Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Southern Ocean Studies for Understanding Global-CLIMATE Issues  (SOS-Climate)

Outline
This research initiative was formed with the objective to conduct long-term studies in the Southern Ocean (SO) which are associated with many global-climate changes issues. It is well known that the SO connects the major ocean basins permitting a global scale thermohaline circulation, therefore Antarctic bottom water formation and its variability as well as its pathways towards lower latitudes is a relevant information. Interocean connection is a route for heat and freshwater (climate) anomalies, as well as anthropogenic tracers. The SO also plays a major role in the global climate change due to its key role in the global geochemical cycle, particularly carbon. The proposed activities during the IPY (2007-2008) are related to the actual work which is actually carried out in the SO (lat>30oS) by the Brazilian High Latitude Oceanography Group (GOAL), sponsored and funded by the Brazilian Antarctic Programme (PROANTAR). The main research topics of GOAL focuses in the understanding of (1) the formation and variability of dense bottom water close to the tip of Antarctic Peninsula; (2) the variability of Bransfield and Gerlache Straits ecosystems. (3) the role played by the SO in the global carbon cycle using in situ and satellite ocean color data; (4) the upper layer circulation and 3D structure eddies shedded by the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence. We also expect to undertake some transects, radiating outwards across the Antarctic tip continental shelf and slope, during austral summer period of January-March 2008, as a contribution to the project Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions (SASSI), planned by the iAnZone group for the IPY 2007-2008. Furthermore, we hope to participate in an international focused effort to make observations along the three SO chokepoints where the meridional spread of the SO dynamics is constrained and where the transport measurements and interocean exchanges can be accurately monitored. These actions are part of the more general strategy presented by the CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Ocean Implementation Panel.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Our objectives contribute directly for the themes fixed in the CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Ocean Panel IPY Strategy document. The themes addressed are (1) Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the global water cycle and (3) Climate processes at the Antarctic continental margin. We anticipate relevant gain in scientific knowledge in the following topics: (1) Variability of bottom water formation around the tip of Antarctic Peninsula; (2) Variability of the Western Weddell Sea, Bransfield and Gerlache Straits ecosystems; (3) The role played by the Patagonian shelf and shelfbreak phytoplankton blooms in the global carbon cycle; (4) The upper layer circulation and 3-D thermal structure of eddies generated and shedded by the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), BRAZIL Servicio Hidrografico Nacional (SHN), ARGENTINA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC/NASA), USA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML/NOAA), USA Alfred-Wegener Institute of Oceanography and Polar Research, GERMANY University of East Anglia, UK

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Northwestern Weddell Sea and Weddell-Scotia Confluence zone, Bransfield and Gerlache Straits, Patagonian shelf and shelfbreak zone, Brazil-Malvinas Confluence Zone.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice strengthened research ship, helicopters, satellites. Yes, it is possible to share with other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
This proposal will leave a multidisciplinary series of oceanographic data collected in the Bransfield and Gerlache Straits. We also hope to contribute to the Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions (SASSI) programme which will leave a legacy for (1) an observing system on the Antarctic margin for future multidisciplinary studies; (2) the first circumpolar synoptic dataset on the Antarctic continental margin; (3) the first simultaneous circumpolar time series of physical measurements including winter. One of the objectives of SASSI, for instance, is to design a long-term monitoring system over the Antarctic continental margins that can act as an early indicator of global climate changes.

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

The logistics of all planned activities are sponsored by the Brazilian Antarctic Programme (PROANTAR).

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The oceanographic research activities in the Southern Ocean are actually conducted within PROANTAR by the Group of High Latitudes Oceanography (GOAL). This research group is part of the Network 1 - Antarctic, global changes, environment and connections with South-American continent, formed in 2002, funded and sponsored by the Brazilian government. The proposed IPY activities have already been endorsed by the Brazilian committee. However, we are establishing a coordinating effort at national and international levels to have all activities reviewed and sponsored before June 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?
yes

Part of this proposal is a continuity of an existing research project in the SO under the scope of PROANTAR. During the oceanographic cruises, a comprehensive dataset consisting of physical (CTD, XBT, apparent and inherent optical properties), bio-geochemical (major nutrients, oxygen, fluorescence, chlorophyll-a, primary production) and biology (plankton, marine mammals) are collected. We expect to continue these studies during the IPY 2007-2008 in cooperation with several international partners. The new activities are associated with the Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions (SASSI) project, organised by iAnZone.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Brazilian Antarctic Programme (PROANTAR) runs since 1982. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), through the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), is responsible for the selection and tracking all Brazilian scientific activities in PROANTAR. The logistics of the project will be organised and managed by PROANTAR The oceanographic cruises are conducted onboard the Brazilian Navy RV Ary Rongel, which sails to Antarctica at beginning of November and returns approximately on March every year. The scientific activities related to this proposal will be led by the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Brazil.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Several students will be directly involved in data gathering and processing during the entire period. Most of them are graduate (MSc and PhD) and undergraduate students from Brazilian universities. We are also preparing a proposal to SCOR to create a Working Group related with Southern Ocean and Climate Studies. If successful, that will contemplate a series of workshops and scientific personnel exchange between several associate institutions.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The oceanographic data collected during our campaigns are planned to be placed at the Brazilian National Oceanographic Data Center (BNDO) and the American National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC). The bio-optical data will be sent to the SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS) at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC/NASA). These archives can be freely accessed via internet. All data will be available to the community as soon as possible.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The activities planned for the IPY 2007-2008 will be primarily obtained through Brazilian funding agencies. The Brazilian Antarctic Program usually provides funding and logistical support to all successful proposals. The biogeochemical experiments along the Patagonian shelfbreak is also supported by GSFC/NASA and the lagrangean measurements of currents and high density hydrography will possibly be done together with AOML/NOAA.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The activities proposed for the IPY 2007-2008 are mostly part of the Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions (SASSI) project proposed by the iAnZONE group. The iAnZone group is now part of SCAR and has close links with ASPeCt (Antarctic Sea-ice Process and Climate), FRISP (Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf Programme) and with SCAR's proposed programme Antarctic and Climate Global System (ACGS). Future workshop for SASSI will be held in October 2005 at 9th biennial iAnZone meeting, associated with the Ross Conference in Venice. The scientific activities associated with the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle is related to the NASA Research Announcement -04-OES-02 Oceans and Ice

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Carlos Garcia
Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande
Av. Itália Km 8
96201-900
Brazil

Tel: +55-53-2336888
Mobile: +55-53-91340433
Fax: +55-53-2336552
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation