DK-2800
Denmark

Tel: +45 45253791
Mobile: no
Fax: +45 45931634
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation