Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #148:In-situ investigation of the polar climates using a distributed sensor web  (In-situ investigation of the polar climates using a distributed sensor web)

Outline
We propose to deploy a series of meteorological stations throughout both polar regions in order to make direct measurements of the polar environment. The stations will be developed using technologies previously used to deploy landers on Mars. Each station will be deployed from flight or float altitude by balloon or aircraft and use a parachute and airbag decent system in order to place the stations safely on the surface. The systems will then operate continuously to monitor the local conditions. Data will be returned periodically by satellite uplink to a central command center for distribution to the international community on a timely and operational basis. Operating using solar power during summer and fuel cell during winter the systems will be able to deploy 50 kg of monitoring hardware in addition to reporting wind speed, temperature, solar flux and location. Main payloads could include spectrometers for atmospheric composition, camera’s to measure airglow, Lidar for cloud base-measurement and boundary layer dynamics and would be solicited from the international community based on existing technologies already developed for Mars exploration or operation in other similar hostile environments. The systems would be developed to operate during a whole summer season or part of a winter season and would be recoverable for subsequent redeployment. The network would provide a well distributed sensor web in a region inaccessible by conventional means that currently has extremely poor geographical coverage. The stations would compliment our existing polar research infrastructure and gather a unique dataset that would be used to calibrate remote sensing platforms, provide precise in-situ monitoring of polar-climate change and to validate climatological models that predict the polar climates.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will mainly focus on Education and Outreach, and is expected to produce material relevant to all five target audiences, both during and after the IPY, through material available online, broadcasted live and/or available for later diffusion and use in educational programs. Discussions will be also organized onboard on environmental issues – sustainable development in general and global warming in particular (Theme 1), historical, social and cultural aspects (Theme 6), specially in relation to : (i) past and present cultural, historical, and social processes and; (ii) Arctic communities

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
It is anticipated that scientific instrument payload will be solicited from the international community. We will also build on the knowledge and expertise of the planetary exploration programs in Canada, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and European Union.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The sensor web will be well distributed throughout both polar regions with the capacity to provide higher-spatial resolution coverage on a reactive basis when particular opportunities or events requiring scientific investigation occur. Stations may be deployed in any solid-surface location that meets terrain smoothness requirements.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/07-12/08            
Antarctic: 01/07-12/08            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The project will require the deployment of stations using one or more of the following methods: fixed-wing transport aircraft, balloons, helicopters (for recovery). They may be shared with other operations.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Since the stations will be reusable after refurbishment they may continue to be utilized for future research if they are recovered.

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

Canadian funding agencies will be approached including CFI, CRESTECH, CFCAS, CSA, DND, NSERC.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Non-virtual infrastructure

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

This project is a new proposal to utilize existing technologies for polar scientific research and education.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project management and organization will be subject to funding options but will likely be led academically by a consortium of universities that coordinate the construction, operation and data distribution of the stations by industrial partners.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Educational outreach activities provide scientific and environmental programs to educate students on polar science through the use of maps of geo-located environmental conditions for each pole. Summer and winter conditions may be compared directly. Near real-time monitoring will also enable contrast with environmental conditions recorded by students locally.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
We propose to deliver the data directly to students and scientists via the internet in the form of geo-located maps and trend plots using an interactive website. In addition, we will provide dedicated scientific data-products to the international end-user community in standard archival formats.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We will approach national funding agencies including NSERC, CFI and CFCAS for the estimated $20M CAD in funding. In addition we will seek funds from the Canadian Space Agency and Department of National Defense.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Remote robotic exploration is the only practical method with which to survey extensively the in-situ surface environments of our polar regions. This project will leverage existing technologies developed for space exploration to meet the demanding requirements of the polar climate.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof  Brendan Quine
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, York University
4700 Keele St, Toronto ON
M3J1P3
Canada

Tel: 416 736 2100 x33483
Mobile: 416 523 3778
Fax: 416 736 5516
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation