Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Continental circumference of the Laptev Sea: modern condition and paleoenvironment  (COLAPP)

Outline
The Russian-German Project "Laptev Sea System" started in 1993 can be continued in the frame of IPY. Complex environmental investigations are suggesting in some directions: dynamic of the modern glaciation as an indicator of modern climate; dynamic of permafrost and coastal dynamic; sea level and glacial fluctuations in the past;4

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Continental circumference of the Laptev Sea is a polygon of very active paleoenvironmental international investigations. Russian-German expeditions to the Taimyr Peninsula and to the Putorana Plateau has been conducted in 1993-1997. Russian-Swedish expeditions to the Taimyr Peninsula and to the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago took place in 1998,1999,2001 and 2003. Since 1998 Russian-German investigators are working in the eastern part of the Laptev Sea in the Lena River Delta. It is very natural to include Rusian- Swedish investigations to the activity of IPY. The importance of this works is in the opportunity to find a climate signal in investigating quaternary deposits, glaciers, permafrost and relief construction. A climate forecast is impossible without knowledge about the climate, sea and glacial fluctuations in the past. A success of this project will be determined by a huge base of knowledge of environment and paleoenvironment collected during 15 years of investigations of the Laptev Sea region.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This project is part of a bipolar network of paleoclimate observatories (BIPOMAC). The activities will be included in the proposed ESF program Arctic Paleoclimate and its EXtremes (APEX). The results will be correlated to those of the Arctic Coring EXpedition (ACEX). Additional Links: INQUA working group "Quaternayr history of the Arctic Coastal and shelf regions" Climate and cryosphere program (CliC) Arctic Coastal Dynamics Project (ACD, a joint IPA and IASC initiative)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Eastern part of the Taimyr Peninsula (including Taimyr Lake, Neozshidannyi glacier in the Byrranga Mountains), Ice Caps of the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago, southern and eastern coasts of the Laptev Sea, including Lena River Delta; Novosibirskie ostrova Archipelago including glaciers of Bennetta Island.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/06-09/06      07/06-09/07      07/06-09/08
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The main task of field investigations is a work on polygons have been established previously. Polygons are situated on sea coasts, around and on glaciers and ice caps. That is why a main aspect of logistic operations will be transportation of investigating gropes to polygons. Summer field camps on selected locations (3 to 5 months each year). Vessel and helicopter transport to and between field camps. Transport resources should be shared with other projects in this region.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No - only temporary field camps will be established, which will be dismatled at the end of the summer season. All kinds of waste will be brought back to the logistic base in Tiksi and Khatanga.

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

The logistic will be based on Russian-German science cooperation "System Laptev Sea", which is successfully since 11 years. Vessel and helicopter support will be provided by the local Tiksi Hydrobase (Russia) and field equipment by the AWI (Germany), Swedish Polar Secretariat and AARI (Russia)

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
At the moment, this project is planned bilaterally (Russian-German and Russian-Swedish) and is also include to the APEX program. Russian-German investigations are continuing in Lena River Delta and on the southern coast of the Laptev Sea (the Expedition Lena-2004). Plans of Russian-Swedish investigations on Taimyr Peninsula will be discussed during the workshop (AARI-Lund University) in March 2004.

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 project continues previous Russian-German and Russian -Swedish paleoenvironmental studies in the Laptev Sea and Kara Sea regions. The prestige of the project can be higher if it will be included in the plan of IPY. The important science including to IPY is guaranteed by a very good scientific results have been obtained to the moment, and by planning investigations in this region.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be realized in the frame of a proposed ESF program (APEX), the German-Russian science cooperation "SYSTEM LAPTEV SEA", the Russian-Swedish science cooperation as well as the proposed Priority Program "Arctic Geo-Eco-Systems (AGES) of the German Science Foundation. The project will be coordinated by AWI-Potsdam in cooperation with the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institue (St.Petersburg, Russia) and the Permafrost Institue (Yakutsk).Specialists or groups from other coutries working in permafrost paleoenvironmental studies can also be included in the project. Workshops and special meetings on international conferences will be used to develop and carry out the project. May be it is necessay to organize a Leading Committee, which will plan the order of priority of investigations on polygons. 3 field campaigns with several groups on distinct sites are planned during summers in 2006-2008. The analysis will be carried out in the participant labs. Frequent exchange of scientists from working teams is planned to follow the international standards (especially important for the youn scientists).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
In the frame of the project students and young scientists will be involved in the research activities and have possibilities to learn specific methods and to raise the qualifications. Young trainees will be included in laboratory work and the interpretation of results. Expedition reports and scientific results will be opened for the public (publications in international journal, internet access to the databases). At the moment results of Laptev Sea region investigations are using in the courses of Geography Faculty and POMOR magistracy of St. Petersburg University.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data will be maintained within the PANGEA database of the Alfred Wegener Institue for Polar and marine Investigations. They will be used in the internal scientific investigations of institutes and universities (AWI, AARI, Lund University), which are participants of the project. Results will be regularly discuued on conferences and workshops. They will be published in international and national scientific journals.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
It is expected to get supply by funding agencies as the German Science Foundation, the German Ministry of Education and research, the European Science Foundation (ESF) and the European Union. A part of funding is expected from Russian Foundation of Basi Research, Russian Ministry of Education and Science, which traditionally support investigations in the Laptev Sea region. It is necessary to have financial support from the Roshydromet.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Dmitry Bolshiyanov
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Beringa St. 38
St. Petersburg
199397
Russia

Tel: +007-812 352 22 46
Mobile: no
Fax: +007-812-352-26-88
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation