Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Sea Ice Mass Balance in Antarctica: Bellingshausen, Amundsen, Ross Seas  (SIMBA- BeAR Drift Station)

Outline
The study proposed is an integrated program of sea ice, oceanography and meteorology, combining results from a ship-based sea ice drift station, a drifting buoy array and satellite data assimilation. The Bellingshausen-Amundsen-Ross (BeAR) Sea Ice Massif and the Western Weddell Sea are the two major year-round sea ice regions in the Antarctic sea ice zone. To date, the Weddell Sea has seen two ice drifting stations (Ice Station Weddell in 1992 and Ice Station Polarstern in 2004) but there have been no commensurate time-series measurements of sea ice in the BeAR. Time-series measurements on sea ice mass and energy balance will provide the key information on mechanisms of air-ice-ocean interaction in the region. Data-based treatments of southern hemisphere sea ice need to be implemented in community-based global climate models so that these models can correctly simulate the annual sea ice mass balance, interannual responses to climate and ocean forcing and sea ice impacts on the regional ergy and water mass budgets. A thirty day sea ice drift station (using a research icebreaker) will take repeated measurements using ice cores, thermistor strings, ctd casts and velocity measurements. These high frequency measurements will be accompanied by installation of data buoys to continue these measurements in the three media. The ship-based and data buoy measurements will be combined to achieve a characterization of the annual thermodynamic evolution of the BeAR ice cover, similar to that achieved for the Arctic at Ice Station SHEBA. The ship-based and buoy velocity measurements will characterize the dynamic evolution of the ice cover by measuring advection and deformation time series. Concurrent ocean and atmosphere measurements will determine the roles of storms, tides and inertial responses in these dynamic processes. Satellite measurements of velocity and thickness (by satellite altimetry) will complement these data at larger scales but at lower temporal resolution and will be also validated by the surface-based measurements.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The Antarctic sea ice region represents the most under-studied component of the polar cryosphere. Sea ice needs characterization of physical properties as fundamental as ice thickness and snow depth and processes of ice evolution, dynamic and thermodynamic changes and ice decay need quantification. These measurements are essential to the understanding of the role of the polar regions in global climate and oceanography as the Antarctic sea ice area at maximum extent covers larger areas than either the Antarctic continent or the Arctic sea ice cover.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
At present the project proposal is being submitted as a US based national program to the US Committee on IPY and subsequently to the National Science Foundation for funding support. If considered by IPY, a solicitation of international collaboration will be made.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Bellingshausen, Amundsen and eastern Ross Seas (80W to 150W longitude) off the coast of West Antarctica.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 06/2007 ro 06/2008            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
A research icebreaker (NB Palmer) will be required for a 60 day cruise in winter/spring 2007. Fifteen nonrecoverable data buoys will be needed for the data buoy array equipped with batteries for one year lifetime and GPS positioning.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No permanent infrastructure will remain.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Ice drifting stations have been included in the SCAR-ASPeCt Science and Implementation Plan to obtain needed time-series measurements on Antarctic sea ice.

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

IPY represents a highlighted period when drifting station measurements previously conceptualized will be of maximum use.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Upon approval an international planning group will be formed with connections to ASPeCt and SO Clic/CLIVAR committees. A Science Steering Group consisting of primarily funded project investigators will organize and manage the field program and subsequent coordinated data management.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The plans will consist of graduate student training, educational outreach activities and disseminating results beyond the Antarctic research community. Joint meetings with Arctic scientists will be attended and/or arranged to compare and contrast the processes of the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice zones. As well as the graduate students, the efforts will include participation by undergraduate students, direct contact of investigators with secondary and elementary school students and lectures, news media and web site contacts to the general public.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data will be archived and disseminated through a project web site with connections to ASPeCt and Clic data activities. In accordance with usual national program requirements, data will be archived with appropriate national and world data centers on snow and ice, oceanography and meteorology.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Projects will be funded through national program submissions of proposals and vetting through the usual review process.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Pro Stephen Ackley
118 W Castle Ln
San Antonio
Texas
78213
USA

Tel: (1) 210 341 6556
Mobile: (1) 210 286 9225
Fax: (1)210 3416556
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation