Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Trans-Antarctic Scientific Traverses Expedition- from Zhongshan to Dome A or Ice Divide of East Antarctica-from Zhongshan to Dome A or Chinese “ITASE” project from Zhongshan Station to Dome A  (TASTE-ZSDA or IDEA-ZSDA or ITASE-ZSDA)

Outline
East Antarctica is an important components and least explored place in Antarctica, especially the inner part of East Antarctica. Deep ice core and shallow ice cores, as well as the in-situ sampling along the traverses could offer the opportunity to understand more about the past and present climates and environment, the atmosphere-snow/ice process and improve out ability to monitor and predict future changes over polar regions. Several countries have extensive experience undertaking scientific traverse programs in Antarctica. The traverse offer ground-based platforms for multidisciplinary measurements coupled with the most modern technology (GPS etc.), while also permitting the deployment of permanent and/or semi-permanent instruments in inaccessible regions. Climate variability in East Antarctica Polar regions are experiencing the most rapid rates of environmental change in the world. Our ability to understand the natural modes of variability and the potential impact of human impact on climate over the Southern Hemisphere is limited by the short duration of the instrumental record. Ice cores hold the key to extending the record of climate variability in the past on time-scales from years to millennia. Past and present climates and environment in East Antarcitca Ice core studies have made a huge contribution to global-scale issues, such as understanding climate change, and tracking the extent of global pollution. Reconstruction of the paleo-atmosphere chemical composition requires understanding the present-day load and composition of atmospheric aerosol and gases and the processes occurring at the atmosphere/snow interface. The aim of a new effort will be to stress on the atmosphere-snow/ice process monitoring, to drill a lot of shallow cores to identify the regional difference and to drill deep ice core to retrieve long term climate and environment information in order to improve our understanding of regional and global climate and environment change. Set up Dome A scientific station Permanent or semi-permanent station is an important facility to carry out physical and chemical observation of the atmosphere and snow/ice, especially in the inland Antarctica and will improve our understanding of the state of polar environment. Sea level change and its relationship to Antarctica mass balance Sea level change is a hot topic in the global change research field and has severe impacts on human life. But there is a large uncertainty of the contribution of Antarctic mass balance to sea level change. More spatially accumulation rate data from ice cores are needed to reduce the uncertainty of Antarctica mass balance contribution to sea level change.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This traverse will address themes from 1 to 3. The project provides the opportunity to explore the unknown parts of East Antarctica, to help in answering some questions related to climate variability, past climate and environment, atmosphere change, atmosphere-cryosphere interactions, sea level change. Internationally cooperation will benefit the cost-effectiveness.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International effort can provide the necessary logistic and analytical instruments that will be used in the expedition and improve the extent of data share. Several countries are involved: Australia, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russian, Sweden, United States.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Zhongshan station to Dome A and east side of Lambert Glacier Basin

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Zhongshan-----Dome A tranverses: austral summers 2007-09, at least once, probably twice            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Traverse vehicles, driller, in-situ instruments, automatic weather stations, permanent or semi-permanent stations Zhongshan station,

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
It is planned to setup a permanent or semi-permanent station, Automatic Weather Station, snow accumulation stakes that will be surveyed in the following years. An Automatic Weather Stations will be installed inland of Antarctica and weather data will be transmitted through Global Telegram System (GTS).

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project can be regarded as a component of SCAR/ITASE program It is also an integrated part of National IPY program of China and important component of Chinese National 2006-2010 Antarctic Science Plan which is currently being reviewed by Chinese government.

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

This project is a continuation with extended scientific objectives of CHINARE who have organized several traverses from Zhongshan to Dome A Intensified observations will be carried out for the International Polar Year.

How will the project be organised and managed?
China IPY Scientific Committee will meet at least once a year. The SC will be in charge of coordinating the national and international effort, to insure data delivery and education outreach etc.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
National IPY workshop will be held every year and take part in the International IPY workshop or symposium actively. Invited journalists join in the expedition activities to let general public know more about the expedition. Graduate students will take part in the expedition. Web sites will be created with on line information about expedition.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data will be submitted to National Antarctic and Arctic Data Center of China. Detailed data policy may follow EPICA or WMO guidelines.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Mainly through national funding agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Dahe Qin
China Meteorological Administration
46 Zhongguancun South Avenue,
Beijing
100081
China

Tel: 86-10-68406491
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation