Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Thermal State of Permafrost in Russia: The Contribution to an International Network of Permafrost Observatories (INPO)  (TSP/ RUS)

Outline
The idea of the proposed project is the creation of a global network of temperature regime's monitoring in the Russian cryolithozone. The goal of such monitoring is an estimation of the response of ground temperatures, active layer and thermal state of permafrost to the climatic changes in different climatic zones and different natural and disturbed landscapes. These responses are important, because landscape conditions have a strong influence on the heat transfer between the atmosphere and cryosphere.Main tasks of the project:·Collecting and processing of existing data concerning ground temperature, active layer and thermal regime of permafrost·Continuation of thermal measurements in existing boreholes·Renewal of the measurement on the key sites where former data on permafrost temperature are available ·New thermal boreholes establishing along transects from the Arctic coast to the southern permafrost border and equipping them for long-term temperature monitoring ·Special temperature monitoring of permafrost temperatures around the engineering construction and oil-gas infrastructure facilities ·Correlation between above mentioned data with long-term soil temperature observations at meteorological network's stations, including the areas with long and deep seasonally freezing·Determination of the areas with the most stable and most sensitive thermal state·Contribute data for verifying models and reanalysis approaches of past, present and future permafrost temperatures and active layer's dynamic The TSP Borehole Campaign is proposed to start in 2005-2006 with the peak of activity over a 12-18 month period during 2007-08. Data will be primary incorporated into the Russian geocryological database and finally into WMO/FAO/IPA GTN-P. The GTN-P presently consists of more than 425 candidate boreholes including the regional networks in Canada, China, Europe, Mongolia and the U.S. and some of the 125 sites in the Circumpolar Active Layer Network (GTN-P/CALM) network. The initial boreholes, listed on the web (www.gtnp.org), range in depth from less that 10 m to greater than 900 metres. The data of long-term (25-70 years) soil temperature observations to the depths of 3.2m from more than 600 meteorological stations will be finally incorporated to soil temperature database in WDC-A [Snow and Ice]. The details of the project will be discussed in the framework of IPA Workshop "The Thermal State of Permafrost" and Round Table Discussion "Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring" (May 2005) and then at Russian Geocryology Congress in Moscow (June, 2005). Results will be presented is summer 2008 at the Permafrost Conference in Fairbanks.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The acquired permafrost temperatures and related data sets will serve as a “snapshot” for the establishment of a baseline against which to assess future changes in permafrost, to validate climate model scenarios, and provide data for reanalysis of past ground temperature (Themes 1-3). The recent Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) reported renewed concerns that enhanced thawing or degradation of permafrost has major impacts on infrastructures and coastal processes and local communities (Theme 6).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
TSP/RUS cooperates with IPA (GTN-P and GTN-P/CALM networks), PACE network, WDC-A [Snow and Ice] University of Colorado and IPY TSP project.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
TSP/RUS involves all permafrost regions of the Russia in which boreholes are available or will be drilled during the IPY, and where associated active layer and climate data exist. The key sites situated on the Bolvansky Cape, Varandey Peninsula, Polar Ural region and Bolshezemelskaya tundra, Yamal Peninsula, North-Eastern part of Western Siberia, Yakutian coastal lowlands (Laptev and East-Siberian sea coast), Central and Southern Yakutia, Kamchatka Peninsula.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/05 – 12/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Helicopter and or river boat support will be required, and can be shared with others when feasible. New boreholes from 20-100m deep at new locations or adjacent to existing sites are planned. These boreholes will be identified throughout the planning phases.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Temperature data will be incorporated into WMO/FAO/IPA GTN-P databases. Boreholes will be equipped for long-term temperature monitoring for future generations of researchers as a component of TSP/INPO.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

Logistics are at the individual national project level. The majority of boreholes are accessible by helicopter support. Sheep or boat for Arctic sites.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes Activities have been initiated and are coordinated by Scientific Council on Earth Cryology, Russian Academy of Sciences, and endorsed by Russian IPY Organizing Committee and the International Permafrost Association.

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

TSP/RUS can be considered an extension of the WMO/GCOS and FAO/GTOS networks under GTN-P; but is a stand-alone project designed to commemorate the IPY and the IUGS International Year of Planet Earth. The IPA is the facilitator for GTN-P.

How will the project be organised and managed?
There are several groups and data activities that share common interest in TSP/RUS. A small project management team, consisting of designated regional representatives will be identified to manage TSP/RUS planning and coordination. The annual International Cryosphere Conferences in Pushchino will be used to track project plans and international collaboration during the whole period. See 4.1 and 4.2 for partial list of provisional team members.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Broad participation of students and aspirants in the proposed project is planned. The project also is considered as a baseline for the University master courses and field training.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All data will be assembled by team members and made centrally available with . coordination by Scientific Council on Earth Cryology, Russian Academy of Sciences and endorsement by Russian IPY Organizing Committee and the IPA.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Principal field funding would be from national government (the Russian Fund for Basic Research and Russian Academy of Sciences programs), and, possible, regional programs. The U.S. funded CALM-II project is provided some support for active layer sites.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The following lists the teams responsible for existing data, and number of boreholes and CALM sites currently identified within the proposed project. Instituteof Physicochemical & Biological Problems of Soil Science (>15 boreholes/CALM sites), team is also responsible for soil temperature collection; Earth Cryosphere Institute (10 boreholes/CALM sites); State Company “Mireko” and Institute for Engineering of Construction-PNIIS (10+20 boreholes). PNIIS is team also responsible for providing all teams with standard instrumentation for measurements); Yakutian and Moscow State Universities (10+15 boreholes); and Institute “Fundamentproject” (12 boreholes along engineering constructions). Dr. Kholodov, a recent doctoral candidate, will coordinate communications and data assembly.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Alexander Kholodov
Institutskaya str., 2
Pushchino, Moscow region
142290
Russia

Tel: 7 096 7733845
Mobile: no
Fax: 7 096 733 0595
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation