Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Profiling Arctic sea ice thickness with Autosub  (PASTA – Profiling Arctic sea-ice thickness with Autosub)

Outline
In the context of an Arctic basinwide sea ice thickness monitoring experiment proposed by a number of authors to IPY, the present expression concerns the incorporation of an ice thickness monitoring mode into a co-operative programme with Canada, of which the Canadian component has already been proposed by Prof. Louis Fortier (Laval University) and has been approved by the Canadian IPY committee. The present work calls for the following, using CCGS “Amundsen” as the deploying platform during her IPY voyages: 1. Mounting of the UK Autosub AUV aboard “Amundsen” and use during her voyages in the Beaufort Sea, Northwest Passage region and Baffin Bay for ice thickness profiling transects of up to 200 km in track length, using acoustic homing system for recovery from small water openings as already demonstrated during the 2004 “James Clark Ross” cruise to NE Greenland. 2. Simultaneous helicopter deployment of 8-10 Nagurny buoys, tiltmeter buoy systems which have been used successfully in the Arctic in the GreenICE and SITHOS EU projects, and which transmit the spectra of flexural-gravity waves by satellite; the peak of the spectrum is a function of ice thickness. The buoys will be deployed near the inner limit of the AUV penetration, and the AUV will serve to validate the Nagurny buoy data. In its turn, the Nagurny buoy will continue to transmit for at least 2 years using battery power augmented by solar cells. 3. Further ice thickness validation by helicopter and in situ measurements: the buoy-launching helo will use an EM31 electromagnetic sounding system to profile ice thickness during its return flight to the ship (Haas, AWI), while hot water drilling and coring will be carried out from the ship during stops for stations. 4. When the “Amundsen’s” track takes her over shelf areas, the Simrad multibeam ice profiling system will be remounted upside down and used for seabed mapping over the shelves, examining features such as iceberg and ice ridge scours. The AUV’s water sample retrieval system can also be used for sampling at remote Arctic under-ice locations, suitable for analysis for tracers and radionuclides. The Autosub has proved itself a reliable under-ice vehicle, with the most successful cruise being to NE Greenland by the author in summer 2004. This proposal takes advantage of an offer by the Canadian IPY programme to carry out co-operative work between this unique vehicle and the recently-converted scientific icebreaker “Amundsen”

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The three-dimensional imaging of the ice underside that is possible from the Simrad system fitted to Autosub is by far the best way of mapping the morphology of Arctic ice, including the shape of pressure ridges (not well known statistically) (theme 1), and will show what has happened to the ice cover under the influence of wind field change (Arctic Oscillation) (theme 2). It will also serve to validate Cryosat and Icesat altimetry retrievals, and is in itself a new way of working in the Arctic (theme 4).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
“Amundsen” is being operated by a consortium led by Université Laval, Québec, on behalf of Canadian IPY who are the chief collaborators. AWI will supply helo EM31 measurements. Other international collaborators will be invited to use water samples.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Beaufort Sea; Canadian Arctic; Baffin Bay

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 8/07 – 3/08      8/08 – 3/09      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Autosub AUV will be provided by Southampton Oceanography Centre; “Amundsen” by Canadian Government; helo rented from PCSP; EM31 system provided by AWI. Full resource sharing and experimental collaboration with all other relevant projects aboard “Amundsen” is envisaged.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The buoys will last 2+ years; the seabed mapping will form part of the permanent Canadian Geological Survey archive.

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

A proposal to NERC for UK costs, possibly via the recently announced International Development Fund

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
se of “Amundsen” forms part of Canadian national IPY programme

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

The experiment is a logical follow-on of the UK (NERC) Autosub-under-Ice programme, and of the Canadian CASES project. It can also be considered a component of the proposed EU DAMOCLES project.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The technical management of the Autosub, and its configuration for use aboard “Amundsen”, will be handled by SOC (Prof Gwyn Griffiths). A management committee will be formed for the whole project, which at the UK end could embrace the membership of the present steering committee of Autosub-under-Ice. A small bilateral (trilateral including AWI) strategic steering group involving Fortier (Canada), UK and German members, will guide the implementation of the Autosub work within the overall framework of “Amundsen’s” extensive and varied IPY activities.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
“Amundsen” has already demonstrated superb educational interaction during CASES, with students and schoolchildren carried aboard as well as video and interactive links with schools. This experience will be transferred to IPY.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data will form part of the Arctic Ice Thickness Monitoring Project database of IASC.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
By proposals to NERC (including International Development Fund); EU (DAMOCLES) and Canadian sources

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof. Peter Wadhams
Dept. of Applied Maths & Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
Wilberforce Road
Cambridge
CB3 0WA
UK

Tel: 44-1223-760370
Mobile: 44-0774-8032371
Fax: 44-1223-760493
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation