Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Quaternary environmental and climatic history of Peary Land, North Greenland  (Quaternary environmental and climatic history of Peary Land, North Greenland)

Outline
In Peary Land broad lowlands with widespread Quaternary deposits are found. These deposits hold a large potential for solving important issues about the Quaternary environmental and climatic history of North Greenland.We propose to work on three problems:1) Collecting of samples from the Kap København Formation for DNA analysesPreliminary analyses of samples from the Kap København Formation, which were collected 20 years ago, does not contain fossil DNA, and we suggest that the DNA has degraded during the storage. Therefore we need fresh material for further analyses. The Kap København Formation holds a unique potential for locating fossil DNA, because analyses of amino acids in bivalve shells indicate that the sediments became frozen shortly after they were deposited. The age of the Kap København Formation is about 2.4 million years.2) The strongly controversial glacial history of the regionThe central and northern part of Peary Land was covered by a local ice cap during the last ice age. This local ice cap was confluent with the Inland Ice towards the south. Along the north coast of Peary Land boulders of granites and gneiss are found. These originate from somewhere below the Inland Ice or from Canada. The glacial history will be investigated using radiocarbon dating and exposure dating. The latter is a fairly new technique, where the concentration of cosmogenic isotopes in rocks and boulders is measured. The method has not previously been tried in Peary Land. We propose to work along a transect from south to north through Peary Land.3) Long term changes in sea ice cover in the Arctic OceanTo be able to evaluate the sensitivity of the sea ice to climate changes, it is crucial to collect information about the variability of the sea ice cover after the last deglaciation. In particular, we need to investigate the sea ice extent during the Holocene temperature optimum, during which the mean summer temperature was a few degrees higher than at present. This is comparable to what the enhanced anthropogenic greenhouse effect can lead to over the next decades. This work will concentrate on the raised beaches in the northern part of Peary Land.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project is highly relevant in relation to the theme “Arctic Climate – Variability, Change and Impact”, suggested by the Danish National Committee for International Polar year. The project will provide crucial data about the impact of climate changes in northern Greenland.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Peary Land in northern Greenland

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Fix-winged aircraft and helicopter support is needed

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?
NO - See ”General endorsement letter by the Danish National Committee for IPY”

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 is a new project. Funding will be applied for at a later stage.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be managed as part of the project “North Greenland as an area of special interest in the IPY”, and in connection with planned Swedish and German projects offshore North Greenland in the summer of 2007.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
No concrete plans yet

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
No concrete plans yet

How is it proposed to fund the project?
From Danish national sources

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Ole Bennike
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
Øster Voldgade 10
1350 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Tel: +45 38142363
Mobile: no
Fax: +45 38142050
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation