Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

To study the short-term Holocene climate variabilities in Antarctica and the Southern latitudes utilizing sediment cores from the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern ocean, the cores from the periglacial lakes and the shallow ice-cores from Antarctica  (Climate change in the southern latitudes during the Holocene)

Outline
Despite a fairly vast paleoclimatic database, the mechanisms of decadal, centennial and millennial-scale global climate change remain an enigma. Proxy information of rapid climate changes from the ice cores and sediments from the land and the oceans clearly bring out the dynamical behavior of the Northern and Southern hemispheres at high latitudes. However, the relative phasing of the climate events in the two hemispheres is still a matter of much academic debate. High-resolution data from the Antarctic ice cores and the Southern Oceans which are synchronized with the existing records from the Northern Hemisphere, together with model simulations are called for to disentangle the complicated pattern of climate change and their probable interhemispheric linkages. The primary focus of our proposal is to retrieve archives of past climatic variability during the Holocene Epoch from the Indian Ocean Sector of the Southern Ocean, the periglacial freshwater lakes and from the shallow (<250 m) ice-cores of Antarctica. The Holocene is an important portion of the Global paleoclimatic record because decadal to millennial-scale natural variability in Holocene climate can be evaluated as a model for the present “inter-glacial” world. Considering the unique physical, chemical and oceanographic characteristics of the Southern Ocean, our proposal also seeks to provide a platform for a multi-disciplinary endeavor in this oceanic realm, in addition to the proposed paleoclimatic studies. The latter studies will primarily include the determination of the dynamics of the formation and distribution of water masses, currents and sea and the physical basis for biological productivity, assessment of the distribution, sources and sinks of carbon, and delineation of space-time variables of the APF and STC.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project proposed seeks to throw light on the forcing functions behind rapid decadal to millennial- scale climate changes at high latitudes, using the polar and Southern Ocean regions as vantage points. Disentangling the highly textured pattern of the climate changes observed at high latitudes in both the polar regions and their apparent global foot prints would serve as base lines for short-term climate change predictions (“Polar -global linkages and teleconnections”- Theme 3 of the IPY).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Currently none. However, the geographical locations of the study being confined to the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean, the project will seek to establish meaningful international collaborations with other countries having a sustained presence in Antarctica and which are currently involved in climate change studies. We expect the collaborations to be in place by the full proposal deadline.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Indian Ocean Sector of the Southern Ocean between latitudes 35 and 55 degrees S will primarily constitute the study area in the oceanic realm. The terrestrial studies will be confined to the lakes of the Schirmacher Oasis area and the ice cores would be from the inland.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 12/2005 to 03/2006      12/2007 to 03/2008      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Multi-instrumented ocean research vessel currently with the Government of India will be utilized for the field studies in the Southern ocean. The facilities at the Indian permanent Antarctic base will be sourced for the lake sampling and ice-coring. All these resources can be fully shared with other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will help create a major Antarctic and oceanographic paleo-climate database.

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

The project will be planned, coordinated, and executed by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, as a part of the country’s ongoing Antarctic program.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
A national IPY Committee constituted by the Government of India has already endorsed the Project in principle.

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?
Expansion

Southern Ocean oceanography and paleoclimatology are two of the new thrust areas of research at the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research. Limnological studies have already been initiated by us in Antarctica and last year a pilot cruise to the Southern Ocean was undertaken.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) which is the nodal agency in India responsible for planning, co-ordinating and executing the entire gamut of the Indian Antarctic Program, will also organize and manage the entire project under the overall guidance of the National IPY Committee.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
As a part of the Indian IPY activities, NCAOR has already initiated action for identifying the national and international partners for this Project and for involving students from the University in the varied activities of the Project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
NCAOR has already initiated action for the creation of a National Antarctic Database which will have an uplinking with international database on polar science of other Treaty Nations. This Data Centre facilities will be extended for the proposed Project as well.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The Project expenses shall be met by the Government of India, and by participating collaborating nations or their Antarctic operators.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Prem Pandey
HEADLAND SADA, GOA


403804
India

Tel: +91-832-2520876
Mobile: (0) 9822125818
Fax: +91-832-2520877
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation