Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

North-Asia permafrost: evolution and interaction with atmosphere and hydrosphere  (NAP (North-Asia permafrost))

Outline
Permafrost in the Asian Arctic is continuous and varies in thickness from 100 to 1000 m. It also occurs beneath the polar seas, however, its parameters are poorly known. Permafrost evolves interacting with the geothermal and surface heat fluxes. It changes most actively when it contacts with the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Cryogenic processes, which have unique regional features, are of primary importance in changing the upper horizons of permafrost. Degrading permafrost is a significant source of greenhouse gases. Permafrost is one of the major climate-forming factors. In general, knowledge of the structure, current state and evolution of permafrost is vital for understanding the global processes that occur in the Arctic and have significant socio-economic implications.The overall objective of the project is to assess the factors, processes and consequences of natural and anthropogenic changes of the continental and shelf permafrost in the Asian sector of the Arctic.The goals are: · To systematize data on the current state and temperature field of the continental and shelf permafrost · To evaluate the current rates of permafrost dynamics in the continental and shelf areas · To investigate continental sediment inputs into the Artic basin from the permafrost zone · To identify the role of various glaciation forms in the permafrost evolution · To investigate the effect of cryogenic relief-forming processes on permafrost development · To continue monitoring of the fluxes of greenhouse gases emitted from degrading permafrost · To study changes in the Arctic permafrost-dominated landscapes, as well as their significance as a living environment for the indigenous population · To develop predictions of changes of the upper permafrost layers as supporting material for engineered structures for various global climate change scenarios · To identify the role of anthropogenic aerosols and ecotoxicants in the ecological background of the permafrost environment · To evaluate the impacts of the anthropogenic factor and industrial activities on the state and dynamics of permafrost in the areas of intensive development · Permafrost as an important socio-economic factor in the development of the Arctic regions These goals will be realized through multidisciplinary field and laboratory investigations. The main research methodologies will include geocryological, geomorphological, physiographical, meteorological, geochemical and lithological methods, mathematical modeling, mapping, as well as the use of GIS-technologies and the construction of databases.These investigations will involve a synthesis and analysis of the published and our own data, collection of new data, analytical laboratory determinations, processing and analysis of remote sensing data, calculations and modeling of environmental processes.The proposed investigations will be carried out with the participation of university and post-graduate students.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Theme 1:· Large volume of new fundamental data on the structure and current state of permafrost as the most important component of the Arctic environment· Quantitative assessment of the balance of continental sediments delivered into the Arctic basinTheme 2:· Prediction of greenhouse gas emissions due to permafrost degradation in relation to anticipated global climate change· Evaluation of the average rates of ice-rich coast erosion in the Arctic basinTheme 4:· New hypotheses on the interaction of permafrost with various forms of glaciation in the Arctic· A model of the subsea permafrost evolutionTheme 6:· Assessment of the role of the anthropogenic factor and industrial activities in the dynamics of permafrost in the areas of intensive development

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The goals of the NAP project call for intensive international collaboration, including cooperation of the scientists from Russia, Germany, USA, Canada and Norway which have experience in joint work on similar research themes in the Arctic. Joint research activities will conducted in close interaction with the scientists and members of international scientific organizations (IPA, IASC, ACD, LOIRA and others), as well as part of international expeditions.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Main areas of the field work: lowlands, mountains and deltas adjacent to the Kara, Laptev and East Siberian seacoasts, including the islands and the shelf.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/06 – 09/06      05/07 – 10/07      03/08 – 10/08
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Transport ship, helicopter, tractor-mounted drilling rig (to 300 m depth), portable drilling rig (to 25 m), ice drilling rig, snow mobile, motor boat, sled-based house trailer, sled train

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Activities of the proposed project will enable future Russian and international projects to continue monitoring of the permafrost temperature regime in boreholes to be drilled, the rates of coastline change, and greenhouse gas fluxes at the key sites.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

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

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Project office will be at the Permafrost Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Yakutsk, Russia). It is planned that the project will be coordinated by the National Committee.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
University and post-graduate students and young scientists will be involved in field and laboratory activities of the project. This will help transfer experience, methodologies and new data to the education system, and will also provide scientific training for students in the Arctic. No less than 10 university and post-graduate students from the Yakutsk State University and the Moscow State University are planned to be invited.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Collected scientific information will be systematized and compiled into standard databases on the basis of electronic maps and GIS-technologies. This information will be placed on web sites in the Russian and English languages.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
It is planned that the project will be funded mainly via the Russian National IPY Committee, and partly by the Russian research foundations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Rudolf Zhang
Permafrost Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Merzlotnaya St., 1
Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
677010
Russia

Tel: 7-4112-334034
Mobile: 7-4112-722016
Fax: 7-4112-334476
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation