Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Antarctic Regional Interactions Meteorology Experiment  (Antarctic RIME)

Outline
Antarctic RIME is a basic and applied research program that will explore in detail the atmospheric processes over Antarctica and their interactions with lower latitudes via the Ross Sea sector, as a prerequisite to exploring the role of Antarctica in global climate variations. Local and regional atmospheric measurements will be made during the austral summers of 2006/07, 2007/08, and 2008/09 and will be complemented by an extensive numerical modeling effort. The goal is to understand and accurately simulate the transports of heat, water vapor, momentum and mass to and from Antarctica along with their modification by the topographic and mesoscale processes. Aircraft campaigns will be the primary regional measurement tool to allow extensive spatial coverage and to investigate conditions in this largely unexplored and pristine region. Ground-based measurements and remote sensing facilities will be used to investigate the Antarctic-specific processes at a field camp about 90 km to the east of McMurdo Station on Ross Island. The field camp will be situated on the permanent ice shelf allowing representation of this unique surface area, the capture of marine air masses from the Southern Ocean along with isolating the impacts of the seasonal ice zone, and sampling the outflow of Antarctic air masses into the Southern Ocean. An immediate outcome will be the improvement of weather forecasting in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) through the modification of numerical models to improve the representation of Antarctic processes. Data analyses and modeling will be directed at determining the regional influences on the global environment through two-way teleconnections. Strong international collaborations will be a hallmark of Antarctic RIME that will extend to June 2012 to complete all the analyses.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Nearly every study that addresses issues of global change identifies the polar regions as those most sensitive to climatic shifts. The Antarctic continent is of particular importance in global change scenarios because of its large continental ice sheets and potential impacts on sea level change. In addition, numerous teleconnections between Antarctica and lower latitudes over time scales ranging from synoptic periods to those associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and beyond have been documented in recent years. It is thus acknowledged that Antarctica plays a critical role pertaining to issues of global change. Yet, a physical understanding of how Antarctic processes are linked to those over the rest of the globe is lacking on all time scales. Before links between Antarctica and the rest of the globe can be investigated, it will be necessary to thoroughly understand physical processes and transports to and from the continent. Proper representation of Antarctic processes is prerequisite to global change studies, especially since Antarctic transports are strongly tied to local topographic and mesoscale processes that are currently not resolved within global climate models (GCMs). Antarctic RIME, a basic and applied research program, is proposed to address the IPY themes of the present environmental status of Antarctica, to quantify and understand natural environmental change in Antarctica and to improve projections of future change, and to advance understanding of the links and interactions between Antarctica and the rest of the globe along with the controlling processes.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Italy: Enhanced observations in support of Antarctic RIME are planned, especially enhanced satellite observations of the atmospheric circulation and sea ice characteristics. Data Exchange. Coordinated numerical modeling. Logistic support for the USAP Twin Otter. United Kingdom: Instrumented Twin Otter from the British Antarctic Survey will operate from McMurdo in November 2007 to investigate cloud microphysics in relation to the atmospheric dynamics. Will complement related flights being flown simultaneously by USAP Twin Otter.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
From 135ºE eastward to 135ºW, from the South Pole northward to 65ºS and at times all the way to New Zealand.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 10/06 – 02/07      10/07 – 02/08      10/08 – 02/09

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Twin Otter instrumented for atmospheric research. Could be shared with other IPY activities. Requests will be made to have the NCAR HIAPER aircraft fly over the Ross Sea region in 2007-08 and/or 2008-09. Opportunities exist for several disciplines to participate, especially ozone studies. RIME Supersite about 100 km east of McMurdo Station. This new station could be used by other IPY activities as well, for example for air-ice exchange studies or for ice coring in that region. Extensive automatic weather station deployments on the Ross Ice Shelf for RIME that again will be useful to other disciplines. A regional array of upper air stations is expected to be established around the Ross Ice Shelf for each RIME field season.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Enhanced numerical weather prediction for the U.S. Antarctic Program operations and for many other Antarctic programs via their use of forecast products from the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System. The next generation of Antarctic meteorologists will be trained as graduate students that are supported by Antarctic RIME grants. Antarctic RIME will restart a vigorous U.S. Antarctic airborne meteorology program. An enhanced array of automatic weather stations will be installed on the Ross Ice Shelf.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This expression of interest is in the process of being considered by the U.S. National Committee for the IPY.

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

Antarctic RIME has 3 funded projects. 17 separate Antarctic RIME proposals are outstanding with the NSF Office of Polar Programs. More proposal submissions are expected each June 1 during the IPY period.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Antarctic RIME Science Steering Committee (SSC) provides support to the scientific studies by coordinating the scientific investigations and by arranging meetings, publications, websites, data exchange, etc. An Antarctic RIME Science Management Office has been proposed to: support the SSC: support project meetings; coordinate communication among the participants including the updating and maintenance of the Antarctic RIME website; coordinate with NSF and the Antarctic support contractor to meet project needs; develop and implement a project data management strategy; arrange for project communications and power needs during the field campaigns; and support the preparation and distribution of project publications including Operations and Data Management Plan. The NSF Office of Polar Programs is responsible for the selection of Antarctic RIME projects, scientific oversight, and all logistical aspects (via the support contractor).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Antarctic RIME will foster numerous education and outreach activities: • Graduate students educated under Antarctic RIME grants. • Educational websites with results coordinated through Antarctic RIME-Science Management Office (R-SMO). • All Antarctic RIME data sets will be made available for community use through R-SMO. • Targeted publications (i.e., special journal issues) will synthesize Antarctic RIME research. • Antarctic RIME science meetings will bring together scientists and students working on RIME projects. In addition, it is anticipated Antarctic RIME special sessions will be organized at national and international meetings such as the Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco, the AMS Polar Meteorology and Oceanography Meeting, IUGG/IAMAS symposia, and the SCAR annual science meeting. • International collaborations will foster the exchange of ideas, information, and personnel. • The Science Steering Committee will coordinate primary and high school outreach at the local level. This may involve participation in Antarctic RIME field activities for students and teachers. It is envisioned that Antarctic RIME scientists will interact with the following groups: U.S. THORPEX – Collaborate on investigating the two-way atmospheric interactions between Antarctica and lower latitudes, and to refine models of Antarctic processes; Antarctic Tropospheric Chemistry Investigation – Coordinate flight and field activities with ANTCI; British Antarctic Survey – Collaborative exchanges with BAS are planned. For example, the BAS Twin Otter has been scheduled for participation in RIME during November 2007; Italian National Research Program in Antarctica – Observational collaborations are planned. For example, PNRA has expressed interest in participating in intensive radiosonde launching campaigns during the RIME field phases; International Research Programme on Climate Variability and Predictability – Integrate an Antarctic perspective into CLIVAR studies; Cryosphere and Climate Program – Integrate a strong atmospheric component into CLiC activities in the S! outhern Hemisphere; International Transantarctic Science Expedition - Coordinate field activities with ITASE, exchange ice core and model results; Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research– Integrate research into the broader goals of SCAR; West Antarctic Ice Sheet Initiative – Draw on WAIS results and extend them to the Ross Sea region.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
: The UCAR Joint Office for Science Support (JOSS) has proposed to develop and implement the Antarctic RIME data management strategy. Initial steps in this process will be to determine data requirements using a data management questionnaire distributed to all participants, followed by the preparation of a data management plan with the implementation procedures and protocols developed for Antarctic RIME. This will include data documentation and format guidelines to maximize data exchange and increase data analysis and synthesis activities. It is likely that Antarctic RIME will adopt a decentralized archive where data may reside at one or more archive centers or institutions linked together via an Antarctic RIME data management page accessible at the Antarctic RIME website. JOSS will assure adherence to the NSF/OPP Data Policy and data documentation requirements from the U.S. Antarctic Data Coordination Center (USADCC).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Antarctic RIME has 3 funded projects. 17 separate Antarctic RIME proposals are outstanding with the NSF Office of Polar Programs. More proposal submissions are expected each June 1 during the IPY period.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Project website: http://polarmet.mps.ohio-state.edu/RIME

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr David Bromwich
1090 Carmack Road
Columbus
Ohio
43210
USA

Tel: 1-614-292-6692
Mobile: 1-614-406-6262
Fax: 1-614-292-4697
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation