Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

COllaborative MultiBeam InterNational Effort  (COMBINE)

Outline
The main objective is the comprehension of the depositional processes of the Antarctic glacial continental margin and the reconstruction of the last phases of ice sheet development.The comprehension of the sub-marine glacial depositional processes can be achieved by studying the offshore relict glacial morphology, which is draped by Holocene hemipelagic sediments. However, the huge dimensions of the Antarctic ice streams require the acquisition of vast swath maps allowing to imaging in detail the whole source-to-sink system (from sediment input to distal settling, a typical glacial depositional system requires many thousands of square kilometres of morphologic coverage). The extensive use of swath mapping technology in Antarctica was undertaken for this scope only in the recent years, but as it expands across several national programs, co-operative efforts are imperative. Only in this way it is possible to focus upon regional coverage of important glacial geologic features of the seafloor, their relation to ice sheet dynamics, climatic evolution and Regional tectonic development.In the Antarctic Peninsula region, which is univocally recognized as the Antarctic region with the highest sensitivity (faster response ) to climatic changes, a rich international multi-disciplinary data-set already exist, and a collaborative effort to merge the results between Spanish, U.S., and Italian national programs has been already informally agreed. Part of the data merging from N.B. Palmer and Hesperides cruises in the northern Antarctic Peninsula Pacific margin has been already presented to the SCAR meeting in Bremen (Domack et al, 2004). Additional data were collected during the 2004 cruise of the OGS-Explora and proposals for further join acquisitions in the area are pending approval by national programs. It should also be noted that multibeam data from US ships is available through the web at NOAA NGDC and LDEO, and could be readily integrated in this Effort. Other data sets in the same margin were collected by other national programs (e.g. recent cruises of the J.C. Ross and Polarstern). As a whole, the different national patches would already make up to a total of more than 200.000 km2.During the Polar Year, an international co-ordinated effort for extensive swath mapping of the Antarctic Peninsula continental margin would allow the production of a unique comprehensive map of the an Antarctic continental margin which can be regarded as a milestone in the understanding of the evolution of marine based ice sheets and sedimentary processes occurring off the main palaeo-glacial systems.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The sea floor of the Antarctic oceans is largely unknown. COMBINE is essentially addressing this deficiency and is expected to produce results in:The frontiers of science in the polar regions (theme 4) by providing a detailed morphology of the deep sea floor.Determination of present environmental status (theme 1) by mapping the evidence of current-controlled sediment transport in the ocean-ice system.Quantification of past environmental change (theme 2) by mapping how the high-latitude ocean system changed after the past glacial maximum.Understanding bi-polar consequences related to sea level and ice volume changes (theme 3).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
COMBINE will create a consortium of research excellence on Antarctic Peninsula seafloor morphology, which will coordinate individual research activities. COMBINE relates to IPY EoI’s: Andreassen “NICESTREAMS” (specifically) and Gohl “POLARGATES” (generally).Interdisciplinary collaboration anticipated (e.g. with SCAR ACE, IGBP GLOBEC and AWI IBCSO programs and JCOMM IPY idea 334g).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Both margins of the Antarctic Peninsula: the Pacific and the Weddell Sea ones.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 12/2006-04/2007      11/2007-04/2008      11/2008-02/2009

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice-strengthened research ships with a hull-mounted multibeam system are the required logistics. The resources can be usefully shared with other projects: different kinds of measures not requiring a stop of the ship may be performed during multibeam data collection. Moreover, a limited number of stops may be planned for sampling.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
A large data resource will be compiled, which can be used as a base for future studies (e.g. modelling studies).Data exchange will establish an effective international data management that will constitute a major legacy of COMBINE.Intense collaboration between international work groups will leave a legacy of cooperating institutions.

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

Ship time will be mainly allocated by national polar programs through proposals by the project proponents. Additional options are not excluded.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes; National: endorsement by Italian IPY committee; endorsement also being sought from Spain, US, UK committees.International: SCAR endorses a bathymetry program (by creating a Marine Survey Coordination Action Group convened by O'Brien and Canals) and as a contribution on Climate Change (SCAR Advisory Committee paper on IPY).

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?
Yes

COMBINE is an umbrella that envelopes a combination of sub-projects already submitted (MAGICO2 and WANDA to PNRA, PROSPERANT to Spanish Program) or to be submitted to the different national programs.

How will the project be organised and managed?
An international steering team composed by one representative for each nation will be established to coordinate the sub-projects.Newly collected data will be of exclusive use within sub-projects for an agreed time and then released within all participants.The project will be organized in work packages: beside data acquisition, additional tasks will be performed within nationally-funded sub-projects: compilation of data, production of maps and models, establishing a web site, organising annual workshops to exchange initial results, …

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Maps and 3-D models will provide outstanding examples for teaching sedimentary and subglacial processes.Collaboration with National Antarctic Museum.Classroom at sea programmes will ensure outreach to schools. A Traning-Through-Research may allow participation to cruises.A project website and e-learning modules will be set up.International symposiums will be arranged.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Participants will make raw data available within the project, after an agreed time and under commonly agreed rules.Data compilation will be performed by one partecipant (e.g. OGS through WANDA project or AWI through IBCSO program).Data will be successively placed in national and international data banks.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding to COMBINE participating projects is being sought through planned or already submitted proposals to national polar programs or other funding agencies. Funding through the consortium of national polar operators, though not necessarily required by the relatively small size of the project, will be also pursued.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Michele Rebesco
Instituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS)
Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C
34010 Sgonico (TS)
Italy

Tel: +39 040 214 0252
Mobile: no
Fax: +39 040 327307
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation