Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

PALEOCLIMATIC RECONSTRUCTIONS AT HIGH RESOLUTION IN MARINE SEDIMENTARY SEQUENCES FROM POLAR OCEANS  (PAREO)

Outline
Data on paleoclimatic reconstructions from continental ice cores and marine sediment cores in Antarctica evidenced signals of common patterns in climate events. However problems arose with the different resolution of the accumulation rates: proxies to study ice cores have annual resolution while proxies for marine sediment studies usually have 100-1000 years resolution. The aim of this project is to obtain high-resolution paleoclimatic reconstruction from expanded marine sedimentary sequences in Antarctica and in the Arctic to achieve resolution patterns comparable with those of ice cores. Polar areas are very sensitive to climatic variations recording them with strong, although uncertainly datable, signals. New proxies for high-resolution analysis will be validated to overcome the problems of reservoir effect in 14C dating and poor or discontinuous carbonate records occurring in polar sediment successions. Samples from historical archives collected by partners during previous polar projects will be explored and geochemical and paleobiological analyses will be performed. Possible new sites with high accumulation rates would be seek in the Ross sea and in the Southern ocean as well as in selected sites in the Arctic through high resolution seismic surveys (Sub Bottom profiler) to fulfil the requirements of the new methodologies that will be applied. New samples will be collected and sliced at millimetrical scale soon after sampling. Recent studies from our group already evidenced that short time scale climatic events of the Late Quaternary (e.g the Antarctic Cold Reverse - a typical event occurring in the southern hemisphere - the Little Ice Age and the Younger Dryas) were also recorded in the marine sediment cores. However accurate dating of the sedimentary succession was a big problem because of the lack of continuous carbonate records that prevent the use of stable isotope stratigraphy and of an accurate 14C calibration. Detailed chronologies will be produced by an integrated approach using different dating methods as integrated biostratigraphy (foraminifera and diatoms), radiometric methods and stable isotopic stratigraphy on the continuous components of the sedimentary sequences (e.g. silica, lipidic component). A new proxy will be tested that predicts, through a mathematical model, the deposition time as a function of the formation processes of the refractory organic material, i.e. the most conservative organic carbon fraction in the sediment. Time series of multidisciplinary data on modern sedimentation and hydrological properties of the water column will also be collected by moored instruments in different sites of the Ross Sea, the Southern ocean and in a selected site in the Arctic. These data will describe the present pattern of proxies and sedimentation rates, serving as the modern analogue to interpret the paleo-records.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Paleo-environmental reconstructions achieved through this project will quantify the timing and extent of short scale climate events of the Late Quaternary, comparing records from the two hemispheres. The assessment of the effects of past climate change will lead to a better understanding of the present system, also improving our capacity of climate change prediction.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Some instruments and mooring from one of the sites in the Ross sea are in common with a USAP project. International collaborations (USA ed European countries) developed by partners during previous project on the topic will be extended to the present project. Partners are available for an EC or international funding proposal to be submitted.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The project will be carried in the Ross Sea and in the pacific sector of the Southern Ocean along transect between New Zealand and Antarctica focusing on areas with expanded sedimentary sequences recognised during previous projects. A very targeted short expedition in the Arctic is planned to collect some samples in a selected site in the Svalbard.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/07 – 06/07            
Antarctic: 01/07 – 02/07            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
This project will benefit of the facilities provided by the Italian National Program of Research in Antarctica (P.N.R.A.): The infrastructure will be shared with other projects on the oceanography of the Ross Sea. The Italian scientific station “Dirigibile Italia” will be used as a supporting facility for sampling in the Arctic.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
New proxies for sedimentary studies validated through time series and a wide range of historical samples will be the major legacy. Instruments in Mooring A, one of the sampling site in the Ross sea shared with USAP, and B will be left at sea as a facility for future projects. An archive of sediment sample will be arranged and managed as well as a web project database.

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

The project will be run under the P.N.R.A. activities.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Further details – This proposal is under preparation for submission to P.N.R.A. funding.

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?
New

Further details – 50 words maxThe project is a new and autonomous proposal which however will also benefit from the data from long time series, samples from sediment traps (since 1991) and cores collected in previous Antarctic expeditions by the partners: available data are along the transect from NZ to the Ross sea (14 cores), in the Ross sea in areas with high sedimentation rates (Granite harbour, Joides, Cape Adare and other...). Some data are also already available for the Svalbard.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be organised as follows: Main project leader: CNR - Marine Science Institute, Bologna Principal Investigators: University of Milan CNR – Marine Science Institute, La Spezia University of Rome

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
PHD student grants, research fellowships, post-doc contracts are planned. Web connections to high schools are planned during field work. National and international congresses and lectures will be planned. A Cd rom with project description and seminars and lectures on the topic for students and public will be created.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data quality will be checked under the responsibility of every PIs. Data will be available to project partners during the project, and will be after managed according to the P.N.R.A. rules. Metadata will be available upon request to the scientific community through the project web-site and will also be available for Italian and international data bases on Antarctic expedition that may ask for.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project will be co-funded by P.N.R.A. Italian funding agency for Antarctic research.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
NO

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Mariangela Ravaioli
Via Gobetti 101, Bologna


40129
Italy

Tel: +39 051 6398905
Mobile: no
Fax: +39 051 6398940
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation