Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Antarctic Ice Sheet Accumulation and Discharge  (AISAD)

Outline
This project makes use of the unique focus of IPY cooperation to synthesize, collect, analyze and distribute comprehensive data sets on the spatial and temporal patterns of accumulation of snow and the perimeter discharge of ice from the Antarctic ice sheet. Various ITASE traverses of the Antarctic over the past decade have begun the process of collecting high-frequency radar soundings that, when tied to dated ice cores, provide a continuous transect of accumulation history. Two specific goals of this project are to standardize new high-frequency radar observations and to encourage the expansion of these observations by identifying commercially available equipment that can be operated as part of any IPY or post-IPY traverse across Antarctica. Where possible, these traverses will cross existing accumulation transects and include dated ice core locations. In addition, the pattern of transects will be augmented by at least one airborne high-frequency radar system to fill in major gaps in coverage and increase the number of intersecting transect tie-points. The distributed product from this activity will be a three-dimensional mapping of numerous isochrones that represent the spatial and temporal variability of Antarctic accumulation at an unprecedented level of detail.Discharge from the ice sheet will be derived from new measurements of ice thickness at the grounding line and both existing and anticipated new measurements of surface velocity at the grounding line. At least three countries have operational airborne ice penetrating radars that can measure ice thickness of more than one kilometer. All of Antarctica’s grounded perimeter is accessible with current aircraft utilizing existing stations and the placement of necessary fuel depots. The cooperation of these countries will permit the collection of these data in the IPY timeframe.Surface velocity at the grounding line, as well as the grounding line’s position have been determined over most of the continent already by interferometric SAR analysis. It is hoped that a new collection of interferometric quality SAR data will be part of IPY to allow a common epoch for the data sets of surface velocity and ice thickness. The comparison of this new velocity data with the previous large-scale mapping of ice speed, as well as a wealth of isolated measurements, will provide a very useful identification of the temporal stability of ice discharge across large portions of the Antarctic’s grounded perimeter.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Antarctic mass balance has been a long-standing goal of SCAR and is the primary mission objective of the ICESat laser altimetry mission. This project utilizes the cooperative umbrella of IPY to marshal multiple national efforts toward the successful accomplishment of this goal. While ICESat can provide only a snapshot of present elevation change, these data sets will provide a more comprehensive assessment of the temporal variation of both mass influx and discharge. Further, these will be valuable data sets that can be easily added to or compared with future data collections.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International collaboration will include the various traverses that will be led by various countries, existing ITASE data that include over a dozen countries, and the airborne ice thickness flights that will likely include the UK, Australia and the US.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Accumulation measurements will be derived from overland traverses tht criss-cross the entire Antarctic ice sheet. Ice thickness measurements will traverse the full Antarctic perimeter at the grounding line.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Nov 2007-Feb 2008      Nov 2008-Feb 2009      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Accumulation layer mapping will “piggy-back” on traverses planned primarily for other purposes. These traverses will use existing traverse vehicles originating and supported by existing national Antarctic bases. Ice thickness flights will use existing light and moderate-range aircraft operating from a combination of existing national bases and fuel depots.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Some countries will acquire new instrumentation. The data sets produced will be benchmarks for future comparisons and can be augmented by future measurements.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Y or N? National endorsements have not been garnered yet, but as the work fits within some other existing national plans, endorsements are sure to follow. This achieves a long-standing SCAR goal and their endorsement is virtually certain.

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?


This project leverages off a number of existing and ongoing activities, including ITASE and ISMASS (SCAR) but contains unique characteristics that embody the IPY concept.

How will the project be organised and managed?
One lead manager will work with three sub-managers responsible for the three major data sets (accumulation transects, perimeter ice thickness and surface velocity). Each sub-manager will lead an international group of specialists responsible for providing their national contribution.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Just as we hope to “piggy back” on surface traverses, we hope to be constructive contributors to the E/O programs associated with these traverse. In addition, ITASE has already established an excellent E/O interface. NASA public affairs experts have expressed a desire to be involved and we will engage them as plans advance.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The accumulation community within ITASE has already begun to discuss data sharing. This project will force this discussion to a tangible data management plan that utilizes the World Data Centers as the eventual repository of the accumulation data. Similarly, surface velocity and ice thickness data will be transferred to at least the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funds will be sought from the national funding agencies of all participating nations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
International collaborators are listed in the next section. Additional US collaborators are:Robert Thomas; Prasad Gogineni; Steve Arcone; Gordon Hamilton; Paul Mayewski; Eric Rignot; Ian Joughin; Ken Jezek; David Bromwich; Vandy Blue Spikes.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Robert Bindschadler
NASA
Code 970
Greenbelt, Maryland
20771
USA

Tel: 301-614-5664
Mobile: 301-655-2064
Fax: 301-614-5666
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation