Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Assessment of the fluxes of dissolved and particulate materials delivered by the rivers of the Russian Arctic into the Arctic Ocean.  (Assessment of the fluxes of dissolved and particulate materials delivered by the rivers of the Russian Arctic into the Arctic Ocean.)

Outline
The expected Global Climatic Change will cause significant changes in the whole planet Earth. Especially dramatic changes are predicted for the regions of the cold climate such as the Arctic ocean. Recently published models predict the major increase of the river discharges and especially the riverine suspended sediments fluxes that will influence all the processes in the Arctic coastal seas and in the Arctic ocean proper.In the nearest future it is planning the wide-scale works to obtain oil and gas resources in the Russian Arctic coastal zone. It is expected with relatively high probability to face with significant ecological problems in the region. In this connection we need even now in detailed and reliable data on modern situation of natural environment of the coastal Arctic. Available at present data on the fluxes of dissolved and particulate suspended materials in the rivers of the Russian Arctic into the coastal seas, and especially on their composition are very scarce. For the most elements and components the data for the winter period are practically absent. And more less we know about the processes in the river/sea mixing zone ( the marginal filter, by Prof. A.Lisitzin definition), where the complicated biogeochemical and sedimentological processes change sharply the qualitative and quantitative composition of this material. As a result only quite small part of this reworked material would reach the open ocean The so-called net input).Taking into account the above mentioned we plan to collect the samples of water, suspended matter and surface bottom sediments along the cross-sections river/sea at the main seasonal periods: at the spring flood time, in the summer-autumn low water, and especially in the winter time for which the data are practically absent.In the samples obtained it’s planning to carry out the following analyses:- grain-size composition of suspended and bottom sediments;- mineralogical composition of suspended and bottom sediments;- dissolved and particulate organic carbon;- nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, silicates);- elemental composition (major and trace elements) of water, suspended and bottom sediments ( the methods of AAS, INAA. ICP-MS and other);- assessment of the average all-year concentrations of major and trace elements in water and suspended matter and the evaluations of their gross and net inputs into the ocean;- study of the main regularities of behaviour of dissolved and suspended metals in the river/sea mixing zones- the marginal filters and assessments of their net input into the ocean.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
- The filling of the data-bases on the data of granulometrical, mineralogical and chemical composition of suspended and bottom sediments of the Arctic rivers estuaries all- round the year, and also on chemical composition of river and estuarine waters.- Assessments of gross and net inputs of chemical elements and components by the rivers into the coastal zone of the arctic seas;- Assessment of the role of riverine input in the global cycle of organic carbon;- Practice recommendations on the development of the natural environment monitoring in the Arctic.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
It is planning the joint research with German and Norwegian scientists ( mainly from the AWI for Polar and Marina Research, Bremerhaven-Potsdam; and NILU, Oslo)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The sampling will be done in the mouth areas of the North Dvina river the White Sea) and of the Ob river (the Ob Bay, Kara Sea). In c.Arkhangelsk is situated the North -West Branch of the Institute of Oceanology, which has the research vessel “Aquanavt-2” with dead weight about 100 t. This vessel was used in previous years in such type of works. The experience of works in the Ob river mouth (c.Salekhard) is also available on a base of the Yamalo-Nenetsk filial of the FGU “SIAK PoUR”. To carry out the works in the Ob Guba along the estuarine zone the small research vessel will be needed.The special attention will be paid to the works in winter time. The experience of such type of sampling is available also.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: March, May and September 2007      March, June and September 2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The works in winter time will be done with using of the snow car “Buran” with sany for transport on ice.In summer and autumn periods the work will be done on board.of small research vessels.These support/facilities would be shared with the local stations of the Roshydromet.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The data obtained will be used by the local departments of Roshydromet.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
YY Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)The North sub-regional territorial Department on Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of Environment

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

This is a new project which may be a component of national and international projects LOIRA and The White Sea System, and the continuation of the German-Russian ex-project SIRRO (Siberian run-off).

How will the project be organised and managed?
The research will be prepared, organised and implemented on the national level with the coordination of the projects mentioned.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The results will be widely presented in the reports, journal publications , in Russian and English, on the all-Russian and International conferences, and may be used in the educational aims. It is planning the active participation in the project of students, graduate-students and young scientists.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data obtained, after their publication, may be included into international and national data bases (such as Pangeae).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project is funding from the budgets of the participating organisations and due to the grants of the Russian Fund of Basic Research and other.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr., leading scientist Viacheslav V. Gordeev
P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS


Nakchimovsky prospect 36, M0scow
117997
Russia

Tel: 7 (095) 124 59 68
Mobile: no
Fax: 7 (095) 124 59 83
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation