Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic Lake Ice and Snow Observatory Network: Scientists, Schoolteachers and Students Pursuing Polar Science Together  (ArLISON)

Outline
A network of lake ice study sites will be created in the circumpolar north. The study sites will be run primarily by schoolteachers and their students with the assistance of scientists and their students. Freeze-up, break-up and thus ice duration will be recorded. Between freeze-up and break-up, measurements will include ice thickness, and the depth, density and temperature of the snow on the ice. The conductive heat flow through the snow will be derived from the snow measurements. The conductive heat flow determines the ice growth rate and thus the ice thickness. ArLISON data will be used for running, assessing and improving a numerical model of contemporary lake ice growth and decay. Data and results will be shared among the participants via a project Web site. Web-based and tele/video-conference seminars will enable discussion of ArLISON results, which will be placed in the broader context of polar environmental science and IPY. A workshop, to be held in summer 2009, will be an opportunity for all ArLISON participants to meet and discuss their experiences, and the scientific and educational outcomes of ArLISON.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
ArLISON will provide unprecedented information on freeze-up, thickness, break-up and duration of the ice cover on northern lakes, plus a first circumpolar assessment of the conductive heat flow from frozen lakes. This assessment of the status of northern lake ice will provide invaluable data for lake ice modelling and prediction of future change, and a vital, real benchmark against which to assess future change. Moreover, since ArLISON will involve schoolteachers and their students as scientific partners making observations and measurements, ArLISON has direct educational benefits that address IPY educational goals.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We will seek international collaborators in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia, and hope that the IPY pre-proposal process will assist in identifying potential lake ice science and science education collaborators. We plan to try to convince the GLOBE program to adopt a lake ice protocol: this would assist considerably with recruiting teachers.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Alaska, United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: September 2007 - July 2008      September 2008 - July 2009      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
It is anticipated that no significant logistical facilities/support will be required, as ArLISON is a place-based program involving primarily schoolteachers and their students as observers and measurers.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No.

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

In the event that logistical support is necessary, we will work with the Office of Polar Programs, US National Science Foundation and, through it, with other national polar operational agencies.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project has not yet been endorsed at the national or international level. We will be seeking the endorsement of the U.S. National Committee for IPY, and financial support and thus endorsement from the Office of Polar Programs, US National Science Foundation.

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

ArLISON builds on an existing program, the Alaska Lake Ice and Snow Observatory Network (ALISON: www.gi.alaska.edu/alison). ALISON is now in its third winter, giving native and non-native students between the ages of 7 and 18 in villages, towns and cities the opportunity to be scientists making scientificially valuable measurements.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The ArLISON project office will be at the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks (GI/UAF), where Professor Martin Jeffries will be the Director and Senior Scientist responsible for the overall execution of the program. Professor Delena Norris-Tull, University of Montana-Western, will be co-Director and Senior Science Educator. Kim Morris (UAF/GI research professional) will be science coordinator and data manager. Cheryl Abbott (high schoolteacher), Carol Scott (middle schoolteacher) and Marc Swanson (education consultant and former elementary schoolteacher) will assist with the development of educational activities and materials. Undergraduate and graduate students will assist in all aspects of the program.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
ArLISON has a significant education component because it involves schoolteachers and students directly in IPY by running scientific study sites where they will make ice and snow measurements and derive the conductive heat flow through the ice and snow. Through the ArLISON Web site, Web-based and video/tele-conferences and workshops, they will learn about [1] observation, measurement and SI units; [2] data analysis and computer modelling; [3] weight, mass, volume and density; [4] temperature, heat, energy and phase change; [5] science and mathematics – they’re enjoyable; [6] snow, ice and polar environmental change; and [7] polar science – it’s a year-round activity. ArLISON’s legacy will be a model for mutually beneficial partnerships between scientists and science educators that create scientifically valuable data sets and opportunities for schoolteachers and students to paticipate directly in science.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
ArLISON participants will submit their data to the project office by e-mail for immediate placement on the project Web site. In this way, the data will be shared, primarily for educational purposes, among the participants and other interested parties. In due course, all data and metadata will be submitted to World Data Center for Glaciology, the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, for long-term archiving and availability to the scientific community.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding for this ArLISON will be sought from the Office of Polar Programs, US National Science Foundation, NASA and private foundations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Martin Jeffries
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks
903 Koyukuk Drive, P.O. Box 757320
Fairbanks, Alaska
99775-7230
USA

Tel: 907-474-5257
Mobile: no
Fax: 907 474-7290
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation