Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

International Greenland Environmental Observatory, Summit (GEOSummit): Enhanced measurement capabilities and station upgrading  (Summit Greenland Environmental Observatory)

Outline
It is proposed to upgrade facilities and enhance baseline measurements at a key Arctic observatory in support of IPY initiatives. Summit, Greenland has been the site of international, multidisciplinary research for the past 15+ years, beginning with the GISP2 and GRIP deep drilling programs. Science at Summit has yielded quantitative paleoclimatic reconstructions, process understanding of the polar troposphere, and information for assessment of Arctic climate change. Since 2000 Summit has provided year-round measurements of the Arctic atmosphere, and has hosted a growing number of intensive campaigns. Surface-based hourly meteorological measurements began in 1987, providing long-term background data for change detection.An expanded Greenland Environmental Observatory at Summit (GEOSummit) will contribute to IPY themes by:- providing infrastructure for support of Arctic research; - continuing the record of climate change for the Arctic atmosphere;- filling critical facilities and year-round measurement needs for multiple (inter)national programs; and - providing bi-hemispheric monitoring of climate change through bi-polar initiatives with Antarctic “sister” stations.In partnership with NOAA-CMDL and European programs, USNSF-OPP supports baseline environmental measurements (www.geosummit.org) under the WMO-GAW program, and in support of US and European collaborations investigating boundary layer, free troposphere and stratospheric composition and structure, climatic forcing, snow processes and other geophysical measurements. As an IPY activity it is proposed to address important gaps in the measurement program and to upgrade the station to support growing demands for research and long-term measurements at the site. It will serve as a focal point for research on polar atmospheric structure, chemistry, transport and other geophysical investigationsSummit is uniquely sited and equipped to contribute to NSF’s planned Arctic Observing System as the only high-elevation Arctic station in the mid-troposphere. SEARCH objectives address interconnected change throughout the Arctic and require high quality observations in 3 dimensions. The IGAC-AICI initiative proposes intensive campaigns at Summit, and under GAW Summit serves as the Arctic node of a bi-polar network monitoring long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants.Existing modular buildings, which have developed piecemeal over the past 15 years, require significant maintenance and are not well suited for some of the emerging needs for clean, long-term measurements. Scientists and government officials in the U.S., Greenland, Denmark and other European nations have initiated planning for upgrading the Summit station to use renewable energy and enhance research and observational capabilities. Initiating the construction of a new-generation polar station at Summit during IPY would provide a much-needed platform for Arctic research and education for coming decades.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
GEOSummit provides the high-elevation node of an observatory network to track the environmental state of the Arctic atmosphere- Priority measurements, experiments and process-level studies will diagnose causes of Arctic atmospheric change, distinguishing between climate dynamics versus atmospheric chemistry and human influences versus natural variability.- This observatory links the high-elevation Arctic with Antarctic and global observing networks, providing the information needed to establish bi-directional teleconnections between the Arctic and other parts of the Earth. - GEOSummit will be research platform that stimulates cutting-edge integrative science investigations but also engenders science-education partnerships. It also provides a testbed for new technology.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Research at Summit has historically involved scientists from multiple nations, and will continue to do so. Scientists from the U.S., Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy participated in planning meetings held in early 2003. Additional nations have been represented in past research.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
GEOSummit is located at the highest elevation of the Ice Sheet (72o 34’ N, 38o 28’ W, 3,200 m.a.s.l.), near the center of Greenland. It is the only high-elevation observatory for a wide range of continuous measurements in the Arctic. Sister sites in the Antarctic include South Pole and Dome Concordia.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Station construction (2007)      Enhanced observations (2007)      Baseline observations (continuous)
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The main proposed investment is an improved structure to serve both camp operations and science at Summit. This investment will serve multiple long-term measurement programs, multi-investigator campaigns and individual research projects. Enhanced measurements during IPY will require purchase of new equipment, independent of station construction.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The upgraded Summit Station will be an international observatory, establishing and continuing a legacy of infrastructure, measurements, and international cooperation. Baseline measurements are important for assessing regional and global change. Supplemental measurements during IPY will fill important gaps in understanding the Arctic atmosphere. Future research will build on this knowledge.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The multiple international programs mentioned above and represented by the project members have encouraged this proposal, e.g. GAW, SEARCH, AICI, WMO/WCRP/CliC. Both the U.S. NSF and the ESF/EPB are supporting science planning activities focused on GEOSummit, including two meetings in 2004

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?


Upgraded Station Upgrading and consolidation of an existing station. Upgrading at GEOSummit will be initiated as an IPY project and carried out during the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe. Upgraded structures will support the growing science efforts beyond IPY, and will greatly reduce the impacts of station operation on measurements, research and the surroundings.

How will the project be organised and managed?
A Science Coordination Office SCO will continue to serve the science community using GEOSummit, with on-site logistics, including construction, provided by private contractors through USNSF. In the future additional logistical support will be provided by European funding agencies. Under the SCO an international scientific steering committee will aid in planning and in representing the collective interests of scientists to the funding agencies. Baseline measurements are carried out by NOAA-CMDL and NSF-funded scientists, with support from the logistics contractor. Plans for construction of an overland route providing expanded accessibility to Summit are also being developed by the Danish Polar Center.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The SCO will build on existing educational partnerships to bring knowledge and information developed at GEOSummit to science colleagues, the K-16 community, decision-makers and the public. Products will range from web-based data and information systems, to interactive exhibits, to visitor programs with teachers and schools, including those in Greenland.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The SCO will continue to facilitate data archiving and distribution of shared data sets via the www, and provide for permanent archiving in a data center. The science steering committee will address data sharing and archiving requirements and protocols for the expanded station and program.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
With approval as an IPY programme, institutions and organizations cooperating with GEOSummit will apply directly to national and European funding agencies. The NSF and international agencies will cooperatively fund station construction, continued operations, long-term measurements, science and the SCO.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
High-impact science activities already using or proposing to use GEOSummit include paleoclimate/ice core interpretation, changes in tropospheric composition, changing boundary-layer dynamics, troposphere/stratospheric coupling, stratospheric change, magnetospheric processes, glaciology, satellite remote sensing and solid Earth geophysics. Discussions are underway to expand these areas, focusing on vertically resolved atmospheric measurements and processes, and linkages with 3-dimensional Arctic modelling, synthesis and assessment efforts. The enhanced measurements proposed during the IPY will address this priority. Space physics scientists are also exploring measurements at GEOSummit.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Roger Bales
4225 North Hospital Road
Atwater
California
95301
USA

Tel: 2097244348
Mobile: 2096587148
Fax: 2097244459
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation