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by CKennicutt — last modified 2008-09-03 11:20

Developing Scientific Research Programs

 Mawson telescope

The Antarctic Astronomy and Astrophysics proposal was approved at SCAR XXX to become a SCAR Scientific Research program in 2010 and it will coordinate efforts to:

    • Explore the potential for astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology from Antarctica
    • Enhance existing observatories and programs in Antarctica
    • Support the development of new facilities

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POLENETThe Polar Earth Observing Network Program Planning Group 

POLENET or The Polar Earth Observing Network is a consortium involving people from 28 nations that aims to dramatically improve the coverage of many different kinds of geophysical data across the polar regions of the Earth. It has been endorsed as a core activity of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008.

It will overcome the scarcity of observational systems in the Earth's polar regions and will provide a legacy in observational infrastructure. Technological capabilities in deploying autonomous systems in extreme environments will be developed and extended new datasets will be made available to the global science community.

Scientists, engineers, field assistants and students are deploying new GPS instruments, seismic stations, magnetometers, tide gauges, ocean-floor sensors and meteorological recorders. They are launching satellites, traveling to remote locations and combining their expertise across a vast range of data analysis techniques.

POLENET will enable new research into the interaction between the atmosphere, oceans, polar ice-sheets and the Earth's crust and mantle. New insights into the Earth's magnetic field and deep Earth structure will be possible from the important vantage point of high-latitude geophysical observatories.

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SCAR creates new scienific groups on a regular basis as need and interests are identified.

In addition to SRPs, SCAR science is conducted by Action Groups, Expert Groups, and Program Planning Groups. For details of existing groups go the Standing Scientific Group Web Pages. 

At XXX SCAR (July, 2008),  the following new scientific groups were approved, stay tuned for further developments or contact the SCAR Secretariat for the latest deails:

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    • NEW! - Action Group on “GPS Weather and Space Weather Forecast”

This is a joint proposal for a new action group in Geosciences and Physical Sciences,  is a product of the 2006 cross-linkages workshop, and has the goal to promote GPS data exchange and to provide ionospheric imaging, facilitate data and technology exchange with the broader community.

The group will deliver greater understanding of the polar ionosphere and ionospheric processes.

Specifically, the objectives of this group have the following aims:

        •  Ionospheric imaging over Antarctica.
        • Exchange of data and expertise for the application of tomography to other fields of interest for both the communities (e.g. 3D water vapour reconstruction).
        • Exchange of technologies to install and manage remote GPS stations.
        • .Possibility to host instruments in the polar stations

The group will involve the following:

      • One meeting per year among the WG members
      • Joint publications on peer reviewed journals
      • Joint presentation at national and international conferences
      • Web site realization, maintenance and updating 

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    • NEW! - Action group on Cold Seeps and Hydrothermal vents in the Antarctic

This Action Group will identify areas within the CCAMLR region likely to contain Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems around cold seeps and hydrothermal vents to assist in their management. It is proposed in response to CCAMLR Conservation Measure 22-06. The Action Group will:

      • Identify geophysical methods suitable for identifying areas of methane and hydrothermal discharge in the Antarctic.
      • Review existing geophysical data to identify regions with a higher likelihood of containing such discharge features.
      • Assess the vulnerability of biological communities associated with cold seeps and hydrothermal vents to anthropogenic impacts.

Results will be provided to CCAMLR in reports and GIS. Other science outputs will develop as results unfold. Proponent: Philip O’Brien, Australia

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    • NEW! - Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals

Noting that there is a benefit in merging the Expert Group on Birds and the Expert Group on Seals into one Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals (EGBMM)

The SSG-LS proposed the establishment of a group:

        • The Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals is established via a transitional period of two to three years, this at the discretion of the group. There will be an initial meeting of the group within one year. An evaluation of the group will be made after two years and be reported to the LSSSG meeting at XXXI SCAR in 2010. The outcome of the evaluation report will be decisive for further actions to be taken.
        • The group will continue the research currently in progress in the two constituent groups.
        • Meetings of the new group will be as much as possible combined. The group will meet in plenary or in two parallel sessions as they see fit and as the need arises.
        • All members and co-opted members of the two constituent groups will automatically become members or co-opted members of the new group.
        •  In the transitional phase the group will seek extension of the membership with experts in the field of processing of large data sets and mathematical modelling.
        • The group will consist of (i) a three person executive  - initially to be led by a D. Patterson-Fraser (co-ordinator), M. Bester, and a Secretary (vacancy), (ii) A core group of invited experts (10-15 people) and (iii) co-opted members from the wider community, as required.
        •  The Expert Group will, wherever possible, seek formal collaboration with similar groups from other ATS bodies, especially with a view to facilitating data exchange and management to improve the information and advice provided by this group to SCAR and to the ATS.
        • In one of its first meetings the group will discuss and adopt rules of procedure, especially with respect to the use of published and unpublished data.
        •  The provisional Terms of Reference for this group will be: 
            • To quantify the role of birds and marine mammals in the Antarctic marine and terrestrial ecosystems 
            • To work with other components of SCAR towards a multidisciplinary synthesis of biophysical and biochemical coupling mechanisms in the Antarctic. 
            • To collate and provide information on the status and trends of populations of specific species in the SCAR area of interest based on needs identified by SCAR or by the group.
            • To provide advice to ATS bodies and others as requested from time to time, as agreed by SCAR, and in collaboration with these bodies including the exchange of data.
            • Contribute to the conservation and management of Antarctic and subantarctic birds and mammals through the appropriate utilisation and interpretation of currently available scientific data. 

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  • NEW! - Expert Group on Continuous Plankton Recorder Research, with the following Terms of Reference: 

      • Provide guidance to the SCAR Southern Ocean CPR Survey in order to meet the survey objectives.
        • Map the biodiversity and distribution of plankton, including euphausiid (krill) life stages, in the Southern Ocean.
        • Use the sensitivity of plankton to environmental change as early warning indicators of the health of Southern Ocean, by studying spatial-temporal variation in plankton patterns.
        • Serve as reference on the general status of the Southern Ocean for other monitoring programs.
      • Develop and maintain the SO-CPR Database and to improve access for users.
      • Expand and enhance the SO-CPR Survey to include more ships and repeat transects around Antarctica.
      • Provide appropriate advice on CPR methodology, data and results to SCAR and to the ATS.

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  • NEW! - Action Group on Polar Atmospheric Chemistry at the Tropopause (PACT)

The proposed activities will provide the international community with new information to assist in model validation and in simulation of this important part of the polar atmosphere. The group propose at timeline with production of data, a scientific publication and a report to SCAR to be completed by July 2010. The full proposal is available from SSG/PS.

A new action group is proposed to seek better under standing of the changes in the temperature structure of the Antarctic troposphere and regional climate variations by promoting investigation of radiative and dynamical processes at the tropopause. The group will do this by making new information derived from ozonesondes available to the international scientific community for study of the polar tropopause.

Specifically, the group will add key polar tropopause region parameters to the International Global Radiosonde Archive:

      •  High resolution profiles of ozone mixing ratio and partial pressure in the vicinity of the tropopause.
      •  Height of the chemical tropopause derived using ozone measurements.
      • Forward and backward analysis of air parcel history for selected parcels sampled by ozonesondes and radiosondes.
      • This task will involve analysis and preparation of data, development of tools and development of a database.

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  •  NEW! -  Action Group on Polar Atmospheric Chemistry at the Tropopause (PACT)

A new action group is proposed to seek better under standing of the changes in the temperature structure of the Antarctic troposphere and regional climate variations by promoting investigation of radiative and dynamical processes at the tropopause. The group will do this by making new information derived from ozonesondes available to the international scientific community for study of the polar tropopause.

Specifically, the group will add key polar tropopause region parameters to the International Global Radiosonde Archive:

  • High resolution profiles of ozone mixing ratio and partial pressure in the vicinity of the tropopause.
  • Height of the chemical tropopause derived using ozone measurements.
  • Forward and backward analysis of air parcel history for selected parcels sampled by ozonesondes and radiosondes.

This task will involve analysis and preparation of data, development of tools and development of a database.

The proposed activities will provide the international community with new information to assist in model validation and in simulation of this important part of the polar atmosphere.  The group propose at timeline with production of data, a scientific publication and a report to SCAR to be completed by July 2010. The full proposal is available from SSG/PS.

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  • NEW! -  Action Group on GPS for weather and space weather forecasting

This proposed new Action Group aims to bring together researchers from the former ICESTAR SRP with the POLENET network to provide ionospheric imaging, facilitate data and technology exchange with the broader community. Using new techniques, the group will deliver greater understanding of the polar ionosphere and ionospheric processes.

Specifically, the objectives of this group has the following aims:

      • Ionospheric imaging over Antarctica.
      •  Exchange of data and expertise for the application of tomography to other fields of interest for both the communities (e.g. 3D water vapour reconstruction).
      • Exchange of technologies to install and manage remote GPS stations.
      • Possibility to host instruments in the polar stations represented by the two communities. 

The group will deliver the following: 

      •  One meeting per year among the WG members
      •  Joint publications on peer reviewed journals
      • Joint presentation at national and international conferences
      • Web site realization, maintenance and updating

SSG-PS also notes interest from the wider physical sciences and geosciences community in using POLENET for new applications, including a proposal from SSG/GS for a Scientific Program Planning Group on Solid Earth Response and Cryospheric Evolution (SERCE) that will use POLENET data. SSG/PS encourages development of new linkages with the proposed “GSP for Weather and Space Weather Forecasting” action group. The full proposal is available from SSG/PS.

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