Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The Arctic Regional Integrated Monitoring System.  (Arctic RIMS)

Outline
This project executes a strategy for synthesis and integration studies of the pan-Arctic water cycle. An Expanded Arctic Regional Integrated Monitoring System is being developed that links an existing, operational hydrological monitoring system for the pan-Arctic landmass and atmosphere (Arctic-RIMS, http://rims.unh.edu) to an Arctic Ocean and sea ice component. On the terrestrial side, Arctic RIMS will produce time-varying aerological and land surface water budgets including river and icemelt inputs to the Arctic Ocean. For the ocean, freshwater fluxes from the atmosphere and land will be used in concert with observed mass, heat and momentum forcing to drive a coupled ocean-sea ice-atmosphere model. The linked models will be used to examine the origin of freshwater fluxes in the atmosphere and land mass and how water is then partitioned between solid (sea ice) and liquid forms in the ocean. Arctic RIMS will also track freshwater transport off the shelf, downward below the mixed layer, and laterally toward the straits leading to the North Atlantic Ocean.. The scientific goals of this study are: to more fully characterize variability in the pan-Arctic atmosphere and land mass hydrologic system and to examine linkages between atmospheric forcing and continental discharge to the ocean over the past 40 years; to assess the historical response of the Arctic Ocean to variations in freshwater input from rivers and net precipitation over the ocean, through analysis of sea ice volume, upper-ocean salinity structure and ocean freshwater transport; to attribute to specific elements of the pan-Arctic water cycle or to external forcings the sources of observed spatial-temporal variability in the land-ocean-ice-atmosphere system;to detect emerging changes in the contemporary state of the pan-Arctic hydrosphere in near real time and to place such changes into a broader historical context. The near-real time monitoring of pan-Arctic water budgets and river discharge and historical data analysis will provide an important benchmark for understanding future change to the arctic hydrologic cycle. In keeping with current Arctic-RIMS protocols, provisional data sets (ca. 1-2 month delay) will be made available and then re-analyzed at yearly intervals for improved quality assurance. All key elements of the terrestrial and ocean water balance will be provided, including an assessment of potential error. A guiding philosophy of the proposed research is to "stay close to the data", although E-RIMS is both a data assimilation and modeling system. The use of observations, either by themselves or as model drivers, provides a "reality-based" framework to understand observed variability and change in the Arctic system.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Arctic RIMS should yield benefits beyond its contributions to science. The very nature of the issue at hand -- detecting and interpreting pan-Arctic system change -- has an important public policy and global security dimension.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The work will expand on a successful pan-Arctic information network including participation from Canada, Russia, and the Nordic countries, thus promoting international technical partnerships, good will, and open communication through science. Data rescue and monitoring network support to Russia is part of this work. We will also cooperate to share data and results with established international Arctic science affiliates. Data dissemination through near real-time and archival WWWeb pages & CD-ROMs will permit users access to timely information about ongoing changes to the full pan-Arctic water system. From this perspective the proposal makes an important contribution to document arctic system change and variability.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The project synthesizes data from parts of the pan-Arctic domain.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Ongoing synthesis            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

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

How will the project be organised and managed?
Execution of the project’s goals and coherence of purpose will be facilitated through ongoing collaborations among the co-PI’s who are in contact through meetings, phone, and e-mail.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We have included graduate and post-graduate training. Several of the co-Is teach both graduates and undergraduates and undergraduate workstudy students will be important technicians on the effort. The target audience is national and international assessment experts (Millenium Assessment, IPCC, US National Assessment of Climate Change).

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Currently UNH maintains all data and data access, visualization and processing tools http://rims.unh.edu. Plans have been laid to migrate data archives to the ARCSS Data Coordination Center at NSIDC. The ARCSS Data Coordination Center is aware of the forthcoming large data volumes. Co-I Mark Serreze is co-located with the Center and will work with them to facilitate the transfer.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
This is an ongoing project funded by Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Pro Charles Vorosmarty
Complex Systems Research Centre, Morse Hall
University of New Hampshire
Durham NH
03824
USA

Tel: 603-862-0850
Mobile: no
Fax: 603-862-0587
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation