Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Paleoclimate records from the subpolar islands of the Southern Ocean  (PRSISO)

Outline
We propose an international effort to locate, visit, and study terrestrial records of past climate change preserved on islands of the Southern Ocean. This is important because the Southern Ocean is a key part of the global climate system; it is very sensitive to climate change, sea ice extent affects Earth’s albedo and the zone is crucial for ocean-atmosphere heat exchange. Better understanding the past climate of the southern ocean will help identify the role played in global change. Many oceanographic research programs over the past decade have collected deep-sea cores to study climate change in the Southern Ocean. As a complement to this research, we propose to study terrestrial records of past climate change on the remote islands of the Southern Ocean. First, geologic and geomorphic records of past glacier extent most islands preserve (both onshore and offshore) extensive evidence of past overriding by large ice caps during the last glacial maximum about 20,000 years ago, as well as sequences of moraines that reflect more recent glacier advances and retreats during the last few centuries. Second, many of the islands contain lakes and mires that contain proxy records of recent climate change that complement research on glacier extent. The geology of some of these islands (e.g., Kerguelen Is.) has been studied at some length. However, most of these studies were carried out decades ago. Recent advances in the earth sciences (such as the use cosmogenic isotopes) have revolutionized the way we reconstruct past climates. This means we can now look at the climate history of these islands with unprecedented reliability. The islands are claimed, occupied, and visited by numerous nations. It would be of great benefit to engage in a coordinated effort to study the climate records and synthesize existing information on each island as parts of the entire Southern Ocean climate system. This could be best achieved by an international project that would allow the specific scientific expertise of each particular nation to be applied uniformly at all the islands claimed by each nation. Given the diplomatic and logistical challenges inherent in such an effort, it could only realistically be carried out in the context of an international effort to coordinate both scientific expertise and logistical support in remote areas, such as the IPY.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Understanding past climate change of the Southern Ocean as an integrated system, providing new information in a part of the world sparsely studied. This project will be entirely designed and implemented by young scientists. Heard and MacDonald Islands were designated World heritage areas in 1997 because of their potential for research on the glacial records.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Our project will involve collaboration between researchers in stakeholder countries supported by nations with the greatest scientific resources (USA, Australia, France, New Zealand). We see the beginnings of a framework for international collaboration between nations that do not presently collaborate on a common project between the Subantarctic islands.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Islands in the Southern Ocean (Kerguelen, Marion, Heard, MacDonald Is.).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 01/07 to 02/07      01/08 to 02/08      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice strengthened research ship, or an ice breaker.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No.

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?
Our expression of interest is in the process of being considered by the US National Committee for 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?
New

Two of the chief investigators have existing research programs conducting allied work on glacier extent on four continents.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be individually managed in the first instance by the lead investigators in the USA and Australia.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We envisage involving an organisation such as National Geographic to document the field activities. Through press releases we will bring the research to the attention of our individual nations. Science education programs/magazines known to support interesting research by young scientists (such as the program "Catalyst" and "Nature Australia" in Australia) will be invited to run segments on our work.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
There are excellent existing structures to store the data we will generate in this project (such the NOAA paleoclimatology program in the USA).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The chief investigators will seek support through national funding agencies (such as the NSF and the Australian Research Council). High levels of success are noted when international collaboration is flagged.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Timothy Barrows
Nuclear Physics Department
Australian National University
0200
Australia

Tel: 61 2 61252077
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation