Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Origin and formation of the ice in the Vostok ice core: implications for paleo-climate reconstructions and subglacial lake environments  (Origin and formation of the ice in the Vostok ice core: implications for paleo-climate reconstructions and subglacial lake environments)

Outline
The Vostok ice core contains both meteoric ice and accreted ice that provides important information on global paleoclimatic conditions and subglacial Lake Vostok. The meteoric surface accumulation of snow provides a record of ~420,000 years of climate change, while the frozen lake water, accreted to the base of the ice sheet, uniquely constrains the subglacial environment. The proposed work seeks to understand the surface accumulation and basal accretion processes, as well as their spatial and temporal variability to help decipher the climatic and environmental information available in the Vostok ice core. Our recent analysis of airborne ice-penetrating radar data along the Vostok ice core flowline reveals elevated accumulation rates in a region coincident with the western lake shoreline. The distinct ice surface topography associated with the lake shoreline appears to produce a spatially fixed accumulation anomaly. These high accumulation shoreline deposits intersect the Vostok ice core between 820–1100 m depth, a segment known for high accumulation rates. This non-climatic, spatially-fixed accumulation anomaly impacts flow-dependent age models and interpretations of Antarctic climate phases during the last glacial cycle. In addition to the meteoric ice, accretion ice freezes to the base of the ice sheet along the Vostok flowline. We have used regional ice-penetrating radar to define the shoreline morphology and the distribution of accretion ice. We propose to examine the surface accumulation and basal accretion processes along the Vostok flowline. The field effort will use ground-based radar, shallow firn cores and GPS velocity measurements to link the processes and environments where the ice develops with geochemical and biological studies of the Vostok ice core. We will use ground-based radar at a high and a low pulse center frequency to image the shallow isochrons across the high accumulation shoreline, as well as the deeper accreted ice. We will use GPS measurements to determine the flow velocities and to estimate accretion rates. We will define the geochemical signature of the surface accumulation anomaly within our shallow firn cores. We will also measure wind velocities and other atmospheric parameters to calibrate a blowing snow model that we will use to examine the surface processes responsible for this focused accumulation site.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Our proposed work will be directly related to the SCAR SALE-United initiative that focuses on subglacial lake exploration during the IPY. Our project will also be an important contribution to the International Transantarctic Traverse (ITASE) that is beeing proposed for the IPY.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Garry Clarke (University of British Columbia), Jean-Robert Petit (CNRS, Grenoble)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Vostok, Antarctica

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Summer 2007      Summer 2008      
Antarctic: 11/08 – 02/09      No field work      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Logistic support of the project will be coordinated between the international members of the project and the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
all proposals will be reviewed by the National Science Foundation whose next review cycle will be in fall, 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

The project will be proposed for funding to the National Science Foundation in June, 2005. The goals of the project match many of those identified in international workshops and are therefore priorities for the Earth Science community.

How will the project be organised and managed?
We will coordinating these activities with international efforts during IPY--including survey design, development of policies related to data access, and input to existing data bases. We will maximize and broaden the use of all data sets.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We propose to develop online resources for K-12 students and teachers; internships for journalism students; and involve undergraduate students.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Project web-servers will provide data, results, and contact information to the scientific communities as well as the interested public.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding will be requested through the Office of Polar Programs of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Michael Studinger
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Colombia University
61Route 9W, Palisades, NY
10964-8000
USA

Tel: 845-365-8598
Mobile: no
Fax: 845-365-8179
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation