Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Snowpack (OASIS) Interactions  (OASIS-IPY)

Outline
OASIS is an internationally collaborative and open effort involving, to date, researchers from Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. It will quantify the impact of OASIS chemical, physical and biological exchange processes on tropospheric chemistry, the cryosphere, and the marine environment, and their feedback mechanisms in the context of a changing climate. To reach the goals of OASIS it will be essential to undertake studies in the Arctic Ocean surface environment. IPY represents a unique opportunity to develop new initiatives that enable the community to do the best science, made possible by an international approach to logistics and experimentation. During IPY (2007 – 2008), we propose to: 1. Establish a network of Arctic Ocean buoys that will enable year-round measurements of ozone and related chemical species. This work is aimed at filling major gaps in our knowledge of the physical and chemical variables involved with Arctic Ocean surface ozone and mercury depletion and radiatively-active trace-gas budgets. The network will be organized in close cooperation, co-located with the International Arctic Buoy Project, the North Pole Environmental Observatory, and the proposed Arctic Ocean Observing System. Coordination is also envisaged with the satellite remote sensing community involved with measurements of halogen oxides, sea surface characteristics, and other chemical and physical parameters. 2. Conduct coordinated ice camp, icebreaker and aircraft studies of OASIS chemical exchange, for species to include DMS, CO2, VOCs, O3, NOx/y, Hg, RGM, and particulate phase Hg, POPs (persistent organic pollutants), halogen oxides and molecular halogens, OVOCs, organo-halogen compounds, snow-phase ions; snow, ice and ocean bacteria and micro-algae; aerosols. The impact on, and by, the physical state of the local environment will be a key topic of these studies, as will cloud optical properties, and meteorological parameters. Ice camp and ice breaker work will be coordinated with other international IPY efforts. OASIS will also: 3. Conduct supporting laboratory studies of biological, chemical and physical processes relevant to snow, ice, gas, and aerosol phase photochemistry and chemical exchange. 4. Develop and apply 1D and 3D models of OASIS exchange and associated atmospheric chemistry and cloud physics impacts, in association with scientists involved with 1-3 above. The internationally vetted Science Plan, and Implementation Plan for OASIS can be obtained at: http://www.chem.purdue.edu/arctic/OASISHomePage.htm

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
In the following IPY themes, OASIS will: 1) Current State: Provide critical information on how the changing marine cryosphere is affecting chemical processes across OASIS interfaces. 2) Change: Elucidate sources, sinks, and transport processes coupling southern contaminant inputs to northern effects and critical information on how sea ice moderates carbon fluxes. 3) Linkages: Examine teleconnections in meteorology and chemical fluxes associated with changes in sea ice. 4) New frontiers: Investigate physical/chemical exchanges associated with OASIS interfaces including long-term observations of greenhouse gases from the Arctic Ocean. 6) Human societies: Provide chemical information relevant to resilience and sustainability of northern peoples

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
OASIS involves international, interdisciplinary collaboration from a large group of scientists as indicated above. The international character of OASIS has been apparent and central since its inception, and is documented at the OASIS website: http://www.chem.purdue.edu/arctic/OASISHomePage.htm OASIS has been endorsed by the international IGBP programs SOLAS and IGAC (project Air-Ice-Chemical Interactions).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
An Arctic ocean wide surface network in collaboration with IABP, NPEO, and AOOS. A year-long ice-camp study from an icebreaker frozen in the central Arctic icepack. Possible locations include the shelf-basin edge along the Barents-Kara Seas and the Beaufort Sea gyre. Satellite, aircraft and ground measurements link to the larger scale.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Network: 05/07 – open ended      Frozen icebreaker 08/07 – 08/08      Polar research cruises, tbd
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice-breaker Multi-instrumented platforms Snowmobiles Ice-strengthened research ship Helicopters Existing and new field-stations Ice-tethered buoys Aircrafts Satellites Ice drilling (1) Buoys integrated with IABP and AOOS. (2) Year-long ice camp and research ice-breaker to be shared with other IPY projects. Vessels considered include Amundsen, Groseiller, Oden, Polar Stern, St. Laurent, Yamal.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
OASIS legacy is the capability to conduct unattended chemical measurements in the Arctic Ocean atmosphere. This network will continue indefinitely beyond the IPY time frame. The aim is to obtain a long term dataset of chemical measurements over the Arctic Ocean essential for future climate change assessment studies.

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

We have designed OASIS so that some of the basic logistics support will be provided through the international polar science funding agencies to each participating PI or groups of PIs. We expect that icebreaker and ice camp facilities will be shared with other IPY efforts.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
By IGBP programs IGAC and SOLAS; pending from LOICZ. Through two international workshops in November 2002 (US-NSF sponsored) and January 2005 (Italian-CNR sponsored) leading to development of OASIS Science and Implementation Plans. Endorsement by IPY National Committees in progress. Coordination with AMAP in progress.

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?
Expansion

This is part of existing OASIS Science and Implementation plans (http://www.chem.purdue.edu/arctic/OASISHomePage.htm). The field campaigns described here form two critical components in the context of the overall OASIS objectives.

How will the project be organised and managed?
OASIS is organized by an Executive Committee that prioritizes science questions, coordinates international efforts, and enables implementation of the Science Plan. OASIS is managed through a coordinating office, established for this purpose with financial contributions from the Italian CNR-IIA and other international sponsoring agencies. It is managed by a member of the Executive committee, and has offices in Europe (CNR, Rome) and North America (to be determined).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
public education and media opportunities at OASIS sites. * international (under)graduate student program geared towards engaging the next generation scientists and educators in northern physical/chemical process. * engagement of Northern communities through community visits (where possible) and bilateral exchange of northern peoples as advisors and wildlife observers aboard the icebreakers.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data repositories will be maintained at the OASIS offices, integrating all data collected in field, laboratory, and modelling studies. Data policies will follow IGBP guidelines and will be part of a legacy data repository. The National Snow and Ice Data Center-WDC for Glaciology (USA) has offered to manage OASIS data.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
OASIS is being funded through National funding agencies from the countries of origin of the participants.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
OASIS will endeavour to participate in assorted polar research cruises, and temporary ice island studies such as those organized by AARI, the US Navy, and the NPEO program. OASIS has established communication links and/or collaboration with other IPY activities including: AICI-IPY; ITCT-Arctic; ASCOS, IABP, AOOS, CMRWA, DAMOCLES. OASIS is affiliated with the following international science programmes: AICI-IGAC, SOLAS, LOICZ, AMAP, CLiC-WCRP, GAW-WMO. The legacy of OASIS is an understanding of how atmosphere-ocean processing and exchange of greenhouse gases and contaminants impact climate change and human and ecological effects.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Harry Beine
C.N.R. - IIA
Via Salaria Km 29, 3
Monterotondo Scalo (Roma)
00016
Italy

Tel: (39)06.906.72.262
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation