Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic Change and Tele-impact on Mid-latitudes (ARCTIML, 2006-2010)  (ACTIM)

Outline
Arctic Change play a significant role in global climate and in climate model response to East Asia change. Recently, the sea-ice and the snow cover have been undergoing rapid decreases and persistent positive polarities of the bi-polar Oscillation (NAO and AAO). Although study have demonstrated that the variability of the sea-ice and the snow cover are connected with strong signal of climate variations over East Asia, the mechanisms and processes for the linkage between the bi-polar and East Asia are still remain. Consequently, this proposal will focus on those issues, including how sea/ice/snow-cover/atmosphere interaction process affect the weather and climate over East Asia, how climate variations over the bi-polar regions influence climate variations over the Tibetan Plateau, and how interactions between atmospheric eddy activities induced by the sea-ice variations and the atmospheric mean flow produce atmospheric teleconnections.Field observations of sea/ice/snow-cover/atmosphere interaction process over bi-polar regions will perform during IPY, which is crucial important to investigate effects of the sea-ice on the atmospheric boundary layer. And more in situ observations are needed in this study to obtain the warming processes data through spring to autumn in marginal seas of Arctic and ice edge area. Remote sensing for infrared and visible will be used to access ice thickness, and the extra heat absorbed by sea-water by thinner ice will be calculated. Nutrient, chlorophyll, ice algae, chemical tracers, phytoplankton and zooplankton will be sampled to discover the effect of ice decline upon biological process. New species through climate change and water environment change is the key issue to solve in ice-covered region. The updated studies already revealed that snow cover of the Tibetan Plateau and Arctic sea-ice, particular in the Barents Sea, have important impacts on summer rainfall in China in terms of observations and simulation experiments. Consequently, through performing the project, we can move toward understanding mechanisms responsible for interactions between snow/ice and atmospheric circulation, and accumulate new observational datasets, which is also favourable for performing other projects relevant to cryosphere. More important is that performing the project will improve our knowledge on possible causes responsible for summer rainfall anomalies in China. And this project will also reveal the key process affecting the Arctic local climate and global climate change when ice thickness declines; understand the mechanism of ice thickness changes; and understand the dynamic and biological processes in upper ocean correlated to the ice decrease.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will address themes from 1 to 3 and will provide the opportunity for themes 4, including that how the interaction between atmospheric eddy activities induced by the sea-ice variations and the atmospheric basic flow produce atmospheric teleconnections, which conveys impacts of Atmosphere/snow/ice/ocean interactions to East Asian climate and correctly parameterizing the processes involved in models, and providing improved data sets. The cryosphere is considered as an indicator of climate variability and change. Atmosphere-snow/ice-land interactions are concerned with the role of the terrestrial cryosphere within the climate system and with improved understanding of the processes, and of observational and predictive capabilities applicable over a range of time and space scales. Meanwhile, this project could provide potential for improvement of the predictability over East Asian area.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International Arctic Research Centre (IARC), Australia Antarctic Division (ANARE), Finnish Institute of Marine Research (FIMR) and Japan National Institute of Polar Research (JNIPR) are involved in this project and open for other countries and international organizations interested. China has already collaborated with many international communities to exchange observations and their scientific knowledge.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The field observations on ocean, sea ice and atmosphere will be carried out in the north Pacific and the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean, and the Chinese Arctic Yellow River station at Ny-Alesund.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: l July-Sept., 2007, Arctic Ocean      July-Sept., 2008, Arctic Ocean      Annual program from 2007 to 2009 in the Yellow River station at Ny-Alesund
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
1. Ice breaker vessel with multi-instrumented platforms 2. Snow terrain vehicles and supproted ficilities3. Helicopters and supproted ficilities 4. Automatic Weather Stations 5. Boundary layer instruments All resources can be shared with other IPY projects at the coordinated international level

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
It is planned to install Automatic Weather Station over the Arctic Ocean.

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? The project is "endorsed" in the Chinese National 2006-2010 Arctic Science Plan, which is currently being reviewed by the Chinese government.

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 project is a component of the Chinese National 2006-2010 Arctic Science Plan.

How will the project be organised and managed?
China IPY Scientific Committee will be in charge of coordinating the international effort, to insure data delivery and education outreach.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
National IPY project will serve as a platform for communication and education outreach: permanent contact with involved Scientists. Invited journalists or students could visit to the traverse activities for short periods. Web sites will be created with on line information including this project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data repositories will be maintained at China Polar Data Centre. Data policies will follow International Polar data management guidelines and will be made available.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The Chinese national funds will cover the expenses of field investigations. Scientific research is going to be funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Science Foundation of China.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Lingen Bian
Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences
No.46 Zhognguancunnan Road, Beijing
100081
China

Tel: +86 10 68406566
Mobile: +86 13321122382
Fax: +86 10 62176570
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation