Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Response of Arctic tundra ecosystem and carbon cycle to climate change  (TUNDRACYCLE)

Outline
400 words maxCurrent global warming predictions indicate that warming will be more pronounced at high latitudes in the Northern hemisphere (IPCC 1996). Since 1994, we have been aimed to estimate quantitatively the carbon flow among the atmosphere – plant – soil continuum in a deglaciated area in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (79oN). This research project is commenced in full-scaled study during 2007 to 2008 using the monitoring station with a new hut in the Oobloyah Valley area, Ellesmere Island. It is considered that the station is the most appropriate site in the Canadian Arctic in order to clarify the ecological change of tundra plants at the foreland of glacier, which retreats affecting by the climate warming, and to know fundamental eco-physiological characteristics of plants. Based on the contribution which we hade produced through the project, we proposed many scientific papers in Spitsbergen, Svalbard and Ellesmere Island, Canadian Arctic during ten years of 1995-2005. In the summer season of 2007-2008, full-scale field works will be conducted in order to perform the research objects mentioned below.1) To study flora and fauna near the deglaciated area (study area) and classify the vegetation and soil types, focused on the successional pattern of higher plants, invertebrate animals and cryptogams along the glacier foreland.2) To survey the site for the ecophysiological study on respiration and photosynthetic activities of soil and vegetation, and matter and energy flow between land and air.3) To select ideal sites for vegetation and environmental changes by aerial photographs for a long term monitoring.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Because the studies on the vegetation change and carbon cycle at the terrestrial regions in the Canadian Arctic are lacking, concentrated researches focused to the ecosystems of the glacier foreland is significant and effective to compiling data for modelling study.The comparative study of the ecological features between Ny-Alesund , Spitsbergen with maritime environments and at the Oobloyah valley, Canadian Arctic with continental environments is indispensable to evaluate response to climate change in the high Arctic

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Collaborated planning with Canadian scientists of Meteorological Service of Canada, Toronto University, University of British Colombia in cooperation and Canadian Wildlife Service with the supports of the Polar Continental Shelf Project will be conducted.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Midnight Sun Valley, Oobloyah Bay area, NW Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada(80°51’N, 82°50’W)

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:
We will charter Twin Otter aircrafts from Resolute Bay to a runway near the research field via Eureka. Then we will also charter a helicopter to go from Twin Otter runway to research site and construct a hut at an ideal location near the Oobloyah Bay. We can visit at Svertrup Pass and other location that have ideal conditions and an appropriate base camp. We can also commute to Eureka, Resolute and Alert station.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
If the research project will be able to establish a new research hut for a permanent monitoring site at the field, not only Japan-Canada colleagues, but also international researchers will visit there. The planning will be a legacy of infrastructure.

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

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

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?
This project depends on the logistics and supports of the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Japan.

The research projects are followed the plans performed in the Oobloyah Bay, Canadian Arctic during past five years. However, because the site is the most appropriate area, we want to establish a new hut as any monitoring site.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The research project will be planned by the Japan-Canada collaborated study. The monitoring Station should be managed by the Canadian site under the preservation of environments, but the observatory equipments and logistic gears are prepared by Japanese side. The expenses for the establishment of new hut will be decided in future negotiation.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This project welcomes the university students with even high school students as a summer school. Student involvement is suitable for the education to consider global climate change in the field work. It is one of the reasons that PCSP support for student’s activities

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The obtained data will be deposited to and managed at the Arctic environmental Research Center (AERC) in NIPR, other universities and institutes. NIPR is in charged of the data management in the framework of the Inter-University Research Institute cooperation.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The PI and co-PI apply for major funding opportunities in Japan such as Grant-in-Aid for Science Research by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbusho’budget).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
In this research project, the Japanese scientists with mainly NIPR member have been strongly collaborated with Canadian scientists. This project will be one of the research initiatives of the Inter-Governmental Panel between both countries.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Hiroshi Kanda
9-10, Kaga 1-chome, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo


173-8515
Japan

Tel: +81-(0)3-3962-4761
Mobile: no
Fax: +81-(0)3-3962-1525
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation