Future research needs and Future research needs and priorities for Permafrost & priorities for Permafrost & Periglacial environments of Periglacial environments of

AntarcticaAntarctica

Our diverse groupOur diverse group Earth scientists (soil, geology, geophysics)Earth scientists (soil, geology, geophysics) GeomorphologistsGeomorphologists Permafrost climatologistsPermafrost climatologists Planetary scientistsPlanetary scientists EcologistsEcologists Remote sensing/GIS specialistsRemote sensing/GIS specialists Environmental scientistsEnvironmental scientists GlaciologistsGlaciologists

SCAR Science QuestionsSCAR Science Questions

a.a. Age and history of Antarctic permafrost, Age and history of Antarctic permafrost, landscape dynamics, & evolution (including landscape dynamics, & evolution (including erosion, ground ice formation, patterned ground)erosion, ground ice formation, patterned ground)

b.b. Impact of climate change on permafrostImpact of climate change on permafrostc.c. Physical and chemical weatheringPhysical and chemical weatheringd.d. Layer processes along environmental gradientsLayer processes along environmental gradientse.e. The role of permafrost and frost action in The role of permafrost and frost action in

Antarctic biodiversity and soil ecologyAntarctic biodiversity and soil ecologyf.f. Research methods (geophysics & drilling)Research methods (geophysics & drilling)g.g. Impact of human activity on permafrost Impact of human activity on permafrost

(contaminants)(contaminants)h.h. Astrobiology and planetary analogsAstrobiology and planetary analogs

Climate Climate warming warming

and and EnvironmentEnvironment

al Changeal Change

OpportunitiesOpportunities

IPY USA Proposals due January 14, 2005IPY USA Proposals due January 14, 2005 The International Council for Science (ICSU) and World The International Council for Science (ICSU) and World

Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a call for Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a call for preliminary expressions of intent from those seeking to preliminary expressions of intent from those seeking to participation in International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008. participation in International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008. The US National Committee to the IPY has made these The US National Committee to the IPY has made these available on our website as available on our website as http://us-http://us-ipy.orgipy.org. Briefly, . Briefly, there are three relevant documents:there are three relevant documents:

-- A letter from ICSU-WMO explaining the procedure and -- A letter from ICSU-WMO explaining the procedure and deadline (14 January)deadline (14 January)-- Annex 1: Expression of Intent Form-- Annex 1: Expression of Intent Form-- Annex 2: Criteria for Identifying IPY Activities -- Annex 2: Criteria for Identifying IPY Activities

Canadian International Polar Canadian International Polar Year Program Pre-proposal Year Program Pre-proposal

solicitationsolicitation

The first call for submitting International The first call for submitting International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 project Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 project proposals to the IPY Joint Committee is fast proposals to the IPY Joint Committee is fast approaching. In advance of the IPY approaching. In advance of the IPY deadline of January 10, 2005, the deadline of January 10, 2005, the Canadian Steering Committee for IPY Canadian Steering Committee for IPY (CSC) is soliciting preproposals by (CSC) is soliciting preproposals by December 6, 2004.December 6, 2004.

Environmental change topicsEnvironmental change topics Climate changeClimate change

Climate history as recorded in soils and permafrostClimate history as recorded in soils and permafrost Climate history as recorded in boreholesClimate history as recorded in boreholes Climate history from lake sediments (”Mumyo”)Climate history from lake sediments (”Mumyo”)

Antarctica and the prediction of future climate changeAntarctica and the prediction of future climate change Age of permafrost and soils; paleoclimateAge of permafrost and soils; paleoclimate Model energy transfers at an implemented CALM-S network, including Model energy transfers at an implemented CALM-S network, including

validation sites for climate modelsvalidation sites for climate models Impact of changing climate on permafrost and infrastructureImpact of changing climate on permafrost and infrastructure Influence of permafrost on biogeochemical cycling and carbon Influence of permafrost on biogeochemical cycling and carbon

dynamicsdynamics Periglacial features as indicator of past and current environmental Periglacial features as indicator of past and current environmental

changechange Feedbacks of thawing permafrost on climateFeedbacks of thawing permafrost on climate

Hydrates Lake BonneyHydrates Lake Bonney Climate forcing factors – Milankovitch, etc.Climate forcing factors – Milankovitch, etc.

Anthropogenic impactsAnthropogenic impacts Protection of extreme habitatProtection of extreme habitat Global pollutantsGlobal pollutants Development vs. protection of high-latitude/high-elevation wilderness Development vs. protection of high-latitude/high-elevation wilderness

areasareas Delineate sensitive soils re: human impactsDelineate sensitive soils re: human impacts

Importance of Proposed Importance of Proposed Permafrost Drilling Project:Permafrost Drilling Project:

QuestionsQuestions How deep are dry-frozen materials?How deep are dry-frozen materials? Of what importance are buried soils for interpreting environmental Of what importance are buried soils for interpreting environmental

change (e.g., atmospheric conditions from salt chemistry)?change (e.g., atmospheric conditions from salt chemistry)? What are the consequences of melting of wet-frozen permafrost on What are the consequences of melting of wet-frozen permafrost on

transitory water?transitory water? Is there a biological signature from deep cores?Is there a biological signature from deep cores?

How is the biological signature related to climate?How is the biological signature related to climate?

ApproachApproach Aseptic drillingAseptic drilling Prototype for MarsPrototype for Mars Short (10Short (1022 yr) and long-term (10 yr) and long-term (106 6 yr, mountain sites) scalesyr, mountain sites) scales Cryopedological and cryolithological studies - geochemistry/mineralogy, Cryopedological and cryolithological studies - geochemistry/mineralogy,

isotopic analysisisotopic analysis Ground-Penetrating Radar, echo sounding, and other geophysical Ground-Penetrating Radar, echo sounding, and other geophysical

techniquestechniques Cosmogenic and exposure datingCosmogenic and exposure dating Fine-increment temperature probesFine-increment temperature probes

Importance of Climate Importance of Climate Warming on Andes Permafrost:Warming on Andes Permafrost:

QuestionsQuestions What impact will melting of Patagonian Ice Caps have on What impact will melting of Patagonian Ice Caps have on

local water supply?local water supply? What will be the impacts of physical disturbance and What will be the impacts of physical disturbance and

environment change on livelihood of indigenous peoples environment change on livelihood of indigenous peoples in SA (e.g., flooding, agriculture, mass wasting)?in SA (e.g., flooding, agriculture, mass wasting)?

ApproachApproach Mineralogy of buried soils and climate changeMineralogy of buried soils and climate change

[make summary table showing relevance for (1) SH, (2) [make summary table showing relevance for (1) SH, (2) periantarctic islands, (3) antarctic continent]periantarctic islands, (3) antarctic continent]

Biodiversity on Earth’s most Biodiversity on Earth’s most extreme terrestrial extreme terrestrial

environmentenvironment Simplest? Ecosystem Soil environmentsSimplest? Ecosystem Soil environments Habitat for survival versus freeze drying Habitat for survival versus freeze drying

(implications for astrobiology)(implications for astrobiology) Changes of physical and chemical Changes of physical and chemical

properties and relationships on active-properties and relationships on active-layer dynamics, soils, permafrost, layer dynamics, soils, permafrost, biodiversity, and vice versabiodiversity, and vice versa

Analogs for Mars and other Analogs for Mars and other planetsplanets

Ground ice models, detectionGround ice models, detection Use Antarctica as an analog for Use Antarctica as an analog for

chemical/physical weathering and soil chemical/physical weathering and soil development, including laboratory development, including laboratory simulationssimulations

GeomorphologyGeomorphology Survival and remnants of lifeSurvival and remnants of life Remote sensing tests/calibrationRemote sensing tests/calibration

LIDAR, microwave, visible/IR spectra, SAR, neutron LIDAR, microwave, visible/IR spectra, SAR, neutron spectrometers, gamma ray spectroscopy, other spectrometers, gamma ray spectroscopy, other geophysical methodsgeophysical methods

Concurrent ground truthing and validationConcurrent ground truthing and validation Test prototypes: coring, remote sensing in Test prototypes: coring, remote sensing in

soils, aseptic sampling proceduressoils, aseptic sampling procedures

Additional topics 1Additional topics 1 Identify selected areas for subsea Identify selected areas for subsea

permafrostpermafrost Study subglacial permafrost in Ross Sea area Study subglacial permafrost in Ross Sea area

and its impacts on ice sheet dynamics, and its impacts on ice sheet dynamics, hydrology, subglacial processeshydrology, subglacial processes Mass and energy modeling Mass and energy modeling Investigate “dirty ice” near Bratina Island (Ross Investigate “dirty ice” near Bratina Island (Ross

Ice Shelf)Ice Shelf) Ground penetrating radar, gravity, and other Ground penetrating radar, gravity, and other

geophysical techniquesgeophysical techniques Understanding salts origin and influenceUnderstanding salts origin and influence

Additional topics 2Additional topics 2

Use DEMs and adiabatic relationships Use DEMs and adiabatic relationships to model surface temperatures and to model surface temperatures and have an array of inexpensive probes have an array of inexpensive probes to validateto validate