Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Comprehensive investigations of the Kara Sea in the interactions with adjacent regions of the Arctic - the coastal areas, the continental slope and the basin.  (Comprehensive investigations of the Kara Sea in the interactions with adjacent regions of the Arctic - the coastal areas, the continental slope and the basin.)

Outline
Tasks of proposal research are: (1) description of the zonal characteristics and variability of the physical, hydro chemical, biological and geochemical processes in the pelagic and bottom ecosystems of the Kara Sea and the north-eastern part of the Barents Sea. Evaluation of coast – shelf – basin interactions within the Kara Sea; (2) Study of the physical, biological and geochemical transformation of riverine inflow over the Kara Sea shelf; (3) analyses of the large - and meso-scale peculiarities of the seasonal and interannual variability of the Atlantic Water penetration into the Arctic Basin through the north-eastern part of the Barents Sea and northern part of the Kara Sea. The results expected - justified diagnosis of the current status of: (1) physical fields; (2) processes of vertical and horizontal exchange within the wide range of the scales; (3) hydro chemical fields and processes of nutrients transformation; (4) composition and distribution of particulate and dissolved matter including pollutants; (5) composition, spatial structure, productivity and the variability in components of the plankton communities; (6) composition, productivity and the spatial variability of the benthos; (7) composition of the bottom sediments The approaches and methods proposed to fulfill the tasks – two cruises of RV “Professor Stockman” during the navigation seasons of 2007 and 2008; one year’s long moorings; short-term ice camps on the drifting and fast ice; analysis of historical data and modeling.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
We propose to curry out multidisciplinary measurements with regard to the properties and distribution of water mass, trace substances, and biota within the one of the key region of the Arctic Ocean. Our measurements will be part of others coordinated efforts within the others key areas of the Arctic Ocean (see IPY-Programme “The Northern Seas at a time of Global Change: An AOSB-CLIC observing plan for the IPY”). As a result, it will allow to distinguish between advected and locally/seasonally induced features and processes taking place in the Arctic and to trace patterns and determine lags.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The collaboration with Alfred-Wegener Institute (Germany), Institute of Marine Science of the University of Alaska (USA), and International SBE project have been established previously and will be concretized. The collaboration with several others co-contributors of the IPY-Programme “The Northern Seas at a time of Global Change: An AOSB-CLIC observing plan for the IPY” will be established.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Oceanographic sections and surveys will be curried out within the Northern, Central and Southern parts of the Kara Sea (KS), and within the north-eastern part of the Barents Sea (BS) as well. Several moorings will be deployed along the pathway of the Atlantic derived waters from the BS to the KS and into the Arctic Basin. Short time ice camps will be established not far from the southern coast of the KS and eastward from the Franz – Joseph Land.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: June/2007 – October/2007      March/2008 – October/2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice strengthened research ship of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Science “Professor Stockman” are going to be used. Heavy helicopter from the aviation base of the settlement Dickson are going to be used as well. The resources can be shared with other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
This project will provide the ship time for the RV “Professor Stockman”.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes

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?


This proposal is a planning part of the Russian multidisciplinary MERIDIAN Plus project at the national level. This proposal is a part of the international Shelf-Basin Interaction (SBE) project and well correlated with some other activity mentioned in the IPY-Programme “The Northern Seas at a time of Global Change: An AOSB-CLIC observing plan for the IPY”.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project is going to be organised and managed by Shirshov Institute of Oceanology in coordination with the PI of other international projects (SBE, “Arctic Snapshot”, and others mentioned in IPY-Programme “The Northern Seas at a time of Global Change: An AOSB-CLIC observing plan for the IPY”).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The main results of the project will be presented in our reports and published in oceanographic literature in the collaboration with other international participants. The results can be also used for educational purposes as new knowledge for the ACC structure and variability. Young scientists are going to participate in data processing and analysis.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All data of the project, being processed and published, will be available for the whole oceanographic community through the international data archives.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
It is expected, that the project will be funded by Russian Ministry of Economy as a part of the multidisciplinary MERIDIAN Plus project in 2006-2008.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Sergey Pisarev
36 Nakhimovskii prospekt
Moscow
117997
Russia

Tel: +7-095-129 20 36
Mobile: +7-910-453 97 23
Fax: +7-095-124 63 42
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation