Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

STate and the future of Environment in Polar areas - coupling between ecosystem, ocean and the atmosphere.  (STEP)

Outline
Our groups perform long-term measurements at several Arctic stations (see 2.1). Most stations utilized in this study have out-standing records in measurements, for example aerosol particles, chemical compounds, CO2 exchange and radiation balance. These include the longest time series of aerosol particle size distribution measurements and observations of photosynthesis in the whole Arctic. As a part of the project, a new method (based on a recent founding) to monitor CO2 and methane concentrations in forest soils, tundra peat, snow and ice, lakes and ocean will be developed. Long-term monitoring of tracer gas (e.g. N2O, O3 and NOx) exchange will also continue. Proposed activities include continuing the long-term measurements for monitoring the current state of the Arctic and Antarctic and its response to climate change and other factors. The studies focus on the effect of increased CO2 concentration on vegetation, rise of the tree limit on mountains and the amount of biomass in boreal forests, the influence of air pollution on cloud properties, and the possibility that the polar night followed by sunshine acts as a chemical engine affecting the composition and behaviour of atmosphere. The special objective is to observe the ocean-forest coupling of aerosol particle formation and its relation to air masses of Arctic origin. The locations of measurement stations offer a unique possibility to study the effects of anthropogenic influence due to pollution episodes (originating from Kola peninsula industrial areas) occasionally reaching the stations. In addition to the Arctic observations, the long-term measurements carried out at the Nordic stations in Antarctica will continue, having a special focus on natural polar atmospheric processes. This will be connected to field studies done in field campaigns in air and at ground in related IPY projects.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The important results from the studies include the following 1. The effect of anthropogenic pollution on cloud properties and thus on the Polar climate system will be understood. 2. Understanding the responses of the Arctic ecosystem and its carbon budget will be obtained. 3. Sea-biosphere interaction related to aerosol particle formation will be understood better. 4. The importance of long polar night on chemical composition of the atmosphere will be understood. 5. Understanding the exchange of N2O, O3 and NOx in various polar environments.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This collaboration will be carried out in the framework of IGBP-project iLEAPS and as a part of existing Nordic Center of Excellence called BACCI. BACCI is formed and funded by the Council of Nordic Sciences Foundations.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
SMEAR I-station in Värriö, N.-Finland (Univ. Helsinki), Pallas GAW-station N.-Finland (FMI), Abisko station in N.-Sweden (Univ. of Lund), Zeppelin fjellet-station in Spitzbergen (Univ. of Stockholm), ALOMAR-station in N.-Norway (NILU), Aboa station in Antarctica (Finnish Antarctic Research Program, FinnArp), Kaamanen CARBOEUROPE supersite, N.-Finland (FMI).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Continuous            
Antarctic: 11/07 – 01/08       11/08 – 01/09      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The studies will be carried out in existing field stations. Additional measurements will be carried out in ALOMAR-station which also has an existing infrastructure. Measurements and field campaigns carried out at our field stations by other groups are welcomed. Exchange and co-operation with other environmental monitoring activities in the Arctic is anticipated, e.g. COMAAR.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Project will improve the existing instrumentation in field stations, but no new stations will be built. New instrumentation for Arctic gas exchange will be developed.

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

Logistical solutions used in existing field stations are utilized. Measurements in Antarctica are managed via FinnArp.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project is endorsed by local IGBP- project office iLEAPS.

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?
YES

The project is a part of existing research network, Nordic Center of Excellence called BACCI.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be managed by the existing Nordic research network (BACCI). Additional co-operation is managed trough IGBP.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project will continue educating students as it has done during the past years. This includes courses held at the field stations (like course “Arctic air pollution” held in SMEAR I station in spring 2004) and educating students via field work, summer work and scientific work. This task also includes MSc- and PhD-thesis written about the work carried out in this project. It will be coordinated with ongoing Nordic research school CBACCI, which includes both a master- and a PhD-program.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data will be distributed via internet and it will be available to public, mainly through the databases of EMEP and GAW (WMO). It can also be distributed via European Environmental Agency if this is considered appropriate.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding for the project will be applied via Finnish Academy of Sciences, European Union, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Norwegian Research Council, Swedish and Finnish foundations, Nordic Council of Ministers and budget funding.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
NILU Norwegian Institute for Air Research IGBP International Geosphere-Biosphere Project iLEAPS Integrated Land Ecosystem - Atmosphere Processes Study BACCI Biosphere - Aerosol - Cloud - Climate Interactions CBACCI Biosphere-Carbon-Aerosol-Cloud-Climate Interactions (Nordic graduate school) ALOMAR Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research SMEAR I Station for Measuring forest Ecosystem - Atmosphere Relations

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Lauri Laakso
Department of Physical Sciences, University of Helsinki
Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2
P.O. Box 64
FI-00014, University of Helsinki
Finland

Tel: +358-9-191 50 712
Mobile: +358-50-411 4975
Fax: +358-9-191 50 717
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation