Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Mapping the present state and past history of the Arctic ice cover at critical locations by two international ice stations  (CAMPARI. Comparative analysis of modern and palaeo Arctic ice.)

Outline
The project builds upon the success of the EU-funded GreenICE project in the successful deployment of small low-budget ice stations in the Arctic Basin to perform multidisciplinary experiments. The project aims at simultaneously mapping present ice conditions in two critical locations (north of Ellesmere Island and North Greenland) and reconstructing the past ice climate by analysing sediment cores. The focus will be an ice camp deployed by Twin Otter from Alert at about 85N 65W and in an area north of Greenland at about 84.5N and 25W on two occasions, April-May of 2007 and 2008. The sites are chosen because some ice-ocean models predict an increasing ice thickness in these regions, while GreenICE data so far indicates continued thinning; also the coring results from GreenICE show that the area, although deep inside the present Arctic ice edge, experienced two almost ice free conditions during the last 50.000 years - a finding that has to be confirmed since climate models predict the presence of an ice cover over this crucial area during a warming world. Present ice conditions will be mapped by investigating satellite images (DTU), helicopter EM missions (AWI) and airborne swath sounding laser (KMS) and by deploying Nagurny buoys to measure the median thickness of undeformed ice (DAMTP) with the camps as centres for the survey grids. Past ice conditions will be mapped (GEUS) by analysing sediment cores. The existence of the camps will allow other work to be done by a small 8-10 man group. This will include seismic reflection (University of Bergen, Norway), under-ice profiling using a manually launched Gavia AUV (University of Iceland), under-ice biological survey work (Marine Stations at DMU, Denmark, Murmansk, Russia and Gdansk, Poland) and oceanographic measurements (DMI). Automatic weather stations will be established at the camp sites and left to operate after the camp periods (GEUS). Data on snow and ice properties will be gathered for calibration and validation of the satellite and aircraft remote sensing measurements (DMI, DTU, AWI, KMS). The project will link to modelling studies, which seek to explain long-term changes in the Arctic ice cover in terms of past global climate changes, with relevance for the current mechanisms.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will determine the current state and rate of change of ice thickness and composition in the critical region north of Ellesmere Island and North Greenland where thickening has been predicted and where the direction of ice motion changes when the AO phase changes. This will be linked with examination of when ice-free conditions occurred in the past. A new frontier of knowledge of Arctic sea ice history will thus be opened up, with relevance to human society in that ice-free conditions made northern Ellesmere Island and Greenland a liveable environment for early man in the North.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
UK: Nagurny buoys, management. Denmark: laser surveys (KMS), satellite studies (DTU, DMI), sediment coring (GEUS), ice biology (DMU), oceanography (DMI) and weather stations (GEUS). Germany: helo EM (AWI). Norway: seismic surveys (Bergen). Poland (Gdansk) and Russia (Murmansk): under-ice biology. Iceland (Science Inst.): hand-launched AUV.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The two sites are 85N 65W, 300km N of Ellesmere Island, and 84.5N 25W, 300km NW of Station Nord. This allows easy camp establishment from Alert and Nord, in seabed regions where cores of appropriate age have been obtained and where dramatic historic and modern ice changes have occurred.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07 – 05/07 (Nord)      04/08 – 05/08 (Alert)      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The ice camp will rent Canadian Weatherhaven shelters, as during GreenICE. A Greenlandair Twin Otter will establish and supply the camps. AWI will charter a helo from PCSP for EM work. Facilities can be shared with the US NPEO and possibly Canadian and Danish Law of the Sea projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The buoys are solar powered and will transmit as long they remain in the Arctic Basin. Changes in ice dynamics since 2001 suggest that the trajectory will be westward into a reconstituted Beaufort Gyre, allowing survival for up to 10 years.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Another national polar operator
National agency
Military support
Commercial operator

As in GreenICE we will collaborate with the US NPEO project for camp physical facilities, assembled at Alert and Station Nord. DRDC will provide living facilities at Alert and Nord and PCSP charter opportunities for Twin Otter and helo. KMS have access to Twin Otter OY-POF via Danish Government.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes. It was approved by the Danish Committee for the IPY in December 2004.

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 but builds upon the success of the EU-funded GreenICE project of 2003-5 (field work 2003, 2004).

How will the project be organised and managed?
With 11 partners it will be necessary to establish a steering committee to manage the project as a whole, with an inner field management group of those partners who are most involved in organising the camps (DAMTP, GEUS, KMS, Bergen). Frequent meetings will be necessary, especially to maintain control of budgeting. The successful experience of GreenICE shows that this can be carried out in an efficient and effective manner.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
While space on the camp is tight, we will try to take two additional students, and will seek to establish an interactive link from camp to universities and schools, especially in Denmark and UK. GreenICE featured on both Danish TV and newspapers.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data on ice thickness will be added to the databanks being established for other IPY thickness projects. Sediment core data will be added to the archives of the Arctic Ocean Drilling Programme.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Primarily by proposals to Danish Government sources; the Norwegian research Couuncil; and NERC, with additional bid to EU if appropriate call (this project would form part of DAMOCLES if funded).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Note that there are four further participants beyond the six listed below. They are the marine biological stations at DMU, Denmark; Gdansk, Poland; and Murmansk, Russia, who together will carry out plankton research from the camp hydroholes; and Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, providing ice and weather data. The UK partner DAMTP will subcontract SAMS (Oban, Scotland) for buoy construction.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Peter Wadhams
Dept. of Applied Maths & Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
Wilberforce Road
Cambridge
CB3 0WA
UK

Tel: 44-1223-760370
Mobile: 44-0774-8032371
Fax: 44-1223-760493
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation