Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Glaciological investigation in McCall Glacier, Alaska, for IPY  (McCall Project for IPY)

Outline
In IGY Period (1957-58), extensive glaciological studies were made on McCall Glacier in Brooks Rage in Alaska, USA. In this area the following items will be investigated in IPY period.1) Short period of climatic change in the arctic area by ice core analysis.2) Formation mechanism of internal ice layers.2) Glaciological and biological survey of an arctic glacier.3) Analysis of environmental change by human activities in the arctic region.4) Investigations of biological activities on a glacier surface.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
In the IGY period and following 50 years McCall Glacier was well investigated mainly by researchers of University of Alaska, Faibanks, on mass balance, heat budget, glacier dynamics and so on but not on ice core research. When we get ice cores at accumulation area in McCall Glacier. The result of ice core analysis will be combined to the former glacier research, which reveals the climate and environment change in these several hundred years. This ice core analysis can be a standard condition in Arctic area of North America.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Following research institutes make collaboration.Kitami Institute of Technology, National Institute of Polar Research,University of Alaska, Fairbanks, International Arctic Research Center

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
McCall Glacier (N69.18' W143.48') in Brooks Range, Nothern Alaska, USA

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/2007 – 08/2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Expedition to the glacier area needs 3 week field work before melting season, in which ten flights of 20 hr helicopter flights for one expedition are necessary. The helicopter flight can be shared with a group of University of Alaska.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Automatic weather stations will be set in the investigation area. They will be removed after observation is finished, for conservation of the natural environment. Drill facilities are used only in the expedition period.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Our project will be endorsed by the Japanese national 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

Preparatory observation was done in 2003 and 2004, in which observation of accumulation, hand-auger ice sampling and ice radar work were done. The fund for this project will be proposed to a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from Japanese Government.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be organized and managed by Kitami Institute of Technology and National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) in a control of the Japanese national committee of IPY 2007-08.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Our activities will be open to the public in a homepage.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The dataset of our project will be published as a data report of NIPR and open to the public in a homepage.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The fund for this project will be proposed to a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from Japanese Government.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Shuhei Takahashi
Kitami Institute of Technology
Koen-cho 165
Kitami
090-8705
Japan

Tel: 0157-26-9494
Mobile: no
Fax: 0157-24-5572
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation