Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic’s role in climate change  (Arctic and Climate)

Outline
The polar regions are but a small part of an earth experiencing significant changes in its climate, yet these changes appear amplified in the polar regions. For example, the changes in surface air temperature the last century have had an above-average expression in the Arctic. At the same time, changes in the Arctic may have global consequences. For instance, above-average exports of sea ice from the Arctic have caused the arguably largest changes to the world oceans this past century. Understanding the interaction between the physical climate of the Arctic and the rest of the global is an important challenge for the IPY This project, proposed by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Cryosphere and Climate (CliC) Project’s Arctic Climate Panel, will be active for the remainder of this decade in order to promote a better understanding of Arctic change through promotion, communication and co-ordination at the interface between polar and global ocean science. More specifically, the Arctic and Climate project will: 1. Promote the establishment of an Arctic Climate Observing System, including oceans, pack ice and atmosphere, which will be an important legacy of the IPY. 2. Promote the integration of data collected during the IPY into a 'snap shot' of the ocean, pack ice and atmosphere in 2007-09. 3. Promote study of the climate mechanisms of the Arctic and in particular the connections (oceanic, cryospheric, atmospheric) between the Arctic and the World. 4. Promote effort to generate more accurate and useful predictions of future in the Arctic, acknowledging both natural cycles and anthropogenic influence. 5. Coordinate the integration of geophysical understanding (and its uncertainty) into future projections of environmental, economic and societal impacts in the Arctic.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Arctic and Climate will address nearly all six IPY research themes as indicated by items 1) to 5) under 1.3 above.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The overall objectives of Arctic and Climate should be reached through a closely coordinated, multi-national, Pan-Arctic effort. Arctic and Climate is sponsored by WCRP through CliC, and is also closely linked with CLIVAR and SPARC through its emphasis on connections to global climate. We envision that Arctic and Climate will be a strong contributor to WCRP’s new project COPES as well. CliC’s Arctic Climate Panel and the International Study of Arctic Change, which is based on the SEARCH (Study of Environmental Arctic Change) initiative, works in close cooperation; and Arctic and Climate will in particular strengthen ISAC's focus on the physical climate. The project will be a contributor to GCOS and GOOS.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
No specific field work is proposed here. However, the domain of interest for Arctic and Climate is the entire Arctic sector.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Arctic and Climate will work to promote on-going Arctic observations beyond the IPY timeframe. In particular, Arctic and Climate will contribute to the development of a climate observing system for the Arctic. This effort is outlined in a separate IPY activity: I-AOOS. The goal is that the system will be in place for the foreseeable future and benefit a wide range of future Arctic research activities.

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

The objective of Arctic and Climate is to coordinate Arctic research on climate, regardless of the origin of the scientific and logistic resources.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Arctic and Climate is a project proposed by the Arctic Climate Panel, and as such it is endorsed by the World Climate Research Programme through its project Cryosphere and Climate. Endorsement will also be sought by the National Committees of the panel members.

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

Arctic and Climate is a new initiative to facilitate a better understanding of the physical climate of the Arctic and its role in global climate.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The management of the project will be organized through the international project office of CliC. A close cooperation with the IASC and AOSB sponsored ISAC is ensured through the joint membership of ISAC’s Chair Leif Anderson.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Arctic Climate Panel serves WCRP, whose main goals are to determine the predictability of climate and the extent of the human impact on climate. The WCRP science responds to the crucial needs of society and supports sustainable development. Its objectives include promoting and facilitating education, outreach and international communication. A primary goal of ACP is to identify areas of research not emphasized thoroughly, so plans for education, outreach and communication include arranging carefully selected workshops. Information about the project will in general be provided through the web, direct dialogue with the media, lectures to the public , presentations at conferences, and publications in international journals.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management will be managed through CliC’s experienced Data Management Office.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The activities of Arctic and Climate will seek funding from suitable agencies at national and international levels.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Cecilie Mauritzen
P.O. Box 43 Blindern
0313 Oslo
Norway
0313
Norway

Tel: +47 22 96 33 45
Mobile: +47 90 74 85 74
Fax: +47 22 96 30 50
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation