Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Complex investigation of natural environmental conditions within the frames of the Joint Russian-American Long-term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA).  (The RUSALCA)

Outline
Complex investigations of natural environment of the Arctic Ocean and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean are supposed to be carried out within the frames of the present Project. Special attention will be paid to the areas of Pacific Ocean water penetration into Arctic Seas, as well as their propagation and transformation in order to estimate their influence on Arctic climate formation.The main objectives of the Project are to:-determine present-day condition of Arctic climatic and ecological system’s component of the Arctic Ocean and the Seas of Arctic’s eastern parts; -enlarge knowledge about formation mechanisms of Arctic’s climatic and ecological processes;-develop scientifically-based forecasts of global climatic changes, and environmental ecological conditions;-improve hydormeteorological forecast technology; Solution of the problems shall be carried out by sea expedition within the frames of the Joint Russian American Long – term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA) on Roshydromet ships, namely, the “Academician Fedorov” Scientific and Expedition Ship and the “Professor Khromov” Scientific and Investigation Ship (Fareast Hydrometeorological Scientific Research Institute), etc. Due to expedition’s complex nature several independent sub-programs interacting within the general scientific Program are supposed to be carried out, namely:? Physical oceanography and water dynamics;? Pollution hydrochemistry and its monitoring;? Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Upper Sea Layer system’s interaction processes;? Sea – ice;? Sea biology and cryobiology;? Sea geology and geochemistry.Practical realization of the previously mentioned sub-programs is going to be carried by special teams organized within Expedition’s structure.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
There are two especially important Arctic Ocean Basin areas: the Bering Strait and the Framm Strait. Water level oscillations, peculiarities of their circulation through the Straits in seasonal cycles, water structure and characteristics in those areas are in many aspects crucial for understanding water structure and circulation peculiarities in the Arctic basin, Arctic Seas and, in the final analysis, influence on climatic system of the Northern Polar Region on the whole. The Bering Strait and its neighboring areas are more easily accessible (in comparison with the Framm Strait) to carry out field investigations and observations of experimental character. There are some seasonal periods without any ice on water surface, thus making it possible to carry out a detailed oceanographic survey, as well as installing automatic buoy stations both in the Strait and in neighboring sea-defined areas of water. Field observations and investigations within the frames of the Joint Russian-American Long-term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA), may become the key link uniting later on scientific efforts in developing a full scale project investigating water cycle system of the Bering and Chuckchee Seas and Arctic water influence on the structure of Bering Sea’s oceanological fields, as well as the Pacific Ocean’s influence on water structure of Chuckchee and Beaufort Seas.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The joint Russian – American expedition in the Bering and Chuckchee Seas was successfully carried out in July-September, 2004. It was held within the frames of the Joint Russian-American Long – term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA). Dr. Terry Whitledge was a Scientific Leader of the expedition from the American side and Dr. I.gor V.Lavrenov, Head of Oceanology Department of the Arctic and Antarctic Scientific Research Institute (Saint – Petersburg, Russia) – from the Russian side. The expedition fulfilled a large scientific program including taking water samples, sea hydrophysical, geophysical and biological investigations in the Bering and Chuckchee Seas. During the expedition two submersible stations with devices measuring currents’ speed were installed in the Bering Strait the American station with RCM-9 measuring device and the Russian one with Vector-2 Russian made measuring device. The both stations are installed for one-year period. Nowadays the further investigation program for 2005-2008 is being discussed, namely, such topics as re-installation of the stations for the next period of time, their quantity, inter-calibration of devices, data exchange, etc.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Complex investigations are supposed to be carried out in Pacific Northern Part, including the Bring Sea, the Chuckchee and East-Siberian Seas, as well as neighboring defined areas of water in the Arctic Ocean.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/2007 – 09/2007      07/2008 – 09/2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Expedition’s scientific staff is going to be based in the Academician Fedorov scientific and expedition ship belonging to the Arctic and Antarctic Scientific Research Institute, and the Professor Khromov scientific and research ship from the Far East Hydro Meteorological Scientific Research Institute, etc. Besides, it will be necessary to use:- an ice – breaker (occasionally) in order to provide ships’ movement in thick close ice;- a helicopter to carry out ice aerial reconnaissance and provide works on ice cover;- snowmobiles to move on ice and install ice stations;- oceanographic equipment, such as winches, lines, bathysondes (hydrocasts), bathometers, etc.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
In order to realize the Project modern equipment will be purchased and the devices of the Academician Fedorov scientific and expedition ship will be renewed. They will be used in expedition and scientific investigations after the IPY is over.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
National agency
Military support

Arctic high-latitude expedition’s equipment and outfit will be provided by the Arctic and Antarctic Scientific – Research Institute.Project’s initiator and the main executor and ship’s owner - the Arctic and Antarctic Scientific – Research Institute - will provide the Academician Fedorov scientific expedition ship. The ships of ice – breaking fleet will be chartered from the Murmansk Sea Steamship Line. Helicopters will be leased from Saint Petersburg Commercial Airline. The Professor Khromov scientific – research ship belongs to the Far East Hydro meteorological Scientific – Research Institute. The ship proved itself positively in a number of International expeditions, including RUSALCA-2004 having all the necessary equipment

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes The present expedition is going to be fulfilled within the frames of the Joint Russian – American Long-term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA).Presently the Government of the Russian Federation has decided to establish an Organizational Committee on Russia’s participation in preparation and carrying out actions within the frames of the International Polar Year 2007/08.

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?


The present expedition is carried out within the frames of the Joint Russian – American Long-term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA). The proposed project is a continuation of expedition investigations, which started in 2004.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The complex expedition is going to be carried out taking into consideration the World Ocean Investigation Program realized within the frames of the Federal Specific Purpose Program and Federal Specific Purpose Scientific and Technical program. The Arctic and Antarctic Scientific – Research Institute (Saint Petersburg, Russia) will be the directing agency. The Institute works within the system of Federal Hydro meteorological Service and Environmental Monitoring of the Russian Federation. All the profile interested scientific and research organizations of Roshydromet, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Education, as well as some foreign scientific and research institutions will be invited to participate in the Project

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
All stages of Project’s realization, namely, work program’s preparation, expedition’s equipping and outfit, its movement in the route, obtained preliminary investigation results, etc. will be covered by TV, radio and Internet. The main results of the expedition will be published in scientific and educational national and international editions

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data obtained during Project’s fulfillment outside Russia’s economic zone will be available for all Project’s participants. Data management will be carried out through National Data Centers.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The Project is supposed to be financed on a mutually-beneficial basis both by the Russian party (Roshydromet) and the American party (National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration, the NOAA Department of Arctic Investigations).Other organizations willing to participate in the complex expedition will finance it independently. Allotment of funds by International organizations will widen expedition’s possibilities and raise probability of its successful outcome.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
We consider the expedition declared in this Project as one of the important elements of a large International Project aimed at obtaining the information about natural conditions in the Arctic on the whole and the Arctic Ocean in particular.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ivan Frolov
AARI, 38, Bering Street, Saint-Petersburg, Russia



Russia

Tel: +7 (812) 352 1520
Mobile: no
Fax: +7 (812) 352 2791
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation