Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #258: Heat Exchange and Thermal Structure of Large, Deep Polar Lakes: Current Status and Potential Change  

Outline
Large deep lakes are integrators of climatic conditions. Meteorological forcing is largely responsible for the exchange of heat and mass at the air-water interface and for development of the lake thermal characteristics. The objective of this investigation is to contribute to the IPY by investigating the heat and mass exchange and thermal characteristics of Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake. These are two of the “great” lakes in the world and two of the largest lakes in the polar climatic region. Currently, Great Slave Lake (central basin) is considered to be dimictic (over-turn occurring twice/year) but Great Bear Lake is considered to be cold monomictic (complete overturn 1 in 3 years). This research will examine the current baseline characteristics of both lakes, assess interannual variability and conduct a comparison with past research. On Great Slave Lake, past research includes lake surveys conducted by Rawson (1950), the intensive Canadian Enhanced GEWEX experiment (CAGES, 1998-1999), GEWEX-MAGS research (1997-2002). On Great Bear Lake, initial research has been conducted on the Keith Arm in 2004, 2005 through the GEWEX-MAGS. Measurements will consist of deployment of meteorological buoys and platforms, and temperature moorings. Meteorological variables include air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and radiation (solar and longwave). Eddy covariance systems will play an integral part in assessing the heat and moisture flux. Lake energy budget will be modelled. Lake currents and temperature structure will be modelled through application of 3-D hydrodynamic model. Components of this research will be linked with other proposed research through the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) to assess the function and sensitivity of lake-atmosphere models for climate and weather applications – (LOI submitted and approved) This research has been approved by an NWRI Branch Director and clearly addresses Environment Canada and NWRI mandates to carry out “ecosystem-based research and development in the aquatic sciences, generating and disseminating scientific knowledge needed to resolve environmental issues of regional, national or international significance to Canada, and to sustain our national resources and freshwater ecosystems”

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will contribute to IPY by investigation the heat and mass transfer as well as the thermal characteristics of two of the largest “great” lakes north of 60-deg latitude. The studies are planned to be conducted concurrently over the IPY time frame. This will facilitate an intercomparison of the magnitude of heat exchange and thermal response of the two lakes. The scope of the investigation includes assessment of interannual variability. Assessment of changed conditions is possible through comparison of the IPY results (2007-09) with past investigations, e.g. for Great Slave (Rawson 1950, GEWEX-MAGS CAGES results 1998-1999. Current research indicates that the central basin of Great Slave Lake is dimictic and that Great Bear Lake is cold monomictic. Understanding the current baseline conditions is essential to establish the basis for understanding future changes though observations and modelling. Large deep lakes are integrators of climate changes. Research on these “great” lakes will add significant understanding of the climatic response within the polar climate system. This study will make significant advances in our understanding of the heat budget and thermal response of large lakes in the northern climate system. It directly addresses the IPY theme of “Current state of the polar environment” and provides the database for considering “Change in the polar regions”.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Peter Blanken, University of Colorado (Boulder)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Field work is planned to be conducted at the following great lakes of the Mackenzie Basin: Great Slave Lake -eddy covariance system on Inner Whalebacks Island -meteorological and radiation observations on Inner Whalebacks Island -meteorology and radiation (solar and longwave) at Hay River -deployment of two mid-lake meteorological / radiation buoys -deployment of temperature moorings Great Bear Lake (Keith Arm) -eddy covariance system on Lionel Is. -meteorological and radiation (solar and longwave) observations on Lionel Is. -meteorological and radiation observations at Deline -lake temperature observations

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/07 – 09/09            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Logistical support will be required from Polar Continental Shelf Project for aircraft / helicopter support for planned measurement sites in Great Bear Lake. Logistical support will be required for deployment, refurbishing and retrieval of meteorological buoys and temperature moorings in Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
This project will deploy meteorological buoys, temperature moorings and associated scientific instrumentation. Currently there are no plans that will leave a legacy of infrastructure at Great Slave Lake or Great Bear Lake.

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

This project will require a mixture of support from Canadian polar support groups including Polar Continental Shelf Project, as well as commercial aircraft operations. Deployment of lake meteorological buoys and temperature moorings will require appropriate size vessels. In Great Slave Lake this will involve the Coast Guard. In Great Bear Lake, an appropriate vessel with winch etc may need to be transported by ice road. Local community support may be used to ensure proper running of instrumentation.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
NWRI Management has endorsed this study. The Mackenzie GEWEX Study (MAGS) has endorsed part of these studies as carry on research from MAGS. In addition, CFCAS has approved an LOI for portions of this research.

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

This project builds on research conducted through the Mackenzie GEWEX Study (GEWEX-MAGS). Great Slave Lake: On Great Slave Lake, pioneering work was by Rawson (1950). Intensive research on heat and mass exchange and lake temperature structure was the focus of research conducted through GEWEX-MAGS (1997-2002) and GEWEX-CAGES (1998-1999) (e.g. Schertzer et al. 2003; Rouse et al. 2003, Blanken et al. 2003). Since the sites were decommissioned in 2002, redeployment of instrumentation is required. Essentially, this will be a “new” study but it builds on past research. Great Bear Lake: On Great Bear Lake, intensive research (meteorology, radiation and lake temperature) was conducted in 2004 and 2005 funded from GEWEX-MAGS and Environment Canada (NWRI). The Great Bear Lake (Keith Arm investigation) will terminate in 2005 as the final year of GEWEX-MAGS approaches. If the sites are decommissioned at the end of 2005, then redeployment of instrumentation will be done in conjunction with IPY. Consequently, research on this lake would be considered “new” but it will build on past research.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Databases from past investigations on Great Slave Lake (1997-2002) and Great Bear Lake (2004-2005) form the basis for assessing the current state of the lakes, for comparative research on the interannual variability, and for assessing change of the lake heat and mass exchange and thermal components. The field programs will support research on modelling the energy budget and application of hydrodynamic models.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This project will utilize appropriate northern agencies to help with outreach activities and communication. This study will continue to liaise with northern researchers, and train northern researchers on instrumentation. Such interaction was conducted in our past research on these lakes through the GEWEX-MAGS program. Materials will be extensively published and presented at scientific conferences and workshops.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The project will ensure that strict management policies are adhered to. Time-series meteorological, radiation (solar and longwave) and lake temperature data will be processed at the National Water Research Institute in Burlington, Ontario. The Research Support Branch includes Engineering, Technical Operations and Computer Support. Field data are processed, pre-quality controlled and archived to common formats that have been in effect for over 30 years. Technical Operations has over 30 years of experience in the deployment, refurbishing and retrieval of observation platforms in large deep lakes including polar lakes.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Research on Great Slave Lake through GEWEX-MAGS extended from 1997-2002. Meteorological buoys, meteorological platforms, eddy covariance system, and instrumentation was decommissioned in 2002. Some mooring equipment remained at Hay River in storage. This equipment must be redeployed to support the IPY experiment. Logistics for redeployment (i.e. measurement sites, mooring set-ups etc) are well known from the previous research). Aspects of the proposed research on Great Bear Lake are currently ongoing but in the final stage in 2005. We propose to extend the research on Great Bear Lake but to include temperature moorings. This will require a vessel with the capability to deploy the moorings. There are no coast guard certified capable vessels to deploy such moorings for Great Bear Lake and as such a vessel will have to be outfitted and transported to Deline through ice road. An LOI to CFCAS has included a component of research for Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake to conduct simultaneous observations in both lake. The Great Slave Lake component would only include an eddy covariance system on Inner Whaleback Island. In the IPY experiment we propose to conduct intensive and detailed heat and mass transfer and lake thermal experiments and modelling on both lakes. This will require full deployment of appropriate meteorological buoys, temperature moorings and meteorological / radiation platforms. Funding: 2007 - 2009 -Salary: $150k/yr for 3 years -Capital: $175k total -O & M: $150k/yr for 3 years

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor William Schertzer
National Water Research Institute
Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Rd.
Burlington, Ontario
L7R 4A6
Canada

Tel: (905) 336-4770
Mobile: no
Fax: (905) 336-6230
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation