Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

ZERO&DRAKE Synoptic transects of trace elements and their isotopes in the AntArctic Ocean. A contribution to the international GEOTRACES program  (ZERO&DRAKE)

Outline
GEOTRACES an International Program on Trace Elements and Isotopes in the Oceans Every living cell and organism on our unique living planet needs the trace metals iron, zinc, copper, manganese, nickel and cobalt roughly in that order for many functions, notably as co-factors in enzymes. These first row transition metals of the periodic table of elements are relatively abundant in the planet, hence during biological evolution were used as building blocks in biological systems. Within the oceans their concentrations are very low, and recently it was discovered that iron is limiting plankton ecosystems in some 40 % of the oceans, notably the Southern Ocean. Moreover the roles of Fe, Zn as well as Cu, Mn, Ni, Co as a co-limitation of plankton at any given time and place in the oceans is yet to be pursued. Zinc is the co-factor in carbonic anhydrase for CO2 metabolism, the most common enzyme in the biosphere. Together with the key role of iron in photosynthesis, Zn will strongly control the response of ocean biota to the future High-CO2 world, notably the biosynthesis of shells and coral reefs. The processes controlling oceanic distributions hence availability of trace metals in the oceans still are poorly understood. Organic complexation, adsorptive scavenging on settling particles, river input and atmospheric dust input from land as affected by desertification, dissolution within reducing marine sediments, pressure-cooker chemistry of rocks and seawater in hydrothermal vents, ocean circulation and mixing, these all play a role. In fact these processes are valid topics of research in themselves. For unraveling these processes there is a suite of other trace elements and isotopes serving as sometime source tracers, sometime internal clocks, and sometimes as tracers or analogs for ocean water mixing and circulation, also in past oceans. Cadmium has a surprisingly close correlation with phosphate, i.e. the biological cycle, and has been pursued as tracer of nutrient distributions and deep circulation of past oceans, such as during glacial maxima. Alternatively fractionations of stable isotopes of Si may serve similarly for past productivity of diatoms which use Si for building their external frustules. Determination of stable isotopes of Fe, Cd, Ca is just beginning and has major potential for unraveling marine biological fractionations versus different isotope signatures of continental source rocks, or even cosmic iron supply to the Antarctic ice and biota. Among the actinides the natural Th group of radioisotopes has proven to be a very powerful tool for unraveling adsorptive scavenging, and the rates of transport and aggregation/disintegration of biogenic particles which are deemed key carriers of many trace elements and isotopes in the oceans. GEOTRACES Our knowledge of ocean circulation and global biogeochemical cycles has a strong basis in the GEOSECS programme, conducted in the 1970s. This admirable international joint venture was and still is the basis for understanding the distributions and biological roles of the dissolved inorganic carbon system, the major essential nutrient elements N, P, Si, as well as a small number of relevant isotopic tracers. The ensuing development of analytical techniques now allows studies of trace elements and their isotopes (TEIs) at concentration levels and at space and time resolution that were inconceivable during the GEOSECS era. The two primary objectives for the GEOTRACES programme are: • To determine global distributions of selected TEIs in the ocean; and • To evaluate the oceanic sources, sinks, and internal cycling of these TEIs and thereby characterize more completely their global biogeochemical cycles. GEOTRACES and IPY GEOTRACES is a new international program of SCOR, and well appreciated by the new SCAR Expert Panel of Oceanography (co-sponsored by SCOR), all under aegis of ICSU which jointly with the WMO co-sponsors the International Polar Year IPY-2007-2008. The international GEOTRACES IPY program will be submitted to the IPY of ICSU/WMO in January 2005. GEOTRACES will largely contribute to document the contemporary environmental status of the Polar Seas by establishing the state of the art of the distribution of natural and anthropogenic TEIs, contributing therefore to quantify their spatial and temporal variability and characterizing present day processes. In addition, GEOTRACES sections will help to understand the processes and conditions that control the present-day distribution of some tracers of paleoceanography (proxies), ccontributing therefore to studies on long term climate changes. ZERO & DRAKE Antarctic GEOTRACES IPY -2- 12/01/2005

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Theme 1: Determination of present day distribution and biogeochemical cycles of key TEIs providing unique insights into changes in circulation, hydrography, sea ice movement, ecosystem structure, carbon cycle, greenhouse gas emission, contaminant dispersal and their interactions in the AntArctic Ocean. Theme 2: Ground-truthing of existing geochemical paleoceanographic proxies and development of new ones specifically for the AntArctic environment for reconstructing past changes in the processes and factors listed under theme 1. Theme 3: AntArctic GEOTRACES will be integrated within the global GEOTRACES program, which will also cover sub-polar and low latitude regions of the ocean. Theme 4: Use and further development of state-of-the-art sampling, analytical, data reduction and modelling techniques to systematically study and retrieve information from seawater TEIs.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
GEOTRACES is an international project under development, which has been initiated by an international consortium of scientists (Organizing Committee: R. Anderson, USA; R. Francois, Canada; M. Frank, Germany; G. Henderson, UK; C. Jeandel, France; M. Sharma, USA). A science plan is being written by a larger group of scientists with funding from SCOR (ICSU) and will be available in January 2005.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The below chart shows the two major sections to be studied in December 2007 through February 2008 in a Polarstern expedition, as well as a test cruise Pilot Study taking place during the November 2005 Anreise of Polarstern, as well as the complementary GEOTRACES-BONUS-IPY section (dotted line) for which the colleagues of France have coordinated a parallel Expression of Interest, lead applicant Dr. Catherine Jeandel (Toulouse). Moreover there will be a USA organized section south off New Zealand (not shown in chart) for which another parallel GEOTRACES Expression of Interest is submitted, lead applicant Dr. Bob Anderson (New York). We propose to study the following suite of dissolved tracers on the zero meridian in the Southern Ocean and in the Drake Passage: first row transition metals ranked for importance of essential biological functions in all living organisms: Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Co, Ni second row transition metals closely correlated with ocean biological cycle: Ag (with silicate and Cu), Cd (with phosphate and Zn) third row transition metals closely correlated with ocean biological cycle: Lanthanides or REE group with extra redox effects and anomalies for: Ce (analog of Mn) Eu (hydrothermal source term tracer) platinum group metals: transition second row Rh, Pd, Ag; third row Ir, Pt, Au indicators of terrestrial/sedimentary inputs: Ti, Al, Th, Zr stable isotopes: isotopic composition of Cd, Ca, Fe, Si radiogenic isotopes: Hf,Nd radionuclides: 234Th,230Th,232Th,231Pa,10Be,210Pb/210Po, 228Ra,227Ac Organic ligands and their interactions with TEI's: isolation, characterization, DOM

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: see Arctic GeoTraces EoI      See Arctic Geotraces EoI      
Antarctic: 12/07 - 02/08            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice-breakers, ice strengthened research ship, remotely operated vehicles, satellites. Shiptime required aboard RV Polarstern: The below estimate is for station time only for the three types of CTD/Rosette stations: A) hydrographic station – 4 hours B) LARGE station (two deep casts (one regular, one ultraclean CTD/Rosette) one shallow cast): 10 hours C) superstation (as large station with additional deep cast and deployment of in situ pumps): 20 hours STATIONS PER SECTION hours hours days ZERO MERIDIAN: 46 S to 70 S, every half degree, thus 50 stations 8 superstations 820160 7 16 stations of 2 deep and 1 shallow CTD 1610160 7 26 stations of just 1 deep CTD cast 264104 4 Total station time Zero Meridian 18 NEUMAYER TO TIP OF PENINSULA 1 superstation 12020 1 no stations of 2 deep and 1 shallow CTD 0100 0 no stations of just 1 deep CTD cast 040 0 Total station time Drake Passage 1 DRAKE PASSAGE 5 superstations 520100 4 8 stations of 2 deep and 1 shallow CTD 81080 3 12 stations of just 1 deep CTD cast 12448 2 Total station time Drake Passage 10 Total stationtime 28

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Royal NIOZ is now developing and constructing an ultraclean CTD/Rosette system with KEVLAR hydrowire, to be tested in deep waters (N.Atlantic) in short cruises aboard own RV Pelagia, then to be used for the first time during the GEOTRACES IPY Polarstern expedition. After the GEOTRACES IPY program this will continue to be available for other GEOTRACES cruises worldwide.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes, The ZERO & DRAKE program is endorsed by the national IPY committee of The Netherlands, and will be reviewed by the national IPY steering committees of Canada, Germany, Norway, Spain and other countries with ANTARCTIC-GEOTRACES participants. We anticipate approval of the international GEOTRACES Science Plan by SCOR and ICSU in Summer 2005

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?
No

The work proposed here will be integrated in the international GEOTRACES program. For IPY GEOTRACES several Expressions of Interest (EoI) have been coordinated: - GEOTRACES Umbrella EoI (Bob Anderson, USA) - GEOTRACES EoI Antarctic section of New Zealand by USA (Bob Anderson, USA) - BONUS Southern Ocean GEOTRACES EoI (Catherine Jeandel, France) - ZERO & DRAKE, this EoI (Hein de Baar, The Netherlands) - GEOTRACES in the Arctic EoI (Michiel van der Loeff, Germany)

How will the project be organised and managed?
The national GEOTRACES committees will work in close association with the international GEOTRACES Scientific Steering Committee, which will oversee an International Program Office (IPO) and a Data Management System.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
One of the central objectives of the GEOTRACES program is education, building and maintaining a core community of marine scientists who understand and are able to integrate the chemical, physical and biological processes regulating the distribution and properties of TEIs well enough to exploit them reliably in future interdisciplinary studies. Outreach and communication will be conducted through various media outlets, internet, brochures and by promoting school participation through interactive distance learning websites.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management for this project will be handled through the international GEOTRACES Data Assembly Center under the supervision of a Data Management Committee, which will handle data from all countries participating in the GEOTRACES program.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
GEOTRACES- will seek funding from appropriate national funding programs.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Hein De Baar
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg
1790 AB
The Netherlands

Tel: 00 31 222 369465
Mobile: no
Fax: 00 31 222 319674
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation