Documents

SCAR XXVIII 23: Proposal for a SCAR Scientific Research Programme on Antarctica and the Global Climate System (AGCS)

Programme Summary

This proposal outlines a programme of research to investigate the nature of the atmospheric and oceanic linkages between the climate of the Antarctic and the rest of the Earth system, and the mechanisms involved therein. This work is a high priority and will require a combination of modern instrumented records of atmospheric and oceanic conditions, and the climate signals held within ice cores to understand fully past and future climate variability and change in the Antarctic as a result of natural and anthropogenic forcings. The primary time period to be considered will be approximately the Holocene (about the last 10,000 years) to 100 years in the future, but records that capture abrupt climate change over earlier periods will also be used as necessary.

The programme will make use of existing deep and shallow ice cores, satellite data, the output of global and regional coupled atmosphere-ocean climate models and in-situ meteorological and oceanic data to understand the means by which signals of tropical and mid-latitude climate variability reach the Antarctic, and high latitude climate signals are exported northwards. The emphasis will be on synthesis and integration of existing data sets and model output, although some new ice core and oceanographic data will be collected.

There will be four major, closely linked themes of research. (1) Decadal time scale variability in the Antarctic climate system, which will investigate ocean-atmosphere coupling, the role played by radiative processes and the role of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation in modulating the Antarctic climate. (2) Global and regional climate signals in ice cores to establish better quantitative relationships between ice core data and measures of tropical, mid- and high latitude climate variability (3) Natural and anthropogenic forcing on the Antarctic climate system, including the production of regional-scale estimates of expected climate change over Antarctica during the next 100 years. (4) The export of Antarctic climate signals, to examine the means by which climate changes in the Antarctic can influence conditions at more northerly latitudes

The programme will be a valuable contribution to the International Polar Year planned for 2007- 2008, especially their Themes 1, 2 and 3 dealing respectively with environmental variability, change, and teleconnections. We plan to use the IPY as a Special Observing Period to test models and high-low latitude climate signal transfer functions.

As part of the programme we will create a new web-based inventory of data extracted from Antarctic ice cores to complement the SCAR READER data base of mean in-situ meteorological data. The future climate scenarios produced will be of great value to the Life Sciences SSG in their consideration of how the Antarctic biota will evolve over the next century.

SCAR XXVIII 24: Proposal for a SCAR Scientific Research Programme on Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic (EBA)

Programme Executive Summary

This proposed Scientific Research Programme (SRP) entitled Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic (EBA): the response of life to change. EBA will use a suite of modern techniques and an interdisciplinary approach, to explore the evolutionary history of selected modern Antarctic biota, examine how modern biological diversity in the Antarctic influences the way present-day ecosystems function, and thereby predict how the biota may respond to future environmental change. For the first time The scientific community it will integrate under- standing across the major realms of Antarctic biology (marine, terrestrial, freshwater, from molecules to eco- systems) into the cohesive picture that is a prerequisite of Earth System Science. EBA will advance evolutionary and ecological science using model systems and organisms from the Antarctic, facilitating interdisciplinary investigations of systems responses to change. To achieve these goals the broad objectives of this programme are to:

1. Link with geoscientist to establish more clearly the evolutionary history of the Antarctic biota.
2. Compare evolutionary adaptations to the Antarctic environment in a range of organisms and thereby determine general principles.
3. Explore patterns of gene flow within, into and out from the Antarctic, and determine their consequences for population dynamics.
4. Identify patterns and examine diversity of organisms, ecosystems and habitats in the Ant- arctic, together with the ecological and evolu- tionary processes that control these.
5. Study the impact of past, current and predicted environmental change on biodiversity and the consequences for Antarctic marine, terrestrial and limnetic ecosystem function.

SCAR XXVIII 25: Proposal for a SCAR Scientific Research Programme on Interhemispheric Conjugacy Effects in Solar-Terrestrial and Aeronomy Research (ICESTAR)

Programme Summary

A major challenge facing environmental science and policy is understanding the interactions between, and collective behavior of, the many component parts of the Earth system, including the interaction be- tween the natural environment and human society. This requires both the specification and prediction of the state of the system, involving the assimilation and integration of data from disparate sources (disparate instruments, sampling various locations, operated by different people and organizations). Near-Earth space (geospace) is an integral part of the Earth system, providing the material link between the Sun and Earth, primarily through the polar regions, and posing a potential hazard to space-borne and ground based tech- nology on which Society is increasingly dependent. Understanding of the complex geospace environment has matured to the level of being able to describe many of its component parts and a major goal now is to seek a unified framework that can specify and predict its global state and, therefore, “space weather”. To enable this, this programme will establish a forum and working groups to provide a portal on the World Wide Web to all Antarctic geospace data and metadata, and tools for extracting and reducing these data into value-added products, similar to those available or being developed in other areas of SCAR science.

Antarctica offers a privileged position to remotely sense the vast region of geospace (extending over millions kilometers from the planet) because the Earth’s magnetic field focuses the effects of geospace into the polar regions and Antarctica has a land mass on which to base instruments at high latitudes, yet Antarc- tica has been under-exploited relative to the Arctic. Recently there has been substantial investment by a number of countries in sophisticated instrumentation providing a grid of instruments over much of the Southern Polar Region. Further instruments are to be installed in the near future that will pro- vide coverage equal to and in some cases better than that in the Northern Polar Region. There is now the capability to investigate conjugate relationships at an unprecedented level of detail. ICESTAR is designed to exploit this and one of the main results of the programme will be the enhanced visibility, acces- sibility, and usability of the Antarctic geospace data to enable whole-system geospace research, including interhemispheric and ground-space studies, and new cross-disciplinary research such as teleconnections between the upper and lower levels of the atmosphere.

ICESTAR will have four working groups that will specifically focus on:

1. Quantifying and understanding the similarities and differences between the Northern and Southern polar upper atmospheres, under the varying influence of the solar electromagnetic radiation and of the solar wind.
2. Quantifying the effects on the polar ionosphere and atmosphere of the magnetospheric electromag- netic fields and plasma populations, from the radiation belts to the tail plasma.
3. Quantifying the atmospheric consequences of the global electric circuit and further understanding the electric circuit in the middle atmosphere as guided by the electric fields generated at the solar wind–magnetosphere interface.
4. Creating a data portal that will integrate all of the polar data sets and modeling results. This data portal will enable the research to be conducted by the other working groups.

We request funding to have yearly workshops which will focus on the implementation of the data portal and updating the community on research which has been conducted under this programme.

SCAR XXVIII 26: Proposal for a SCAR Scientific Research Programme on Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE)

Program Executive Summary

It is proposed to form a Scientific Research Program (SRP) entitled “Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments (SALE)” to serve as the international focal point of SCAR’s activities to promote, facilitate, and champion cooperation and collaboration in the exploration and study of subglacial environments in Antarctica. SALE will be constituted for a period of eight years with twelve members’ representative of the disciplines and expertise fundamental to subglacial lake exploration

SALE will:

• guide the development and implementation of the SRP’s activities including changes in course as indicated by events and progress;
• encourage and facilitate communication and collaboration between scientists and technologists involved in subglacial lake environment exploration and research;
• advise the international community through SCAR on scientific and technology issues including addressing environmental concerns and proposing safeguards;
• promote partnerships, collaboration, data and sample access, common data management protocols and data sharing to facilitate and expedite the advancement of Antarctic science and knowledge;
• summarize and report results to the wider scientific community, policy makers, and the lay public in available venues;
• encourage adherence to the agreed guiding principles for subglacial environment stewardship, exploration, research, and data management;
• advocate subglacial lake environments exploration and research to National Committees, scientific communities, policy makers, and the lay public;
• establish scientific liaisons and logistics cooperation with other Antarctic entities and activities in close partnership and coordination with COMNAP;
• respond to requests from SCAR for expert advice in a timely manner including convening of expert groups when needed;
• maintain an up-to-date inventory of subglacial lakes, develop a standard identification scheme, and maintain a current bibliography;
• provide advice on minimization of contamination for entry, sensor package deployments, and sampling technologies and engage independent third party experts as needed for objective advice and guidance;
• organize and conduct workshops, scientific sessions, and symposia;
• provide a web site with links to activities related to subglacial lake environments including national programs, meetings, reports, and data repositories;
• convene and conduct scientific, methodological and technology workshops;
• provide a centralized focus for outreach efforts including promotional materials, an available speaker and topic list, creation of interactive tools for educating the public, meeting reports, regular press releases, and contact information for the media; and
• develop and promote common protocols and standards for data management to ensure access, quality and comparability across programs including the development of a portal to data repositories held by others.

The overarching scientific objectives of SALE are:

• To understand the formation and evolution of subglacial lake processes and environments.
• To determine the origins, evolution and maintenance of life in subglacial lake environments.
• To understand the limnology and paleoclimate history recorded in subglacial lake sediments.

The proposed SRP for SALE supports SCAR’s mission, vision, and goals as outlined in the “First SCAR Long Range Strategic Plan” by providing a venue to ensure SCAR leadership in leading-edge interdisciplinary Antarctic exploration and science. SALE will facilitate and coordinate research among interested nations to develop greater scientific understanding of the nature and evolution of the Antarctic region and its processes, the role of Antarctica in the Earth System with particular reference to changing climate, and provide a basis for understanding the effect of global and human change by deciphering the past evolution of the continent and life over millions of years. The new knowledge gained about the workings of the Earth System will be communicated to policy makers and the lay public in understandable formats. SALE will be an advocate for environmentally sound subglacial lake environment exploration and research. While environmental, logistical and technological challenges are many, SALE will closely coordinate it efforts with COMNAP, national committees, and the ATCM to ensure that the best available knowledge is brought to bear on the varied issues that must be addressed. The SALE network will allow countries to participate at a level commensurate with available national resources while benefiting from a team effort intended increase the capacity of all of its members by sharing of collective expertise, experiences, and knowledge. Subglacial lake environments have already generated great public interest and SALE will capitalize on this interest with a vigorous outreach program that will assist in incorporating Antarctic sciences into the education process from “K-Gray” and communicate findings to the public.

Subglacial lake environments are emerging as a major new frontier theme of the International Polar Year in 2007-2009. The designation of SALE as a SRP will position SCAR to be a leader in the International Polar Year (IPY) in this topical area. SALE provides an international focal point for the exploration and study of subglacial lake environments. Initial plans have been agreed to form an international network of exploration and research programs under the auspices of SALE to coordinate activities during the IPY 2007-2009 and after.

SCAR XXVIII 27: Activities of the SCAR Secretariat since XXVII SCAR and Plans for 2005 and Beyond

SCAR XXVIII 28: Report on Putting into Effect the Recommendations of the SCAR Review 2000

This paper outlines actions taken against each of the 20 recommendations from the 2000 Review of SCAR.

SCAR XXVIII 29: First SCAR Long-term Strategic Plan (2004-2010)

Executive Summary

The future beckons, and SCAR needs to choose what directions to take to ensure that it continues to make a significant impact on scientific research in the Antarctic region. SCAR’s mission as redefined in this document is “to be the leading edge independent organisation for facilitating and coordinating research in Antarctica, and identifying issues emerging from greater scientific understanding that should be brought to the attention of policy makers”. In order to better achieve that mission SCAR has recently made a number of structural changes in response to the recommendations of a major Review in the year 2000. As one of the environmental bodies of the International Council for Science (ICSU), SCAR also had to address the new requirements for such bodies that were first promulgated by ICSU in February 2004 (Annex 2). And, looking ahead to the medium term, SCAR had to consider the nature of its role in a major international event – the proposed International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008. A document was needed to set out the way in which SCAR has responded or proposes to respond to these various new requirements, and to provide a roadmap for the future.

The Long Term Strategic Plan for 2004-2010 is that document. It looks across three biennial planning cycles. It continues the emphasis on making SCAR more proactive; improving the planning and decision making functions during the biennial SCAR cycle; modernising SCAR’s secretariat; implementing change rapidly to maintain and enhance SCAR’s position as the authoritative international leader for scientific research in Antarctica; and engaging with national Antarctic committees and other adhering bodies to renew their commitments to SCAR. The Plan will be revisited at each biennial meeting of the SCAR Delegates, and revised as appropriate.

When approved by Delegates, the Strategic Plan will be converted into an Implementation Plan with time lines. The work programme and budget that the Delegates approve at SCAR XXVIII will be the short-term component of the Implementation Plan for the first 2 years of the period covered by the Plan.

The Plan sets out where SCAR fits in the world of science by defining SCAR’s Vision and Mission. The Plan meets the Review’s recommendations to broaden SCAR’s mission, and ICSU’s requirements, by establishing the following five Main Objectives:

1. to initiate, develop, and co-ordinate leading edge international scientific activity in the Antarctic region, and on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth System;
2. to provide objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and other organizations on issues of science and conservation affecting the management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
3. to facilitate free and unrestricted access to Antarctic scientific data and information;
4. to develop scientific capacity in all SCAR Members, especially with respect to younger scientists, and to promote the incorporation of Antarctic science in education at all levels;
5. to communicate scientific information about the results of SCAR’s activities to the public.

The first two of these objectives are modifications of the three objectives defined in the previous SCAR Constitution. The three new ones are responses to proposals made by the 2000 Review of SCAR, and by ICSU in 2004. Achieving these objectives will enhance SCAR’s role as ICSU’s authoritative voice on the state and development of science in the Antarctic region.

Underpinning these major objectives, and contributing to their success are two Cross Cutting Objectives: (6) to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility of the structure, working mechanisms and practices of SCAR; and (7) to increase funding to match requirements, and to maintain a healthy funding stream.

The Strategic Plan recommends that SCAR should play a primary role in the implementation of the proposed IPY, supporting and, where appropriate, leading the implementation of the Antarctic elements of the IPY Science Plan. The Strategic Plan calls for creation of a SCAR IPY Committee to work in consultation with the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) to advise the SCAR Executive Committee on the IPY Science and Implementation Plans, on the potential roles of SCAR in the IPY structure and process, and on progress in involving SCAR in IPY activities.

The Strategic Plan supports the focus of SCAR’s efforts on a small number of major Scientific Research Programmes. It calls on SCAR scientists to maintain, strengthen and diversify links with other ICSU bodies. It requires the Standing Scientific Groups (SSGs) to consider, in their planning, the contribution of Antarctic science to global issues, and the effects of global processes on the Antarctic region. It requests SSGs to consider the needs of global monitoring programmes for long-term measurements. It calls for SCAR, in partnership with the space agencies and others, to lead the development of a major international and bi- polar Cryosphere Theme to create a framework for improved coordination of cryospheric observations derived from scientific research, long-term scientific monitoring, and operational programmes. And it suggests a closer cooperation on scientific matters in future with the International Arctic Science Council (IASC).

Over the 6-year period covered by the Strategic Plan, SCAR will:

• increase its efforts to actively bring to the attention of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and other appropriate bodies, issues identified by advances in scientific understanding
• increase its efforts to improve access to, and the sharing of, data and information. It will give especial consideration to the ways in which data and information from the Antarctic region are to be managed within the context of the IPY and afterwards. A strategy for data and information management is required to guide SCAR and COMNAP in the future. To ensure that present arrangements are effective there should be an external review, by data and information management experts, of the Joint Committee on Antarctic Data Management (JCADM) including its interaction with SCAR’s Expert Group on Geographical Information. Recognising that geographical location is a fundamental element for integrating and communicating Antarctic science data and information, SCAR aims to establish and maintain an Antarctic Spatial Data Infrastructure (ANTSDI).
• take a significant new step in expanding efforts to build the Antarctic scientific research capabilities of new and less developed Members. The Plan recommends the creation of an ad hoc SCAR Capacity Building and Education Group to develop a Capacity Building and Education Plan, in consultation with the corresponding units of COMNAP. Capacity building should become an integral component of SCAR activities and be included in all science proposals. A Vice President will be responsible for this Group and for advising the Executive Committee on Capacity Building and Education.
• improve the way it communicates about Antarctic science to the public. A Communications Plan will be developed by the Secretariat, in consultation with Members, Officers and the Executive to guide this process. A Vice President will be made responsible for Communication.

To ensure that SCAR continues to operate to high standards, the Plan calls for SCAR’s performance to be reviewed by an independent group at intervals of 8 years, with the next review being in 2008.

The effects of inflation since 1995, when the membership subscription was last raised, have been to reduce the value of the SCAR contributions by $77000 per year in 2004. An increase of funding to the 1995 level of activity is therefore required if SCAR is to be able to support an appropriate number of major Scientific Research Programmes.

In addition, the costs associated with hiring an Executive Director to meet the requirements of the SCAR Review amount to an additional $85000 per year. These costs are currently being met by draining the cash reserve, which cannot be continued for long. Additional funds are required if SCAR is to continue to benefit from the work of an Executive Director.

It is clear from the experience of other similar organisations that much more could be done to attract extra contributions from a few specific agencies towards specific targeted activities. Such funds are much more likely to be available from national agencies than private foundations. However they are more likely to be granted for the support of specific scientific programmes than to support administrative costs.

This analysis suggests that a significant rise in the membership subscription is warranted to cover the costs of maintaining the Secretariat at its present size. That rise should also be large enough to cover all or some of the shortfall in science funding since 1995. The combined shortfall amounts to $160,000/year. Options for redressing the balance will be presented to the XXVIII SCAR Delegates in a Financial Strategy paper.

Delegates can play a key role in aiding the Secretariat to seek new resources. The Terms of Reference of the Standing Committee on Finance could be modified to require it (in addition to other functions): “to provide advice to the Delegates and, inter-sessionally to the Executive Committee and Secretariat, on potential funding sources for specific SCAR activities”. Advice on external resources could be obtained from an ad hoc Task Team on Resources, reporting to the Finance Committee, and comprising agency experts having wide knowledge of potential funding sources.

SCAR XXVIII 30: History of Institutionalisation of Antarctic Research within SCAR

Cornelia Lüdecke
Centre for the History of Science, Mathematics and Technology University of Hamburg

Proposal for the establishment of an Action Group under the Delegate Committee on Standing Committees and Outreach

Program Summary

The aim of the history group is to obtain insight in the development, how Antarctic research was institutionalised within SCAR. We want to study to what degree research in the Antarctic has been driven by scientific criteria and to what extent compromises were made in the light of political barriers and logistical limitations. In historical perspective, a review will be made of essential background factors at work, both scientific and non-scientific ones, when nations were moved to participate in the IGY (1957-58) at time of the Cold War. Additionally socio-culturel background factors will be considered with regard to major nations that chose not to contribute to the IGY.

SCAR XXVIII 31: SCAR Constitution

SCAR XXVIII 32: SCAR Rules of Procedure

SCAR XXVIII 33: Rules of Procedure for SCAR Subsidiary Groups

SCAR XXVIII 36: Activities of the SCAR Executive Committee

August 2002 – September 2004

SCAR XXVIII 38: Recent Developments at ICSU Relevant to SCAR

In developing the First SCAR Long-term Strategic Plan we shall have to take on board not only our own review of SCAR, but also the recent review of SCAR by ICSU, as well as the new charge laid on all ICSU bodies by the February 2004 ICSU Executive Board. The relevant texts are provided in this paper. ICSU’s requirements should be taken on board by all SCAR Officers, including the Executive Committee, Secretariat, and Chief Officers of the SSGs.

SCAR XXVIII 39: SCAR, WCRP and Global Change Research in the Antarctic Region

SCAR XXVIII 40: Concept Paper on an IGOS Cryosphere Theme (IGOS-Cryo)

Background

The IGOS-P-10bis Partners’ meeting in Colorado Springs on November 21, 2003, decided that the world’s realm of ice, the Cryosphere, was a key missing element in the coverage of the planet’s environments by IGOS Themes. Colin Summerhayes was charged with working together with appropriate partners to develop an outline for a Cryosphere Theme for consideration by the Partners at their 11th meeting. This paper relates to that action.

SCAR XXVIII 41: SCAR Comments on the IPY 2007-2008

Executive Summary

SCAR is keen to participate at the highest level in providing advice for, and overseeing the execution of, the IPY.

SCAR considers that a comprehensive data and information management strategy that facilitates easy access to data collected during the IPY, and its use in geographical information systems, should be an integral and essential part of the IPY legacy.

The IPY Plan should recognise explicitly the major SCAR activities that have been endorsed by the community, and on the planning of which considerable effort has been spent in recent months (or years). These programmes should be allocated a high priority for investment, with the highest priority being for subsets of these programme activities that require Special Observations during the IPY. These major programmes offer the IPY the opportunity to develop several of the long term observatories that are called for in the IPY Science Plan, because the SCAR programmes have a longer time frame than the IPY and require continuity of measurement beyond the IPY time frame.

Turning to specific scientific activities:

1. IPY could be used to get complete coverage with radars for observing geospace as a contribution to SCAR’s ICESTAR programme.
2. Traverses across Dome A during the IPY could be valuable in helping to assess the viability of that area for an eventual large diameter astronomical telescope.
3. A Circum-Antarctic Census of Marine Life (CoML) programme during the IPY will make a valuable contribution to global understanding; provide an excellent base-line for the marine biological studies proposed as part of SCAR’s Programme on Evolutionary Biology of Antarctica; and ensure that the Southern Ocean is represented in the CoML within the global CoML time frame (which ends in 2010).
4. The IPY offers an opportunity to develop an integrated IPY Southern Ocean observing system that includes synoptic, multidisciplinary transects; time series measurements; enhanced atmospheric measurements; and new paleoclimate data sets, all making an essential contribution to understanding the role of Antarctica in the Global Climate System.
5. The IPY offers the opportunity for a major bi-polar ice drilling programme in which a large number of shallow ice cores are drilled in many places in both the Arctic and the Antarctic to enable us to understand annual to multi-decadal scale regional variability and its links to large scale atmospheric circulation and topography, and to provide essential input to climate models.
6. The IPY should take a geological perspective on climate change, on time scales approaching the time resolution of ice cores but extending much further back into the past. This involves:
   1. understanding the interactions of climate and the polar cryosphere in the Antarctic in order to resolve global linkages between sea level, oceanic circulation and atmospheric systems;
   2. examining the interplay of northern and southern polar processes in driving and amplifying global climate variability; and
   3. assessing the role of polar ocean gateways in controlling exchanges of energy and matter in polar waters.
7. Recognising the importance of the undersampled cryosphere in the global system, the IPY should support the Cryosphere Theme of the IGOS Partners to improve coordination of cryospheric observations, and the generation of the data and information needed by the research and operational forecasting and climate forecasting communities.
8. There is no continent on Earth other than Antarctica that has a huge central mountain range for which an explanation in terms of plate tectonics does not exist. The IPY offers the opportunity to focus geological attention on the subglacial highlands of the Gamburtsev Mountains hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, which may have played a significant role in the development of the ice sheet through time.
9. The IPY provides an opportunity for an intensive period of initial exploration of subglacial Antarctic lake environments that will advance scientific discoveries in glaciology, biogeochemistry, paleoclimate, biology, geology and tectonics, and ecology to a new level that could not otherwise be achieved by a single nation or program.
10. Taking into account new broad initiatives in data acquisition during IP Y , the polar year calls for the development of a benchmark series of geological and geophysical maps.
11. The IPY offers the opportunity to create a network of autonomous geological and/or geophysical observatories across Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, to investigate systems-scale polar geodynamics and interactions with the cryosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

SCAR XXVIII 43a: SCAR Budget and Financial Statement for 2002

SCAR XXVIII 43b: SCAR Bank Accounts 2002

SCAR XXVIII 44a: SCAR Budget and Financial Statement for 2003

SCAR XXVIII 44b: SCAR Bank Accounts 2003