Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Magnetic Survey of Greenland and Adjacent Regions - A programme to conduct geomagnetic survey of Greenland and adjacent arctic regions in order to study the magnetic and other geological properties of the Earth's crust in the northern polar regions.  (MAGSUGAR (MAGnetic SUrvey of Greenland and Adjacent Regions))

Outline
The main purpose of the proposed activity is to enhance the quality and extent of geomagnetic mapping of the Arctic regions by using the favourable conditions of low solar activity during the IPY2007-2008 years to conduct extensive airborne magnetic surveys of Greenland and adjacent regions, in particular the Arctic Ocean, the Greenland Sea, Denmark Strait, Davis Strait and the Baffin Bay. We aim at conducting magnetic observations at two altitude levels. One level should be close to sea level, that is, at a few hundred meters of altitude, for the detailed magnetic mapping of selected regions, particularly the ice-free costal regions of Greenland. Another level for the airborne observations should be at a few km of altitude to provide a survey of the large-scale magnetic features of the Earth's crust over a considerable fraction of Greenland and the adjacent Arctic regions.Surveying the magnetic properties of the Earth's crust is an area of increasing importance for investigations of its geological properties, among other, in relation to searches for oil, gas, and mineral resources. Furthermore, geomagnetic observations, along with seismic investigations and measurements of the gravitational field, are important for investigations of the general structure of the crust and the formation of rifts and other indications of the properties and interactions of continental plates. Such properties relate, among other, to the occurrences of earthquakes and volcanic activity. In addition, the geothermal conditions, which depend on the thickness and structure of the crust, are important, e.g., for the accumulation of snow to form the ice caps.The geomagnetic field at the surface of the Earth is made up of various contributions. The largest, around 95% of the total field, is generated by dynamo processes in the Earth's core. The electrical currents involved in the dynamo processes changes with time thereby causing the secular variations in the geomagnetic field. A much smaller contribution amounting to 2-3% of the total field comes from remanent and induced magnetic structures in the Earth's crust. A further contribution of 1-3% comes from various electrical current systems in the upper ionised atmosphere at heights between 100 and 200 km and from currents even further out in space. Finally, there are small contributions from electrical currents within the earth induced by external magnetic variations and from electric currents in the oceans induced by the motion of the conductive material (sea water) in the geomagnetic field.In order to separate the various sources of the geomagnetic field and derive with high accuracy the relatively weak contributions from the crust it is imperative to use updated high-precision main field models and to monitor the actual disturbances from external currents. Thus, the proposed activity is strongly supported by the accurate geomagnetic reference field models based on the abundance of high-precision magnetic observations made from low-earth polar-orbiting satellites such the Danish Oersted satellite still in operation. The present availability of high-quality geomagnetic observations from the array of geomagnetic observatories in Greenland currently operated by DMI constitutes another important feature in support of the proposed magnetic survey in the Arctic during the IPY2007-2008.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed geomagnetic survey activity aims at utilizing the unique combination of favourable conditions met during the IPY 2007-2008 such as the anticipated low solar activity, timely updated geomagnetic reference field models, and the availability of supporting observations from an operating array of magnetic observatories. Such conditions, which have never existed in the past and may not occur again in a foreseeable future, will support the collection of a high-quality geomagnetic survey data base for the polar regions (Theme 5).This data base will help to establish the current state of the polar environment (Theme 1) and serve as a reference to derive possible changes in the polar region (Theme 2). The main geomagnetic field is global and the implications on crustal stability and climate development of possible changes could well be global (Themes 3 and 4).The survey data will form a base for important research in a number of fields spanning from basic geomagnetism to plate tectonics, climate history, mineral and petroleum research (Target 1). The observations, in addition, will form the base for education (Target 2), development of data management (Target 3) and will constitute a legacy for the arctic community (Target 4) of use for future developments in the prospecting and utilization of natural resources (Target 5).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The proposed MAGSUGAR project is primarily a Danish/Greenlandic national program to be conducted by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), the Danish Technical University (DTU), and the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) in close interaction with the Greenland Home Rule Government and the Danish Polar Center (DPC). However, many aspects of the magnetic surveying of Arctic regions could be of interest to other agencies including institutes from the UK, Canada, USA, Russia and Norway. Hence it shall be attempted to seek a broad international collaboration. Such international collaboration could, in the first approach, be based on the existing Oersted International Science Team (OIST) representing more than 40 geomagnetic research institutes including geological institutes from the above-mentioned nations.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The proposed field work on the low-altitude level surveys will be conducted from existing small air fields at various places in the costal regions of Greenland. The high-altitude surveys will be conducted from the larger airports in Greenland.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: mm/07-mm/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The most important logistic support problem is the availability of instrumented aircrafts and the allocation of flights for the magnetic observations. It is anticipated that such observations could be conducted jointly with seismic, gravitational, sounding radar and altimetric observations in order to share the anticipated large operational costs.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
A primary objective of this activity is to stimulate mining and petroleum exploration activity in Greenland over the short term. A secondary objective is to provide a base of modern geophysical data of high quality that will have a lasting scientific value for the understanding of the geology of Greenland and adjacent arctic regions, which also is a prerequisite for successful exploration of natural resources.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
NO - The project has not yet been formally organised and hence not 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?
YES

MAGSUGAR is a new project proposed for the IPY 2007-2008 program. However, it builds on and extends earlier high-resolution geophysical surveys conducted in Greenland. The Danish State and the Greenland Government have jointly financed the surveys managed by GEUS and conducted from 1992 to 1996. Since 1997, the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum, Government of Greenland, have alone financed the continuation of this programme.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The organisation of the proposed activity has not yet been defined. It is considered that the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum of the Greenland Home Rule Government shall have a central position in the management of the project. Furthermore it is considered that the observational and data processing operations shall be conducted jointly by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), the Danish Technical University (DTU), and the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) in close interaction with the Greenland Home Rule Government and the Danish Polar Center (DPC). It shall be considered to create an international advisory board to promote the multi-national collaboration in the operational as well as in the scientific aspects of the project.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We will establish a web-site to co-ordinate and publicise MAGSUGAR activities, which will feed in to the overall IPY outreach activity. In addition, we will provide information and outreach material based on the actual operations and the obtained results for expanding the national public insight in and understanding of the geology and prospecting of the oil, gas and mineral resources of the Arctic regions. Data and results of the MAGSUGAR project will be included in educational activities at DTU. Several student projects on the data analysis will, for instance, be established.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The operations have mixed application-oriented and basic science-oriented aspects. Hence the data management questions need to be very carefully addressed. Basically, we consider that the large-scale features relating to the properties of the Earth's crust shall be considered freely available within the scientific community whereas the more detailed magnetic mapping which may relate to the occurrences of local oil, gas and mineral deposits may be more restricted.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Part of the proposed activities could be funded from research agencies based on their scientific merits. Some features of the proposed operations may have commercial interests and could be funded from private companies, for instance, mining or oil and gas enterprises. Further parts of the operations may require direct governmental funding.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Since the document does not allow to include more than six named co-investigators, many of our potential collaborators are not named here. We may refer, among other, to the list of Oersted International Science Team (OIST) members. The list is available at the Oersted satellite web site: www.dmi.dk/projects/oersted (The Oersted Project Organisation)

PROPOSER DETAILS

Senior Research Scientist Peter Stauning
Danish Meteorological Institute
Lyngbyvej 100
Copenhagen
DK-2100
Denmark

Tel: 45 - 3915 7473
Mobile: no
Fax: 45 - 39157460
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation