Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Monitoring movements of Antarctic Ice Sheet and Glaciers on Coastlines by SAR  (SAR monitoring of Antarctic coastlines)

Outline
Our activity during the IPY 2007-2008 mainly consists of the following items:1. Monitoring of surface topography and its change in Antarctica is very important to discuss/predict global climate change. We have long (1991-today) time range of SAR archives from JERS-1, ERS-1, ERS-2 and ENVISAT around Syowa Station (39.6°E, 69.0°ES). In order to especially utilise ALOS PALSAR data requests over the polar regions which are now under the management of Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center (ERSDAC), Japan, we will call for collaborations from interested scientists/ expeditions. We will collect proposals for research internationally and negotiate with four nodes described in the ALOS Data Note (AND) to produce harmonized data sets on level 1.1. 2. In the sense of polarimetry and backscattering characteristics, the ALOS PALSAR requires intensely scheduled calibration by the ground corner reflectors. We will coordinate such calibration/validation phase to realize efficient basic observation scenario.3. In the sense of outreach, we also try to include proposals from university students, high-school students and the public for some campaign mode of higher level data.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Although the launch of ALOS satellite is not determined yet, its success, hopefully during 2004, and subsequent operational stage will cover the IPY period. Because L-band SAR sensors are not operating after 1998, re-opening of monitoring by ALOS will give us opportunities to detect decadal change and/or compare with the C-band results from ERS-1/-2, RADARSAT and ENVISAT. Our project will contribute to understand current status/ time evolving change of the Earth’s water circulation. This will relate with the sea level change studies in the polar region during the same period.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The proposed activity has link to the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) organized Working Group (3) InSAR for polar regions under the Sub-Commission 4.4: Application of Satellite & Airborne Imaging Systems. All possible collaborators will have experience of international collaboration through data centres of European Space Agency (ESA), Alaska SAR Facility (ASF), Geoscience Australia (GA) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The calibration/validation site for ALOS PALSAR will be around the existing Antarctic stations. Installation of the corner reflectors depends basically on efforts from each expedition

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The corner reflectors will have the size of 3 m (L) x 3 m (W) x 2 m (H). For each site, 3 to 5 reflectors are desired with a spacing of 3 to 5 km apart. Installation will not require significant logistic support for each expedition. If the expeditions are well organized to have wide coverage of calibration/validation sites (stations) under international coordination, the product quality will be remarkably enhanced; which in total results in cost performance.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
From the viewpoint of hardware, there may be no legacy. However, from the viewpoint of human resources concerned with the Antarctic remote sensing network, the project will leave a large legacy.

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

Japanese Ice-breaker “Shirase” will be retired by 2008. The Japanese ship transportation during the 2008-09 season is under consideration

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Further details – This project is endorsed by the Japanese National Committee for IPY 2007-2008, Science Council of Japan.

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?


It is a new autonomous proposal integrated by some existing programs and activities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
For the JARE field program, this project can be part of monitoring programs endorsed by the Japanese National Committee of IPY 2007-2008, Science Council of Japan. National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) is responsible for the logistics.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This project addresses the education and outreach by collecting research proposals from students and the public. The first Students Forum was performed in December 2004 and it will be held once a year until 2008. Some scientific proposals will be carried out in the polar region by the expedition personnel and, in future, by the students.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The acquired data will be archived and made accessible to international user community through data centres including Antarctic Data Resources Centre of NIPR, and so on.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We are going to apply for several funding resources to realize this project: Project funds by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition and National Institute of Polar Research, Scientific Research Fund by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Research Fund by Ministry of Education (MEXT) and other governmental funds.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Makoto Omura
5-15 Eikokuji-cho
Kochi
Kochi
780-8515
Japan

Tel: +81-88-873-2436
Mobile: no
Fax: +81-88-824-6579
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation