GLACIODYN

Hansbreen, Svalbard
c. J. Jania

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION
1.1
Title of Activity
The dynamic response of Arctic glaciers to global warming

1.2
Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
GLACIODYN
1.3

Activity Leader Details

First Name
Johannes
Affiliation
Utrecht University

Surname
Oerlemans
Country
Netherlands

1.4
Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
IASC Working Group on Arctic
Glaciology
1.5
Other Countries involved in the activity
Iceland
NorwayCanada
Switzerland
U.S.A.
Austria
United Kingdom
SwedenGermany
RussiaPolandFinland
Spain
1.630Denmark
FranceJapan
China

Expression of Intent ID #’s brought together in the proposed activity(Lead first)
654
756
684685897

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1.7
Location of Field Activities (Arctic, Antarctic or Bipolar)
Arctic1.8

Which IPY themes are addressed (insert X where appropriate)
X 4. Exploring new frontiers
X 5. The polar regions as vantage points
X 6. The human dimension in polar regions

1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
3. Polar-global linkages/tele-connections

1.9

What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity (insert X for 1 choice)
X 3. Education, Outreach, Communication

1. Natural or social science
2. Data management

4. Legacy

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SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY (maximum of 1 page A4)

Global warming will have a large impact on glaciers in the Arctic region. Changes in theextent of glaciers will effect sea level, and may lead to substantial changes in sedimentand fresh water supplies to embayments and fjords.
In ACIA, a simple approach was taken to estimate the runoff of all glaciers in the Arcticfor a set of climate-change scenarios. Changes in the surface mass balance werecalculated without dealing with the fact that glacier geometries will change. It was also
assumed that the rate of iceberg production at calving fronts would not change.
To arrive at more accurate predictions, we propose an internationally-coordinated effort
to study the dynamics of Arctic glaciers and develop new tools to deal with this dynamic
response. The key elements of this effort are (i) to make better use of observational
techniques to assess the detailed dynamics of a key set of glaciers, and (ii) to develop
models that can be used to aggregrate data and that are sufficiently robust to havepredictive power. A set of target glaciers have been identified for intensive observations(in situ and from space) for the period 2007-2010. This set covers a wide range ofclimatic/geographical settings and takes maximum advantage of prior long-term studies.
The target glaciers are:- Academy of Sciences Ice Cap (Severnaya Zemlya)- Glacier No. 1 (Hall Island, Franz Josef Land)- Austfonna (Svalbard)- Hansbreen (Svalbard)- Kronebreen (Svalbard)- Kongsvegen (Svalbard)- North Scandinavia transect (Langfjordjøkelen, Storglaciären, Marmaglaciären)- Vatnajökull (Iceland)- Kangerlussuaq basin (West Greenland)- Devon Ice Cap (Canada)- McCall Glacier (Alaska)- Hubbard Glacier (Alaska)- Columbia Glacier (Alaska)
Among the target glaciers are glaciers for which information is available on length/area
in historical times [reports, drawings, photographs, old maps, etc.]. This information will
be combined with the newly derived maps to reconstruct glacier evolution from the LittleIce Age into the present. This will provide a better perspective for projecting changes in
the coming century.
Special attention will be given to tidewater glaciers. We want to look carefully at theinteraction between surface processes and dynamics (e.g. the influence of meltwatersupply on ice velocities and consequently calving rates; interactions between terminal
moraines, sediment flux, and ice velocities). In a warming world some glaciers willtransform from cold to polythermal, or from polythermal to temperate. We want to study
the effect of such transitions on glacier dynamics and related rates of retreat. Anotherimportant aspect of study is the surface albedo. Poor drainage of meltwater may lead tomore extensive zones of soaked snow and supraglacial lakes (as seen in large parts of theGreenland Ice Sheet), thus enlarging the sensitivity of ablation rates to warming.
Model development will be conducted in parallel with the observational programmes. The
modelling work will deal with processes acting on the smaller scale (e.g.
parameterization of the calving process) and on the larger scale (e.g. global dynamics oftidewater glaciers, response to climate change, interaction with sediment dynamics).

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2.1
What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
Researchers with very different backgrounds (remote sensing, geophysics, meteorology,hydrology, glaciology, sedimentology, palaeoclimatology) will work together tounderstand the behaviour and interaction of glaciers with their environment.

2.2

What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What
will be the major deliverables, including the outputs for your peers?
Because the work is focusing on a limited set of target glaciers, it is hoped that research
will be less scattered than has been the case so far. Getting a focus is a very important
aspect of this programme.
The major deliverables will be:#1 Extensive datasets for target glaciers around the Arctic.
#2 A better understanding of the factors that control the dynamic response of Arctic
glaciers to climate change.
#3 Improved techniques to retrieve glacier parameters from satellite data.
#4 Models that can be used to predict glacier behaviour for imposed climate change
scenarios.
#5 Improved estimates of the contribution of Arctic glaciers to future sea-level rise

2.3

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

Severnaya Zemlya
Franz Josef Land
Svalbard
Northern Scandinavia
IcelandWest Greenland
Northwest Canada
Alaska2.4

Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?
Arctic Fieldwork time frame(s)04/07 – 09/07
04/08 – 09/08
04/09 – 09/09

2.5

Antarctic Fieldwork time frame(s)mm/yy – mm/yy
mm/yy – mm/yy
mm/yy – mm/yy

What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project? (see notes)

Snow vehicles
Helicopters
Satellites (for acquiring data sets)
Airborne Lidar and SAR for high-resolution
topogaphic mapping

Fixed wing aircraft

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Further details –An attempt will be made to share part of the logistics for Austfonna ice cap with project #564 (Change andvariability of the Arctic Systems - Nordaustlandet, Svalbard).

2.6

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

Source of logistic support
Consortium of national polar operators
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency
Military support
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support (details)

2.7

X for likely potential sources

X where support agreed

XX
X
X
X

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

Yes. Austfonna Ice cap, Svalbard, is in a nature protected area where activities are restricted.
Contacts have been made to the Governor of Svalbard and preliminary permissions are given.

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3.0

STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1
Origin of the activity(X for one choice)Is this a new activity developed for the IPY period?
Is this activity the start of a new programme that will outlive IPY?
Is this a pulse of activity during 2007-2009 within an existing programme?
If part of an existing programme please name the programme -X

3.2

How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposedmanagement structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
The programme will be carried out under the auspices of the IASC Working Group on
Arctic Glaciology (IASC-WAG). The annual IASC-WAG meeting and workshop will be
the main occasion for discussion of results, planning of combined field work, analysis andsynthesis of the results, and shaping of the output. The Working Group has national
representatives from 21 countries (seehttp://www.phys.uu.nl/%7Ewwwimau/research/ice_climate/iasc_wag/).
The daily matters are being taking care of by the Steering Committee, consisting of:J. Oerlemans (chair), Utrecht University, Netherlands
J.-O. Hagen (vice-chair), University of Oslo, Norway
A. Glazovsky, Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow, Russia
J. Jania, University of Silesia, Poland
M. Nolan, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, U.S.A.
R. Koerner, Geological Survey of Canada
The website of the IASC-WAG will be enlarged to maintain an overview of all activities,
to provide a forum for discussion, and to store data at different levels.

3.3
Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
It is expected that a small number of measuring platforms at key locations, notably
automatic weather stations, will be given a semi-permanent status.
Accurate maps of glaciers produced by modern technology will provide benchmarks for
future studies of glacier change.

3.4

Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will
this be addressed?
Yes, see table 1.5 and 4.2
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3.5
Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
See 3.11

3.6

How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data
management organisations/structures will be involved?
After quality control and proper documentation data will be submitted to the relevantinternational databanks (e.g. World data Centers for Glaciology). A meta database will beestablished under the IASC Working Group on Arctic Glaciology web site. Data will beaccessible freely without restrictions.

3.7
Data Policy Agreement (Place X in box for agreement)
Will this activity sign up to the IPY Data Policy (see website)
3.8

X

How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar
scientists, logisticians, etc.?
It is expected that within the framework of GLACIODYN a considerable number ofPh.D. students will be employed. High quality science and a strong interaction among
the Ph.D. students through workshops will strengthen Arctic glaciology in the future. An
exchange program for PhD's and researchers will be established between the partners tofacilitate future links and joint work.
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3.9

How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues
outlined in the Framework document?

We want to produce an e-learning course (interactive website) with clickable models andother tools. This will have several modules at different levels. It will be possible forstudents to impose climate-change scenarios to model glaciers of different type and see
how these glaciers react in time.
State-of-the-art 3D visualisation techniques will be used to present information andresults of research in an appealing way. This will be made available for the generalpublic; for information centers, high schools etc.

3.10

What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?

Mainly national science foundations and national polar programmes.

3.11

Additional Comments

1. Instead of clustering EOIs, we have chosen to do a general call through Cryolist (amailing list to which virtually all glaciologists subscribe). This was done because
otherwise the focus of the original proposal would have been lost. Suggestions andcomments were received from 34 individual scientists
2. We will seek collaboration with glaciologists that study tidewater glaciers in otherparts of the world (Patagonia, Antarctica).
3. We envisage a close collaboration with two other potential lead projects, namely,
Greenland’s Ice Sheet – reactions to past and present climate change (#561,
convenor D. Dahl-Jensen) and Change and variability of the Arctic Systems –Nordaustlandet, Svalbard (#564, convenor Paula Kankaanpää)Page 8 of 11

Page 9 of 11

4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION
4.1

Contact Details
Lead Contact

Title
First Name
SurnameOrganisation
Address
Postcode/ZIP
CountryTelephone
MobileFax
EmailRepeat Email4.2

Second Contact

Prof. dr.
Johannes
Oerlemans
Institute for Marine and AtmosphericResearch, Utrecht University
Princetonplein 5
Utrecht

Prof. dr.
Jon-Ove
Hagen
Dept. of Geosciences
University of Oslo
P.O.Box 1047 Blindern
Oslo3584 CC
Netherlands+31 2533275

NO-0316
Norway+47 22854038+31 30 2543163
j.oerlemans@phys.uu.nl
j.oerlemans@phys.uu.nl+47 22854215j.o.m.hagen@geo.uio.no
j.o.m.hagen@geo.uio.no

Other significant consortium members and their affiliation
NameOrganisation

Country

H. Björnsson
H. Blatter
J.A. Dowdeswell
A. Glazovsky
M. NolanP. Holmlund
J. Jania
R.M. Koerner
M. Kuhn
H. Miller
J.C. Moore
N. ReehC. Ferrari
K. Goto-Azuma
L. Yuansheng

Science Institute, University of Iceland
ETH, Zürich
Scott Polar Research Institute
Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow
University of Alaska
University of Stockholm
University of Silesia
Geological Survey of Canada
University of Innsbruck
Alfred-Wegener-Institut
University of LaplandTechnical University of Denmark
LGGE, Grenoble
National Institute of Polar Research
Polar Res. Institute of China, Shanghai

Iceland
Switzerland
U.K.
RussiaU.S.A.
SwedenPolandCanadaAustria
Germany
FinlandDenmark
FranceJapan
China

A. Sharov
L. Andreassen
T. Pfeffer
M. Sharp
S. BoonD. Benn
F. Navarro
D. Scherer
J. Wadham
A. VieliR. Hock
J. Kohler
D. Lawson
T. Johannesson
R. Hodgkins
M. Griselin
S. Tulaczyk

Joanneum Research
NVE, Oslo
University of Colorado
University of Alberta
University of Victoria
University of St. Andrews
Polytechnical University of Madrid
Berlin University of Technology
University of BristolUniversity of Bristol
University of Stockholm
Norwegian Polar Research InstituteCold Regions Research and Engineering Lab
Icelandic Meteorological Office
University of London
CNRS, Toulouse
University of California

Austria
NorwayU.S.A.
CanadaCanadaU.K.
Spain
Germany
U.K.
U.K.
SwedenNorwayU.S.A.
IcelandU.K.
FranceU.S.A.

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