Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Coupling between the atmosphere, land/ocean surfaces and ecosystems in Polar Regions  (ALOE-Polar)

Outline
The Finnish groups contribution includes long-term meteorological mast observations at the FMI Sodankylä Station (unique data on turbulence, mean profiles including CO2 and air-surface interaction in very strong static stability, e.g. during Polar nights) and measurements in several Finnish Arctic stations: e.g. SMEAR I-station in Värriö (Univ. Helsinki) and Pallas GAW-station (FMI), and Aboa station in Antarctica (Finnish Antarctic Survey, FinArp). The latter three stations have outstanding records in measurements of example, aerosol particles, chemical compounds, CO2 exchange and radiation balance. These include the longest time series of aerosol particle measurements and observations of photosynthesis in whole Arctic. As a part of the project, a new method (based on a recent founding) to monitor CO2 and methane concentrations in forest soils, tundra peat, lakes and ocean will be developed.IMAU (The Nederlands), DMI (Denmark) and ETH-Zurich (Switzerland) will mostly focus on studies in Greenland, including ongoing AWS and mass balance measurements (co-ordinated with EoI led by Dorthe Dahl Jensen, Univ of Copenhagen), paleoclimate and mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS), an extensive summertime meteorological experiment in the ablation zone near Kangerlussuaq in 2008, Summit ice sheet/atmosphere exchange study (co-ordinated with EoI led by Atsumu Ohmura, ETH) and DMI Greenland meteorological monitoring and modelling. Proposed activities include continuing of the long term measurements for monitoring the current state of the Arctic and Antarctic and its response to climate change and other factors. The studies focus for example on the effect of increased CO2 on vegetation, rise of the tree level and the possibility of polar night to act as a chemical engine affecting the composition of atmosphere. The special objective is the observed ocean-forest coupling and the Arctic origin air masses related to aerosol particle formation. The studies also deal with differences in properties between natural origin and anthropogenic influenced clouds. The location of measurement stations in the Finnish Arctic offers the possibility to study the effect of strong anthropogenic influence of the industry in Kola Peninsula.The annual measurements carried out at Finnish Aboa-station and Russian Bellingshausen-station (Russian Antarctic Expedition) in Antarctica will continue, having special focus on natural polar processes.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The important results from the studies include the following:- The importance of long polar night for (i) physical properties of atmospheric planetary boundary layers (PBLs) – the so-called long-lived stable PBLs, and turbulent surface fluxes (ii) chemical composition of the atmosphere and aerosol particles- Better understanding of (i) of biosphere interaction related to aerosol particle formation (ii) the effect of anthropogenic influence on cloud properties and thus the while Polar climate system (iii) the responses of Arctic ecosystem and its carbon budget.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This work will be carried out in collaboration with:- EU Project FUMAPEX,- EU Marie Curie Chair Project MEXC-CT-2003-509742,- SCAR READER Project,- IGBP-Project iLEAPS and - existing Nordic Center of Excellence “BACCI”.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Finnish Arctic (Sodankylä station, SMEAR I-station in Värriö and Pallas GAW-station),Greenland (Summit and ablation zone Kangerlussuaq stations, DMI stations network)Antarctica (Aboa station, Bellingshausen and Novolazarevskaya stations, Mirny Observatory)Russian Arctic (Teriberka GAW-station, Kola Peninsula)

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/07 – 12/08            
Antarctic: 11/07 – 01/08      11/08 – 01/09      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The studies will be carried out in existing field stations. Additional measurements will be carried out in ALOMAR-station which also have existing infrastructure. Measurements carried out at our field stations by other groups are welcome.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will improve existing instrumentation in field stations. No new stations are planned. New instrumentation for Arctic gas exchange will be developed.

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 ? Further details – The project is endorsed by local IGBP- project office iLEAPS. The national Danish IPY committee does not have a capacity to participate in endorsement process (for any project). The proposal will be copied to the 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?
yes

The project will be performed in close co-operation with the existing research network Nordic Centre of Excellence BACCI, the projects: Greenland ice sheet, APEX, GrIS, Kangerlussuarq AWS network and others

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be managed in co-operation with the existing Nordic research network (BACCI). The co-ordinator and the manager will have contacts with the national and international IPY authorities and will coordinate the economical issues, the necessary reporting and other administrative issues, arrange project meetings, coordinate with other IPY projects. Whenever appropriate, teams and team leaders will be defined, responsible for achievement of the scientific advances in communication with the coordinator. The individual partners will deliver results to the project co-ordination unit. They will participate in regular projects meetings where major decisions on project progress including alterations will be made.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project will continue educating students through current routines and new opportunities of the EU Marie Curie Chair Project MEXC-CT-2003-509742 based at the University of Helsinki. This includes courses held and to be held at field stations (like the course “Arctic air pollution” held in SMEAR I station in spring 2004, or the forthcoming summer school “PBLs over complex and vegetated land surfaces” in Sodankylä in June 2005) and educating students via field work and research. This task also includes MSc- and PhD-thesis based on works carried out in the scope of this project. PhD and post-doc positions via national funding are also foreseen. The project will actively participate in outreach activities to the general public and to decision makers, initiated and coordinated by the national IPY committee.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data will be distributed via Internet, Word Meteorological Organization and European Environmental Agency, and thus will be available to public.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding for the project will be applied via national IPY special programmes (e.g., Finnish Academy of Sciences, Netherlands Arctic Program, etc.), European Union, Nordic or national foundations and budget funding.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor, Dr. Sergej Zilitinkevich
Division of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Helsinki
Vuorikatu 15 A
FIN 00101 Helsinki
Finland

Tel: 358-9-1929-4678
Mobile: 358-405-154-391
Fax: 358-9-1929-4129
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation