Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 31)

1.1 Title of Activity
Late Holocene fluctuations of oceanic polar front. Paleoceanographic record of climatic changes in marine sediments of Southern Spitsbergen.

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
HOLOPOL

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Marek Zajaczkowski
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences
Poland

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences
NULL
NULL
NULL

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
Norway
NULL
NULL
NULL
Sweden
NULL
NULL
NULL
Germany
NULL
NULL
NULL
Russia
NULL
NULL
NULL

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
183,62,896,42,329

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Arctic

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
4. Exploring new frontiers
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
1. Natural or social science

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

The main aim of the project is identification of the oceanic polar front fluctuations, changes in glacial processes activities in the Late Holocene and their impact on sedimentation and productivity in the Hornsund fjord and at the adjacent shelf region, SW Spitsbergen. This region is particularly sensitive to climate fluctuations. The main reason for that is oceanographic regime characterized by north-flowing warm Atlantic Water in the West Spitsbergen Current and cold Polar Water transported by Sørkapp Current.
The goal is going to be reached through combined analysis of existing oceanological data from polar front zone for the last decade (AREX database), studies on modern sedimentological and ecological conditions in the area of interest and high resolution multiproxy study of sediment cores retrieved in a transect across polar front zone. The study of sediment cores will integrate sedimentological, micropaleontological, geochemical and radiochemical techniques and is expected to allow reconstruction of water salinity and temperature changes as well as vertical particulate fluxes of mineral and biogenic fractions.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
The project integrates the following disciplines: paleoceanography; ocanography geochemistry, marine ecology and paleoecology

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
Improved tools (e.g. transfer functions) for reconstructing oceanological and ecological conditions of the past.Detail reconstruction of periods of natural Arctic warming, as well as, natural and anthropogenic warming during the last century
Better understanding of the effects of future Arctic warming.

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?
Existing field stations

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?

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3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This is a new activity developed for the IPY period

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
The project is coordinated by Marek Zajaczkowski (Institute of Oceanology PAN, Sopot Poland).The umbrella for our proposal will be the IPY proposal 183 ‘APEX’. The proposed APEX Steering Committee consists of one representative from each of the participating countries. Additional representatives will be included as the project expands.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
A reference set of surface sediment samples from high latitudes.Institution and nation collaboration
Training of future polar scientists

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
No

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
HOLOPOL will be coordinated under APEX (IPY 183). APEX addresses Arctic paleoclimate and its extremes. The main link will be to WARMPAST (IPY 786) with which cooperation will apply to sediment coring and laboratory analyze. HOLOPOL is also linked with BIPOMAC (IPY 62) which provides the umbrella for international and multidisciplinary study of climate variability as recorded in high-resolution (Pleistocene-Holocene) marine, terrestrial and ice core records.

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
The data of this project will be archived, published and distributed through the IO PAN database system http://www.iopan.gda.pl/projects
The list of marine benthic species will be archived and distributed through the web page of European Marine Biodiversity Sites http://www.iopan.gda.pl/projects/biodaff/ in European Register of Marine Species order.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
Including of students and PhD students into research.
Including the results into teaching programs of collaborants

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Develop a web-page for scientific and public outreach

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
Polish participants: funding will be applied to the Ministry of Scientific Research and Information Technology; own budget.

3.11 Additional Comments

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Dr Marek Zajaczkowski
Institure of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences
55 Powstancow Warszawy Str. SOPOT
81-712
Poland

Tel:          +48 585517283
Mobile:   +48 606857328
Fax:         +48 585512130
Email:      

Second Contact
Dr Witold Szczucinski
Instutute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan,
16 Makow Polnych Srt.
61-606
Poland

Tel:          +48 618296040
Mobile:   +48 502545923
Fax:         +48 618296001
Email:     

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation