Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Towards an integrated biophysical sea-ice observatory in the Pacific seasonal ice zone  (PACSIZ)

Outline
In a rapidly changing Arctic, a shrinking and thinning sea-ice cover plays an important role as indicator and agent of environmental change. The seasonal ice zone (SIZ) has been predicted to extend over most of the Arctic Ocean by mid-century, but we are sorely lacking data for this component of the cryosphere, making it impossible to predict the consequences of this dramatic change. This contribution to the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007/08 would provide a comprehensive data set of key biophysical variables describing the evolution and state of the Pacific SIZ (PACSIZ) upper ocean, snow and ice over a range of spatial and temporal scales. The activities would focus in particular on the important role of the snow cover in atmosphere-ice-ocean interaction, shifting patterns of spatio-temporal variability in sub-Arctic and Arctic seas, the important role of ice-associated biological communities in Arctic ecosystems, and latitudinal and bi-polar contrasts in atmosphere-ice-ocean interaction and biodiversity. In collaboration with Japanese and German colleagues, integrated measurements of roughly 50 key snow/ice/upper-ocean variables are made at three nearshore sites, along transects and from drifting sensor systems in the Okhotsk, Bering, and Chukchi/Beaufort Seas. The IPY efforts would include the first field deployment of a prototype new buoy system that collects a suite of biological and physical parameters above, in and below the ice. Regional integration and upscaling of observations occurs through integration of satellite remote-sensing (passive microwave, optical, thermal-infrared) observations at high spatiotemporal coverage across the study area. Depending on available funding support, we plan to distribute all data set through the International Observatory of the North/Geographic Information Network of Alaska at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF, see www.gina.alaska.edu), using a web-based approach that maximizes access and benefit to the scientific community as well as the public. Education at the elementary through high-school and university levels and public outreach are integral parts of the project, with international field courses, web-based engagement of students and the general public, and public lectures in local communities taking a prominent role in the project. An important objective of the project is to facilitate research in the challenging polar SIZ environment for a wider range of researchers, building on the tradition of the IPY as a means to engage the wider scientific community and the public in polar research and exploration.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
First, we hope to entrain scientists from outside the polar research community into field work, education and data analysis, drawing on the strong tradition of previous IPYs. Second, we plan to advance what is currently planned as a US-Japanese effort into a truly international endeavour, involving scientists from other nations and offering links to research in the Antarctic (with the topic of snow on ice as the unifying theme). Third, we aim to put in place a system (with both instrument infrastructure as well as a legacy of data accessible through a dedicated portal and international data centers).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This project involves collaboration between Japanese, US and German scientists. We are also currently working on involving colleagues from other countries (specifically Russia and Canada and Norway) and hope to strengthen these ties through the efforts of the IPY national and international oversight committees. q2_1_Location : The field activities would take place in the Pacific sector of the Arctic seasonal ice zone (Okhotsk, Bering, Chukchi, Beaufort Seas), with major centers of activity in Hokkaido (the Arctic-Sub-Arctic link site) and Barrow, Alaska, both with rich resources and traditions in polar research.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 11/2006 to 05/2008            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Icebreaker/ship, helicopter, buoys/observatories, existing field stations.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project would leave behind a legacy of fully accessible, integrated data sets as well as a prototype for a new type of seasonal ice zone buoy sensor system.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The plans outlined here have been discussed with members of the US National IPY committee, who are cognizant of this submission of notice of intent.

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?
Exp

This is an expansion of planned activities. The aim of our stepped-up international efforts in IPY is to (1) involve other nations in the Pacific sector (Russia, Canada, Korea etc.) and (2) engage and involve experts from other fields to draw new expertise and fresh viewpoints into the polar field.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project would grow out of a planned activity for a Pacific seasonal ice zone observatory, implemented with an executive committee and a science/stakeholder advisory board. In order to effectively coordinate and manage the international aspects and additional activities not part of the baseline program, we propose to implement a PACSIZ IPY Panel for the duration of this project. This panel would also have representation of members from other nations involved (and an Antarctic liaison).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Plans for education, outreach and communication include the following: An international field school in Barrow in 2007/08 integrating different disciplines and non-polar scientists; web-based and direct interaction-based outreach activities (see www.arcticice.org); communication and exchange centered around an web data portal; an international advisory board.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management would be the responsibility of the International Observatory of the North (ION, ion.gina.alaska.edu) and the Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA, www.gina.alaska.edu) at UAF, employing proven and innovative approaches combining data acquisition, dissemination and exchange. The data would be mirrored through the National Snow and Ice Data Center (a World Glaciological Data Center).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We currently have proposals pending with the US National Science Foundation that would establish a framework for the observatory. The Japanese collaborational component is already funded in part. For the IPY-specific efforts we have plans to submit additional proposals to national funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The activities proposed here would tie in with three other notices of intent/proposals that we are involved with: (1) AFIN (Antarctic Fast-Ice Network, Heil et al.): PACSIZ would be an Arctic corollary to the Antarctic network and snow-ice interaction provides a common theme to both regions. (2) Detecting Oceanic Changes through Arctic Sea Ice Coring (Pfirman et al.): PACSIZ would provide ice core material and data for the Pacific sector of the Arctic. (3) Interdisciplinary Studies of the Annual Pack Ice Environment (ISAPIE, Persson et al.): PACSIZ would provide the link to lower-latitude seasonal ice zone studies

PROPOSER DETAILS

Hajo Eicken
Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks
P.O. Box 757320
99775-7320
USA

Tel: 907-474-7280
Mobile: no
Fax: 907-474-7290
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation