Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Research of the Earth’s Interior and Development of the Electronic Atlas of Antarctic and Arctic Using the Tomographic Techniques  (BIPOLTomography)

Outline
Rationale Most of tectonic research are constrained by the shortage of the deep Earth’s interior data. This problem relates especially to such key remote and inaccessible areas such as the West Antarctic Rift System and Scotia Arc, the Arctic Ocean Basin and Greenland etc. Deep structures’ models will be required for preliminary understanding of tectonics and planning of the field works during IPY. An informative source of such data has been developed by us using the “gravimetric tomography” technique to reconstruct the interior structure from the core up to the crust. Method This method is based on using the geoid global geopotential model and includes the following tasks: 1. Calculation of the relationship between a spherical harmonic degree of the geoid topography and depth of the disturbing layer. 2. Determination of the density of anomalous disturbing masses. 3. Creation of tomographic images of dense inhomogeneities for studied regions. The well known geoid theory harmonic function 1/r is used to evaluate the depth r of a disturbing layer. The solving of the inverse gravity problem by Professor Helmut Moritz is used to transform geopotential anomalies to density anomalies. Values of the gravity potential as heights of the geoid and values of density harmonic anomalies in g/cm3 are computed using the EGM96 geoid model data with an interval of 15’. Results 3-dimensional images of the deep structure from the surface to depth of 2800 km along different lines were generated for the Antarctic and Arctic regions. Nearly 30 polar stereographic maps for different lateral layers are computed to check a viability of the method. These data show a relationship between main geosphere layers, spatial distribution of dense inhomogeneities and geodynamic features in the polar regions and surrounding areas within latitudes of 30-90. Activity An activity within the project anticipates a dynamical modeling of the Polar Regions’ internal structure and creation of a CD-ROM which will include tomographic images along cross-sections and maps of structures in different depths. IPY Projects coordinators can use the CD for preliminary planning and posterior interpretation of their detailed field research. These researches will be accompanied by the fieldwork during the Ukrainian seasonal Antarctic expeditions with a bathymetry, geological sampling and marine geophysical surveys at the characteristic areas. International collaboration The proposed activities can be extended on the basis of an international collaboration using a seismic tomography method, paleotectonic reconstructions and computer technologies for imaging the Earth’s interior.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The Gravimetric Tomography method displays a mutual disposition of anomalous heterogenous on density mass and their geometry within an interior of the Earth. It make possible to identify geodynamic tendencies in different scales from large global structures like the convective cells, which are responsible for the plate tectonics, to surface structures of the crust like the continents and more smaller bodies which are dived in the lithosphere. The tomographic method allows to obtain a new information on a structure and tectonics, to improve an understanding of geodynamic processes and possible their evolution, discover relationship between geospheres in the core-mantle-crust system.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Research on the Project will be more informative using the seismic tomography method developed by Dr. Wim Spakman from the Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, and the proposals by Dr. Michael Ritzwoller from the Center for Imaging the Earth’s Interior, Univesity of Colorado (IPY Idea 032).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Several polygons in the Bellinsghausen Sea will be surveyed to decode characteristic geological bodies identified by the tomographic data. The detailed fieldwork during the Ukrainian seasonal expeditions with the marine geophysical survey, a computing of the altimetric geoid and interferometric processing of the ERS SAR images will be carried out.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 01-03.2006, 2007, 2008            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Dual frequency shallow water (500 m) echo-sounder for bathymetry and sediment sensing in archipelagic waters. ENVI/IDL (the Environment for Visualizing Images) software Version 4 for Windows NT by the Research Systems Inc. Atlantis Earthview Software (Earthview InSAR, APP, Stereo & DEMED) for Windows NT by the Atlantis Scientific Inc.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
It is an activity that addresses data management

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

The external sponsor's support of the international funding agencies is necessary

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Ukrainian Antarctic Center provides and approves this Project

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?
Expansion

This project is as a component of the State Program of Ukraine for research of Antarctic and it is in an existing scientific plan of the Institute of Geological Sciences

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project has a realistic plan for structuring and managing activities which is implemented by the Ukrainian Antarctic Center and Institute of Geological Sciences

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
There is a current plan relative to Education activities which anticipates a scientific work for two post-graduate students and two undergraduate students of the National Kiev University

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data of ADD (Antarctic Digital Database) and Joint Committee for Antarctic Data Management will be used for implementation of the project

How is it proposed to fund the project?
It is anticipated that funding of the project will be primarily obtained through the Ukrainian Antarctic Center and a small part of the project programme is funded now. But it is anticipated that funding for 2007-2008 will be obtained through the international funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Apparently, the recommended notes ("see Note #" beginning of 2.1) in the forms have to be moved to the number plus one

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Rudolf Greku
55b, O. Gonchar Str


01054, Kiev-54
Ukraine

Tel: 38 044 280-71-88
Mobile: no
Fax: 38 044 216-93-34
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation