Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Sedimentary Source-to-Sink-Fluxes in Cold Environments  (SEDIFLUX)

Outline
Global Change, which in addition to environmental changes includes also anthropogenic aspects such as socio-economic changes, will cause major alterations in the Earth surface systems and the most dramatic environmental changes are expected to occur in the cold climate regions of the Earth. Cold climate landscapes are some of the last wilderness areas containing specialized and diverse plants and animals as well as large stores of soil carbon. Geomorphological processes, operating at the Earth`s surface, transferring sediments and changing landforms are dependant on climate, vegetation cover and human impacts and will be significantly affected by Global Change. In this context it is a major challenge to develop a better understanding of the complex ecosystems and the mechanisms and climatic controls of sedimentary transfer processes in cold environments. More reliable modelling of sediment transfer processes operating under present-day climatic settings is needed to determine the consequences of predicted climate change. It is necessary to collect and to compare data and knowledge from a wide range of different high-latitude and high-altitude cold environments and to develop more standardized methods and approaches for future research on sediment fluxes and relationships between climate and sedimentary transfer processes. In Europe, the wide range of different high-latitude and high-altitude cold environments provides great potential to investigate climate-process relationships and to model the effects of Global Change by using space-for-time substitution. The highly relevant questions to be addressed need a multi-disciplinary approach and the joining of forces and expertise from different scientific fields. Especially a closer cooperation between geoscientists and biologists / ecologists is needed. The ESF Network “Sedimentary Source-to-Sink-Fluxes in Cold Environments” (SEDIFLUX) http://www.esf.org/sediflux is bringing together leading scientists, young scientists and research teams from different fields. The large number of projects run by the ESF Network participants demonstrates the high level of research activity of scientists working on sediment fluxes in different cold environments. The Network forms a framework for an integrated and multi-disciplinary investigation of the research topic and is a catalyst for strengthening and extending contacts and exchange. Network activities include four Science Meetings in Saudarkrokur, Iceland (June 2004), Clermont-Ferrand, France (January 2005), Durham, UK (December 2005) and Trondheim, Norway (October 2006), SEDIFLUX Steering Committee Meetings attached to these Science Meetings, a Session co-organized by SEDIFLUX at the 2nd European Permafrost Conference in Potsdam, Germany (June 2005), Journal Publications (Special Issues), Publication of Abstract Volumes, Publication of a SEDIFLUX Handbook (guidelines for longer term geomorphic process monitoring and sediment budget analysis in several selected cold climate catchments worldwide), development of a SEDIFLUX Database, and the diffusion and dissemination of Network activities and outputs by using electronic media (webpages, newsletters, forum, etc.). A strong monitoring and operational data collection and more standardized methods will provide a baseline for the development of reliable models and for future research in the changing cold environments of the Earth. It is planned that the ESF Network SEDIFLUX (2004-2006) will continue and be extended worldwide as Working Group of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) (from 2005 onwards). SEDIFLUX will be a key umbrella programme for polar research activities during IPY 2007/2008.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
SEDIFLUX is focused on the challenge of developing a better understanding of the complex ecosystems and the mechanisms and climatic controls of sedimentary transfer processes cold environments. More reliable modelling of sediment transfer processes operating under present-day climatic settings will help to determine the consequences of Global Change (Themes 1 and 2). Collecting and comparing data and knowledge from a wide range of different high-latitude and high-altitude cold environments and modelling of process-climate relationships under present-day climatic settings makes it possible to model effects of Global Change and to compare polar regions with other cold climate environments (high-altitude cold environments) on Earth (Theme 3). SEDIFLUX is the first large network in process geomorphology, and also so far unexplored areas are investigated within the reseach projects of network participants (Theme 4). Human impacts on sediment fluxes are investigated, and the focus is also on the adaptation of indigenous and local people to effects of Global Change and its direct consequences, and on the development of a better risk assessment and more effective land management strategies (Themes 5 and 6). A strong monitoring and operational data collection and more standardized methods provide a baseline for the development of reliable models for future research in the changing cold environments (Target 3).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
SEDIFLUX is bringing together leading scientists, young scientists and research teams from more than 25 countries and from different scientific fields. SEDIFLUX forms a framework for an integrated, multi-national and multi-disciplinary investigation of the research topic and is a major catalyst for strengthening and extending contacts, exchange and collaborations. Apart from further collaborations and collaborative research activities, project and programme proposals both at the national and at the international level are initiated.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The ca. 130 SEDIFLUX Network participants run a high number of research projects including field work in numerous cold climate environments worldwide.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: TBC            
Antarctic: TBC            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The logistic support/facilities for projects of SEDIFLUX participants are provided within the individual projects of the SEDIFLUX participants. No major additional field logistic/facility support is required. Anyway, additional economic support for extended field campaigns, especially for field campaigns carried out by young scientists in selected target areas of SEDIFLUX, would be very helpful. Economic support for Workshops, to be held at established institutions/research station, especially for supporting participating young scientists, will be necessary.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
SEDIFLUX is planned to continue beyond IPY as Working Group of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) committed to the promotion of process geomorphological research in cold environments. The infrastructure legacy will include intellectual advances, established cross-disciplinary and multi-national collaboration arrangements between scientists and institutions, and development of contacts and exchange networks between mainly young scientists forming the new generation of polar scientists.

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

SEDIFLUX is a key framework for research activities during IPY and beyond IPY. The required field logistics will be secured by the individual research projects of SEDIFLUX participants (see also 2.3).

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This Expression of Intent has been submitted as copy to the National IPY Committees of Norway, France, Finland, Germany and Iceland (by members of the SEDIFLUX Steering Committee). This EOI is also supported by the European Science Foundation (ESF).

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?


SEDIFLUX is an existing activity (ESF Network 2004-2006). It is planned to continue and to be extended as a Working Group of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) (from 2005 onwards) and will run beyond IPY.

How will the project be organised and managed?
ESF SEDIFLUX has a Steering Committee with scientists from seven countries:Achim A. Beylich, Coordinator of SEDIFLUX (Norway)Samuel Etienne (France)Bernd Etzelmüller (Norway)Vyacheslav V. Gordeev (Russia)Jukka Käyhkö (Finland)Volker Rachold (Germany)Andrew J. Russell (UK)Þorsteinn Sæmundsson (Iceland)Karl-Heinz Schmidt (Germany)Fiona S. Tweed (UK)Jeff Warburton (UK)The ESF SEDIFLUX Steering Committee is responsible for the ESF Network activities and outputs (see 1.3).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
SEDIFLUX is bringing together leading scientists, young scientists and research teams from more than 25 countries and numerous different scientific fields. SEDIFLUX forms a framework for an integrated and multi-disciplinary investigation of the research topic and is a major catalyst for strengthening and extending scientific contacts and exchange. SEDIFLUX activities include Science Meetings, publications, and using electronic media for dissemination of SEDIFLUX activities and outputs (webpages, newsletters, forum, etc.). A major focus is on cross-disciplinary and multi-national exchange and communication between especially young scientists forming the new generation of polar scientists. SEDIFLUX is the first large network in process geomorphology.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management is a major target of SEDIFLUX. A SEDIFLUX database is currently developed. A strong monitoring and operational data collection and more standardized methods will provide a baseline for the development of reliable models and for future research on sedimentary source-to-sink-fluxes in the changing cold environments of the Earth. SEDIFLUX is the first large network with data management in process geomorphology.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The SEDIFLUX participants run numerous research projects, which are funded by numerous different national and international funding agencies. SEDIFLUX forms an umbrella for these activities and is planned to continue and to be extended as Working Group of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG). ESF SEDIFLUX and IAG SEDIFLUX can provide funding for Science Meetings, Publications, Data management and Dissemination (see 1.3).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The planned IAG Working Group SEDIFLUX will extend ESF SEDIFLUX activities worldwide (from 2005 onwards). IAG SEDIFLUX will be headed by a core group of 4-5 members from the present ESF SEDIFLUX Steering Committee and will run beyond IPY. SEDIFLUX is the first large network in process geomorphology, with more than 130 participants from more than 25 countries. IAG SEDIFLUX is planned to be a framework providing database and guidelines for longer term geomorphic process monitoring and sediment budget analysis in several selected cold climate catchments worldwide.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Achim A. Beylich



N-7491 Trondheim
Norway

Tel: +47 73 90 4117
Mobile: no
Fax: +47 73 92 1620
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation