Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

A RELOCATION OF THE AURORAL STATION IN ADVENTDALEN, SVALBARD, NORWAY  (Svalbard Auroral Station)

Outline
The Auroral Station in Adventdalen, Svalbard, (78.2N, 15.8E) was build in 1978, and is primarily used as an optical observatory for ground-based observations of dayside and nightside aurora. The station now suffers from lack of space and an increase in light pollution from the nearby town of Longyearbyen. For the continuation of optical measurements close to Longyearbyen, it is therefore essential with a relocation of the present site, and that a new optical building will be built in order to meet the increasing activity in this research field.The station has a large group of high resolution, low light level instruments. For the 2004/2005 auroral season the station has research projects from 16 different institutions, (7 different countries), with a total of 16 optical and 6 non-optical instruments.The new optical station is proposed to be located close to the EISCAT and SPEAR facilities near the top of the Mine 7 mountain (Breinosa). The distance is about 12.4 km southeast of Longyearbyen, and the altitude is 520 m above sea level. The site has a very good sky view, except due east (geographically), where the elevation angles from 0 to 9.9 degrees above the horizon are blocked, due to the mountain Breinosa. This does not constitute a problem for any of the optical instruments.The need for an up-to-date ground-based optical facility close to the heavy research infrastructure in the vicinity of Longyearbyen is critical. The current Auroral Station is 25 years old, and the building is outdated and there is a shortage of space. This alone, limits the expansion of other interesting research projects. In addition, the increasing light pollution problem from Longyearbyen affects some of the optical measurements at the current site. A building plan has been made by Statsbygg (Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction).

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
A new optical station on Svalbard adhere directly to the rationale of the IPY:There is a need to re-establish and enhance operational observing systems in the polar regions. andThe legacy of enhanced observing systems generated by IPY will provide an improved foundation for ongoing monitoring.In addition, in the themes section it states:To use the unique vantage point of the polar regions to develop and enhance observatories studying the Earth's inner core, the Earth's magnetic field, geospace, the Sun and beyond.andLeave a legacy of observing sites, facilities and systems to support ongoing polar research and monitoring.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
For the current station the following nations have instruments located on site. (The numbers in the parenthesis is the number of national and collaborating international instruments):Norway (6:4); USA (2:4); UK(6:0); Japan(1:2); Finland(1:0), Denmark(0:1), France(1:0).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The new auroral station will be located close to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, at 78.2N, 15.8E geographic coordinates.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/07            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The significant logistic facilities will be a new auroral station that can be used by international research groups

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave an auroral research infrastructure for the new millennium. It will be an auroral station that can live on for several decades after IPY .

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

Logistics will be provided by the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), in the same manner that is done for the current auroral station, i.e. the research groups pay a reasonable logistics fee to carry out their experiments.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - This is the first IPY related contact for this project, and has been sent in parallel to the national IPY committee for endorsement.

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 project proposal is to build a new auroral station, but at the same time it will be a continuation of the ongoing auroral research, where most of the current instruments also will occupy the new station, and where new instrumentation can be accommodated.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be managed by the Univ. Centre in Svalbard, with two scientific program managers (research scientists at UNIS), and one administrative manager (Director of UNIS). In addition the auroral station has a station science board (SSB) which coordinates the research activities.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The current Auroral Station is also used as a teaching platform for geophysics students at UNIS at master and PhD level. This will be continued for a new station. In addition popular science interviews, articles and talks have been and will be made.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All UNIS related instruments will conform to IPY 2007-2008 data and information management policy. We will also request that all international instruments conform to the policy.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project is envisaged funded partly by the Norwegian Research Council, and partly by the research groups having instruments at the station.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Dag A. Lorentzen
The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)
P.O. Box 156
Longyearbyen
N-9171
Norway

Tel: +47 79023336
Mobile: no
Fax: +47 79023301
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation